The Evolution of Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in New Zealand Schools

PAT early beginnings

A recent workshop I attended with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) on the new PAT tool updates got me thinking about my own long-term relationship and experience with PATs as both a learner and an educator.

Not just a chance to take you on a nostalgic journey down memory lane, but also an opportunity to reflect on the forward-thinking initiatives undertaken by NZCER to consistently enhance and refine this excellent teaching tool that helps make assessment judgements that much easier.

The roots of the PATs trace back to the mid-20th century, with the emergence of standardised testing as a way to measure student performance. In New Zealand, the need for a comprehensive assessment tool to gauge student progress led to the development of the first iteration of PAT.  Reflecting on my own experience, I remember sitting an early version of the PAT in the late 80s—once taken, it seemed to disappear into the ether, never to be discussed again.

Developed by NZCER, these standardised tests were specifically designed to assess students' abilities in mathematics, reading and listening comprehension, punctuation and grammar, and reading vocabulary. PATs serve as a valuable tool for teachers to complement other sources of data to gauge the progress of students effectively.

While the early versions of PAT focused primarily on assessing basic skills such as reading, mathematics, and language, as educational paradigms shifted towards holistic student development, PAT underwent significant evolution. New Zealand educators recognised the importance of assessing not just academic proficiency but also cognitive abilities, critical thinking skills, and socio-emotional development. The development of PATs over time mirrors New Zealand's commitment to educational excellence and equity, with ongoing updates to ensure the tests remain relevant and accessible to all students.

The digital age

As technology became commonplace, PAT underwent a digital transformation around 2015–2016. Traditional paper and pencil tests gave way to computerised assessments, which offered more flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy in measuring student achievement. The integration of technology into PAT also facilitated real-time data analysis, enabling educators to identify areas of strength and weakness more effectively. No more aligning the cardboard cutout marking key for us! I think I may have marked a few with older students using an overhead transparency projector too. (Showing my age here, I know!)

Modern advancements in digital technology and educational statistics have allowed for greater flexibility in the administration of PATs. Schools can now administer these tests at various times throughout the year, not just in February and November. This flexibility helps teachers to use PAT data more dynamically to inform their teaching and assessment strategies.

Mathematics | Pāngarau refresh

The most recent refresh of PAT Mathematics and the introduction of PAT Pāngarau in 2023, followed by PAT Pānui in 2024, highlight an equity-focused redesign and improved system-level reporting. These enhancements, including the addition of audio support, aim to provide a more inclusive assessment environment. Te Urangi te reo assessments include voice-over audio too. Yes, long gone are the days where the teacher pops the cassette tape in the stereo, hoping the previous teacher rewound it to the correct starting spot. (I'm definitely showing my age now!)

The modern PATs serve not only as a tool for measuring student achievement but also as a guide for educators to tailor their teaching strategies and support individual student learning journeys.

PAT and the NZC curriculum

In terms of development, one of the key strengths of PAT lies in its alignment with the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum. PATs will continue into the future and be aligned to the refreshed curriculum too.  By ensuring that assessment practices are closely tied to curriculum objectives, PAT provides educators with valuable insights into how well students are mastering essential learning outcomes and promotes consistency and coherence in educational practices across different schools and regions. The reports can now link to tasks on the Assessment Resource Banks (ARBs) that might support those students’ learning and save time with planning. Who doesn’t love that?

User responsibility

It would be remiss of me not to mention the fact that standardised test results can provide valuable benchmarks for student performance, but it’s important to remember that they only represent a snapshot of a student's abilities at a single point in time. To gain a comprehensive understanding of a student's skills and potential, it's crucial to consider a diverse array of assessments, such as ongoing classroom observation, peer and self-assessment, learning portfolios, and reflective journals.

PATs are a valuable tool to track student progress over time. By converting raw test scores into scale scores, PATs provide a standardised measure of student achievement, allowing for comparisons against national norms and longitudinal tracking of individual and group progress and learner growth.

Looking to the future

As New Zealand continues to embrace innovative approaches to education and the world of AI, the future of PAT holds exciting possibilities. Enhanced personalisation, adaptive testing algorithms, and integration with emerging educational technologies are just soe of the avenues through which PAT (and, in fact, our education landscape) could further advance to meet the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

If you're looking for more specific or detailed information about recent updates to the PATs or their alignment with curriculum changes, I recommend checking NZCERs website or the Ministry of Education's official guidelines.

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Janine Simpson – Business Development and Innovation Manager

Contact Janine Simpson

• With over 25 years’ experience in the education sector, Janine has spent half of that time in senior leadership and as an education consultant. She brings invaluable insights from her work with the Ministry of Education, both at national and regional level.