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Well trained, skilled and knowledgeable teachers provide the foundation for a high quality education system in which every Australian student receives excellent teaching. The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (the test) is designed to assess initial teacher education students’ personal literacy and numeracy skills to ensure teachers are well equipped to meet the demands of teaching and assist higher education providers, teacher employers and the general public to have increased confidence in the skills of graduating teachers.
The test has been introduced to assess aspects of the literacy and numeracy proficiency of prospective and enrolled students of accredited initial teacher education (ITE) courses in Australia, through an online assessment tool.
All students enrolled in an accredited initial teacher education course (either undergraduate or postgraduate) will be expected to sit and meet the test standard prior to graduation. From 2024, students who are required to sit the test will need to have a test attempt (but do not have to meet the test standard) in their first year of an accredited ITE course. For further information, please visit the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited (AITSL) website. Some higher education providers may also require you to sit the test as part of their course entry requirements. In addition, some states and territories may require successful test results to complete your final practicum to register or to be employed as a teacher. You should contact your higher education provider and the teacher regulation authority in your state or territory to confirm their requirements.
From April 2023, individuals who are planning to enrol in an accredited ITE course will have the opportunity to sit the test before they commence their studies. This includes Year 11 and 12 students, recent school graduates, mature age or mid-career people, people enrolled in pathway courses. This will offer more certainty and fairness to students before they decide to invest time and resources in pursuing a teaching career. This will also give higher education providers the opportunity to provide targeted assistance to students who need additional support to meet the required standard. Sitting the test before enrolling in an ITE course is optional. Prospective or unenrolled ITE students must meet the eligibility criteria to sit the test.
Candidates can visit the Australian Government Department of Education website for frequently asked questions about the test at Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education, LANTITE Trial Frequently Asked Questions, Questions and Answers for Enrolled Students or Questions and Answers for Prospective/Unenrolled Students for more information.
