What will the assessment consist of?

Early Release Items are available and should be downloaded from the MCEETYA site at http://www.mceetya.edu.au/taskfrce/civics.htm.

These items show the types of questions that students will be asked to complete as part of the national assessment.

The first national sample assessment in Civics and Citizenship will be undertaken in 2004. The test items were all trialled in 2003 and have been checked by experts and practitioners from all education systems.

A random sample of primary and secondary classrooms from all States and Territories has been drawn (around 600 in all). All students in two selected classes in each school will be tested.

The testing process will require two hours of classroom time and consist of:

1 A test of 40 to 50 items

The test items require three kinds of response: dual choice, multiple choice and short extended responses of one to four lines in length. The substance of the test items is drawn from the Assessment Domain.

2 A survey of students' citizenship participation opportunities

The survey seeks some student background details. It will also ask questions about activities undertaken outside school that involve or provide Civics and Citizenship learning, opportunities for Civics and Citizenship participation in school and student opinion on Civics and Citizenship understandings learned at school.