Queensland College of Teachers

Pre-Registration Test for Aspiring Primary Teachers

UPDATE:

• On Friday 15 July, it was announced that the Pre-registration Test for Aspiring Primary Teachers will commence in 2012. Further advice will be provided through updates when available.
• Variations to the test and test constructs are outlined below with revised documents linked.

Why has the pre-registration test been introduced?                                            

The Queensland Government decided to introduce a pre-registration test following its commissioned report the Queensland Education Performance Review that:

…all aspiring primary teachers be required to demonstrate through test performances, as a condition of (teacher) registration, that they meet threshold levels of knowledge about the teaching of literacy, numeracy and science and have sound levels of content knowledge in these areas.

The objectives include strengthening capability and confidence in these priority areas.

Who will be required to sit the pre-registration test?           

Applicants* whose qualification enables capacity to teach within the P-7 range in primary schools are determined as ‘aspiring primary teachers’ and will need to demonstrate satisfactory levels of achievement on the pre-registration test.
Relevant qualifications include those in the following areas:

• early childhood
• primary
• middle years
• special education
• specialist teacher focused on the P–7 range

*Applicants applying for teacher registration through mutual recognition are excepted (see teacher registration information on the QCT website).

The pre-registration test:                                           

The pre-registration test represents an independent and supplementary assessment focused on the priority areas of literacy, numeracy and science.

• The test is comprised of three discrete test instruments, one for each of the priority areas of literacy, numeracy and science (each 60 minutes) to be taken within one test session.
• The test instrument is computer-based with items in a range of formats that can be marked electronically.
• Testing will be conducted in designated test centres to ensure appropriate levels of test security and administration.

Test constructs:                                                         

Pre-registration test items have been developed around two constructs which provide a representation of what teachers need to know in order to effectively teach the curriculum for literacy, numeracy and science.

 

 

• Required knowledge and understanding (including application) of the content and processes…
  This construct acknowledges the need for teachers to possess content knowledge at a considerably greater depth than the level being taught. The convergence of opinion in the research literature points to a consideration of what students need to learn as the starting point for defining teacher development needs. For this reason, the definition of test content developed here is explicitly anchored to the relevant state (and national) curriculum frameworks, advisory and reference documents. It is important to note that this definition is not redefining curriculum for students; rather, it is a representation of what teachers need to know in order to effectively teach the curriculum for literacy, numeracy and science. This construct incorporates the demonstration of core personal skills applying knowledge and understanding in these areas.
  
  
• Knowledge about teaching…
  The sound level of content knowledge prefaced above needs then to be supported by at least threshold levels of pedagogical content knowledge which enable the emerging professional to know and understand how students’ understandings in a subject typically develop, how to engage students and sequence subject matter, the kinds of misconceptions that students commonly develop, and effective ways to teach a subject. For the purposes of this definition, pedagogical content knowledge for each area is detailed using the following foci:
• knowledge of curriculum frameworks
• teaching of literacy/numeracy/science
• diagnosis, monitoring and assessment

 

* Note: Core personal skills will now be incorporated into a broader Construct 1-Knowledge and understanding (including application) for all three priority areas.

Test content and quality assurance:                           

The test content parameters were defined through a process of thorough and explicit drilling down to the core knowledge required for teachers to successfully design and manage learning experiences in each of the key areas. These test parameters for each priority area were developed by small working groups of expert teacher educators, practising teachers, school principals and teacher employer representatives. The parameters are firmly anchored in Queensland curriculum frameworks which are also used to underpin current university programs. The resulting document which defines the content parameters for the test is made available on the link below. This document was made available to HEIs in May 2010.

• Defining content parameters — advice for test developers

An ongoing quality assurance process has been undertaken throughout all phases of the pre-registration test development process. An Item Review and Advisory Panel (IRAP) comprised of expert teacher educators, teachers, principals, employers and QSA officers was established to review and provide advice on all test materials and related assessment issues.

Resources for test candidates:                                   

• The content parameters document referenced above has been reproduced as three separate guidelines documents to support potential candidates in understanding test requirements.

The following links will take you to these separate documents:

• Guidelines to Core Knowledge — Literacy
• Guidelines to Core Knowledge — Numeracy
• Guidelines to Core Knowledge — Science

Sample Items

• Sample test items to familiarise candidates with the types of items in the pre-registration test and the computer delivery format are available.
  

Satisfactory test completion:                                     

Candidates are required to demonstrate a satisfactory result for each of the three test instruments (literacy, numeracy and science) by achieving a satisfactory result for each construct within the instruments. Candidates will be able to re-take a test instrument if they do not achieve a satisfactory result.

 

Contacts for pre-registration test information:

The QCT-QEPR Project Team
1300 991 624 (cost of a local call when telephoning from a landline)
OR (07) 3405 3446

QCT – QEPR Project Team
Email:

Ms Ros Bell
Director - QCT QEPR Project
Ph (07) 3237 0922