A huge thank you to everyone who attended our recent PAT Tuhituhi | PAT Writing webinars, especially those who submitted such an excellent range of questions.
We hope that they were answered to your satisfaction, but just in case – and for those who couldn’t attend – here are almost all of the questions submitted and our responses. And of course, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Assessment Services team.
For brevity, we have condensed similar questions into broad sections – you can use the bullets below to navigate straight to your area of interest.
Curriculum and CAA (Common Assessment Activity) alignment
- The rubric goes from 1-6. Is there an alignment with year level expectations?
- Is the assessment levelled to the phases of the curriculum?
- Are the progressions used in the assessment pulled from the curriculum? Realise the genres are from the curriculum, but the actual content?
- Do you have a timeframe for when the assessment will be aligned with the curriculum?
- Can the scores be linked to phases?
- Will there be a guide that suggests appropriate scale scores for the different year groups?
Far and away the most popular line of questioning, and with good reason given the current focus on reading, writing and maths. In short, the PAT Tuhituhi assessments and rubrics are aligned to the curriculum learning areas, but the scoring will not be aligned to curriculum levels until we have a) more data, and b) a gazetted English curriculum from years 0-13.
This is no different to how we usually operate – all PAT scales are distinct from the curriculum, but we provide mapping from PAT scores to the curriculum. This allows us to continue updating and developing PATs – like this new writing tool – without being beholden to a curriculum that is undergoing change.
For PAT Tuhituhi, the writing genres assessed are aligned to the genres described in the English Learning Area in the Curriculum, but progressions and scoring are not yet aligned to the curriculum, instead reflecting general progression of writing development.
- Is there a score that shows readiness for CAA?
- Can we use PAT Tuhituhi to help us gauge whether students are ready to take CAA writing?
We want PAT Tuhituhi to support progress towards the CAA, and will be exploring this idea further as use of the PAT Tuhituhi assessment progresses and the curriculum is finalised.
This is why we have included features like the editing tools, which are similar to what is available in the CAA and other online writing assessments. Again, content is broadly aligned to the genres of writing described in the curriculum (to recount, persuade, explain, and narrate). This also aligns with the types of text students are asked to produce in the CAA Writing assessment.
- Are the rubrics in line with the NZC of Transcription, Composition and Writing Craft?
Our experts have been looking at these aspects to align PAT Tuhituhi to these, yes!
- Is the intention for students to improve the rubric scores? Is there any other scoring with this?
The PAT Tuhituhi rubrics are intended to show general progress in writing,. It includes broad scoring categories of 1-6. Ākonga may make improvements to their writing without their rubric score shifting.
NZCER has developed scale scores for PAT Tuhituhi, which provide a more detailed picture of progress.
- Will this work with the new SMART tool from the MoE?
The SMART tool is a separate assessment tool to PAT Tuhituhi.
Administering PAT Tuhituhi
- What are the writing genres for year 5 and 6?
The genres of writing are the same for all year levels – narrative, recount, persuasive and explain. These represent the genres of writing described in the New Zealand Curriculum, and the most common genres taught in New Zealand classrooms.
- Do the writing tasks identify audience?
This depends on the task – some tasks do specify the audience. We believe it is important to provide students with tasks that are open-ended enough to allow them to think creatively about their purpose for writing, whilst also providing them with enough direction to meet the needs of the task.
- How many tasks are there for each year level?
There is one task per each of the four genres for each of the three phases (Y5-6, Y7-8, Y9-10). All tasks and genres will be scored on the same rubric and scale, meaning kaiako can choose task and genre as appropriate for the ākonga - a Y6 student sitting a Y5-6 or Y7-8 task will still be scored on the same scale.
- Do students see criteria prior to the writing?
They can see the criteria – our rubrics are available online and you can share them with students if you wish. The rubrics are not written using “student speak” language – so you would need to do additional work to unpack these with your ākonga.
Note also that the students who completed the trial assessment, and whose writing the scoring model draws on, did not have access to the rubric. Consider how your students’ access to the rubric might affect their engagement in the assessment.
- Is it ok to assign a Year 7/8 to a Year 5/6 prompt if appropriate for learner?
Yes, you can absolutely do this if you deem it appropriate! All PAT Tuhituhi tasks can be used at any of Years 5-10.
- There are no time limits between the planning stage and writing stage - should this be consistent?
