Student Aptitude Test for Tertiary Admission (SATTA) pilot program: evaluation report for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

Since 2007 the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded the Student Aptitude Test for Tertiary Admission (SATTA) pilot program. SATTA involves the supply, management and evaluation of uniTEST, and the evaluation of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). This report documents the evaluation phase of the program, focusing in particular on various aspects of uniTEST. Seven recommendations are made. The evaluation was conducted between late 2007 and early 2010. The evaluation involved background planning and review, data...  [+] Show more

Since 2007 the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded the Student Aptitude Test for Tertiary Admission (SATTA) pilot program. SATTA involves the supply, management and evaluation of uniTEST, and the evaluation of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). This report documents the evaluation phase of the program, focusing in particular on various aspects of uniTEST. Seven recommendations are made. The evaluation was conducted between late 2007 and early 2010. The evaluation involved background planning and review, data specification and collection, psychometric and statistical analysis, wide-scale consultation, and documentation and reporting. Significant policy change is planned for Australian higher education over the next few years, with both government and institutions seeking new ways to make the system larger, more inclusive and more productive. In this context, it is vital to develop new transparent mechanisms for helping each student understand her or his potential and access the system. This report details how aptitude testing can play an important role.

Excerpt from publication.