UNSW - Educational Assessment Australia

ICAS Tests & Subjects

What is ICAS?

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools is conducted by Educational Assessment Australia, UNSW.

Ten countries now participate in ICAS. In Australia and New Zealand there are over 1.7 million entries in the subject areas of:

ICAS papers assess the skills students require to address the curriculum of each of the subject areas. ICAS test items are mapped to the curriculum of every Australian state and territory ensuring the relevance of ICAS test content. The Assessment Framework for each subject shows what is tested at each level, in easy-to-read tables. >> Download the ICAS Assessment Framework PDFs from each subject table below .

Every student receives detailed diagnostic paper and online reports (myICAS) measuring their progress from previous years and a UNSW certificate acknowledging their level of achievement.

Every school receives comprehensive paper and online reports (ICAS Online) designed to enhance and validate other school-based assessments.

Schools wishing to enter whole cohorts of students in ICAS should contact EAA to make use of value-added assessment and professional development services provided through the Total Assessment Partnership (TAP).

See ICAS Test Details for test dates and formats, entry fees and year levels covered for the ICAS subjects offered in your country.

 

What subjects and skills are being assessed?

English

Reading and language skills in a range of texts. Students are required to locate, identify, interpret, infer and synthesise information in and about texts, focusing on the aspects of:

  • reading for meaning in literary texts
  • reading for meaning in factual texts
  • textual devices
  • syntax
  • vocabulary

More about ICAS English >>


Mathematics

Mathematical skills in a range of contexts from the following areas:

  • Number and Arithmetic
  • Algebra and Patterns
  • Measures and Units
  • Space and Geometry
  • Chance and Data

More about ICAS - Mathematics >>


Science

Scientific skills in the subject contexts of Earth and Beyond, Natural and Processed Materials, Life and Living, and Energy and Change, including:

  • Knowledge
  • Measuring and Observing
  • Interpreting Data
  • Predicting/Concluding from Data
  • Investigating
  • Reasoning/Problem Solving

More about ICAS - Science >>


Computer Skills

General computer skills using familiar contexts, including:

  • Common operating systems and hardware
  • Word processing
  • Graphics and multimedia
  • Spreadsheets and databases
  • Internet and email
  • Programming and scripting*

* Australia Years 9/10 & New Zealand Years 10/11 only

More about ICAS - Computer Skills >>


Writing

Writing a narrative or an argument text, demonstrating:

  • Text purpose and structure
  • Language choices that enhance the writing
  • Syntax and grammar
  • Punctuation
  • Spelling

More about ICAS - Writing >>


Spelling

Spelling of words that range from words with simple spelling patterns to words with difficult or unusual spelling patterns, in four different contexts:

  • Dictation
  • Proofreading
  • Error correction
  • Applying rules and conventions

More about ICAS - Spelling >>

More information

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