What is the LANTITE?
The LANTITE is the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students. It is a basic literacy and numeracy test that every pre-service teacher must complete before they graduate.
There are two parts to the LANTITE; a literacy test and a numeracy test. You can sit both tests on the same day, but it is not recommended. This is because you may become tired after the first test, which could limit your performance on the second.
Do I need to do the LANTITE?
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) introduced the LANTITE as a way to ensure that new teachers have sufficient literacy and numeracy skills to effectively teach these skills to their students.
If you are currently at university studying to become a teacher in Australia, you will need to do the LANTITE before you graduate. Some universities require their students to complete and pass the LANTITE before beginning a teaching degree, but many only require you to pass the test before you can graduate.
As passing the LANTITE is required in order to graduate with a teaching degree, you do not have to do the LANTITE if you have already graduated and able to work as a teacher.
What mark do I need to pass the LANTITE?
The questions in the LANTITE change every testing period, and the mark that you need to achieve to pass the test changes as well. It is not a particular score that you need to pass the LANTITE, but you need to be in the top 30% of the Australian population for literacy and numeracy.
Because the test changes every time, sometimes it is harder and other times it is easier. To pass the LANTITE you need to be in the top 30% of the population, so you would need to get a higher score on an easier version of the test and could pass with a lower score on a harder version of the test.
When should I do the LANTITE?
It is very important that you attempt the LANTITE as soon as you are able. This is because it can be difficult for many people, and it may take a few attempts to be able to pass it.
Many pre-service teachers in Australia wait to complete their LANTITE until the end of their teaching degree. If you miss the testing window or do not pass it the first time, you will need to delay your graduation until at least the next testing window.
There have been instances of pre-service teachers who have been unable to pass the LANTITE. They have used up all three possible attempts and were still unable to pass. These pre-service teachers are unable to graduate with a teaching degree. It is best to attempt the LANTITE early in your degree so that if you are put into this situation, you can change degrees or find another option.
Should I do the LANTITE at a centre or do it online?
You have a few options on how to complete your LANTITE. There are centres in most major cities where you can register to go and sit the LANTITE in person. This means that you will attend the testing centre on the scheduled day and complete the test there.
You do also have the option of doing the LANTITE online. You will use a remote proctor, who will use your webcam to observe you doing the test to ensure that you follow the rules and directions.
If you choose to sit the test online, you will need to set up the proctoring service and test the connection prior to your test date. Completing the test online is not recommended if you have unreliable internet as your time to complete the test is unlikely to be extended in the case of technical issues. By testing the connection with your proctor prior to the test date, you should be able to identify if this will be an issue.
How do I study for the LANTITE?
There are a number of resources that you can use to prepare for both the literacy and numeracy component of the LANTITE. You’ll need to pass both of them in to become a teacher in Australia.
Each of these tests have different types of questions, which you can learn more about here: What Kinds of Questions are in the LANTITE?
ACER themselves have a number of practice tests on their website. They also have a number of useful tips for preparing to actually sit the exam itself.
Many have also found that using NAPLAN study resources helped them in preparing for the LANTITE. The literacy and numeracy tests were roughly equivalent to Year 9 Maths and English, and there are plenty of guides, workbooks, and resources to help students study for their NAPLAN tests.
See more: 7 Weird but Genius Study Tips – Work Smarter, Not Harder
How many times can I attempt the LANTITE?
You can only attempt the LANTITE three times. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible before booking in to sit the test.
On top of this, you need to pay up-front to take the test each time. If you fail the LANTITE, you won’t get a refund, so there’s another reason to pass on your first try!
If you take the tests three times and don’t pass, don’t despair. There have been cases of teachers who didn’t pass the LANTITE still becoming Australian teachers. For more information, check out What Do I Do if I Can’t Pass the LANTITE?