- Am I right in thinking the planning and writing time has been reduced with the online PAT? 45 mins to 35 mins?
- Is the timing flexible?
- Do teachers have any input at the pre-writing stage in order to support conversation around the topic/theme?
We have a guideline that start to finish, PAT Tuhituhi should take 60 minutes, including 5 minutes each for planning and setting up, and around 35 minutes actual writing time. However, it’s important to use the tool in a way that suits your context and ākonga, even if that means longer planning time. It’s just important to consider those changes when you are reviewing results, as this is intended as a standardised test.
The kaiako guide notes that students should have five minutes for planning – this can include class discussion, making links between the task and your specific context of class’ experience of writing. We believe that kaiako using this time to support engagement in the writing task is crucial to making the task relevant and accessible to students. If you need to have a more extended discussion, that is absolutely fine, it does not have to be limited to five minutes. We ask that you do not make a record a written discussion of your shared planning notes for students.
- Can students use other tabs during the assessment?
This is not a ‘locked down’ assessment, ākonga can open other tabs. It’s important for kaiako to emphasise that ākonga use only the Tuhituhi tools whilst they are completing their assessment. None of the tasks ask students to reference outside sources (e.g., novels, statistics), so there is no need for students to access outside sites.
- If we are doing a whole cohort eg. 5 x 5-6 classes and we do not have enough devices can we stagger the test over a couple of days?
Absolutely! You could use a whole week to do the test. PAT Tuhituhi is a formative, low stakes assessment – it is not intended for everyone to all sit at the same time in the classroom.
- We are currently piloting Google Read and Write, is this compatible or can be used to assist these students (speech to write)?
Because the writing platform is not locked down, any extensions like this or Grammarly can interact with the platform. We welcome you testing this out and letting us know for sure, but it should work fine.
- Can talk to text be used?
Not at the moment, but we are working on this capability.
- Devices are a real issue for our rural schools in Northland as well as internet access in some places. Is there a way students can write then we upload and AI marks it?
Currently PAT Tuhituhi is an online-only assessment. Students must write and submit their response online. Part of our next phase of development is paper tests for Years 3 and 4, and this might present some opportunities for paper-based assessment at other year levels. We know paper-based assessments are important!
Marking and auto-scoring
- If the changes/edits are a result of clicking the red underline word is this shown as a self-edit?
Yes it will show as a self-edit. Teachers should be aware that students may or may not use these tools, and it is just a snapshot of their learning, not necessarily the full spectrum of their capabilities.
- Does the marking take in to account the use of tools and editing or does it just mark the final piece?
PAT Tuhituhi analyses and autoscores the final piece of writing that is submitted by a student, regardless of how they have engaged with the editing tools. Kaiako should use assessment results formatively, including information about autoscoring, and the submissions students made when planning and writing. It is also important to think about a student’s access to and experience with the editing tools, online writing platforms, keyboarding, and how this might impact their engagement with the assessment.
- If a writer does not use enough punctuation, for example run-on sentences with little or no punctuation, can this not be marked by the system?
The auto-scoring system requires a text to have a minimum of 50 characters, three instances of punctuation, and at least two complete sentences. Our NZCER Assist platform detects submitted writing that does not meet these requirements and flags it for review. In some cases, the system will both auto-score and flag and item for review.
Any response flagged as too short can be reopened for the student to revisit and add to their writing. There is no added cost for this.
- As we are currently working from Science of Learning guidance that involves controlled, modelled, scaffolded written work in books, are kaiako able to use the prompt format and self-mark? This would be instead of kids writing online.
We would not recommend manual marking of offline writing for PAT Tuhituhi. A key benefit of this assessment is its ability to provide auto scoring, a consistent scoring basis and standardised assessment conditions for all students who sit the online assessment.
- Could we have a workshop about how our lead teachers of writing can education our classroom teachers of how to use the data to inform practice?
We would love to do this. Marking writing consistently is a big focus for us at the moment. Contact our Education Advisors for support with your assessment needs!
Reporting
- Does the teacher see the student’s writing piece?
- When you print out the individual report does it include what the student has written, edits etc as well as the graph?
- Are there graphs similar to PAT maths, if so where are they?
- Does it provide the teacher with a ‘class report’ to globally guide the teacher?
Yes they do – you can see it when you look at the individual reports. You have options on this screen to choose what you want to see, including the newly released scale score graphs and the original piece of writing. You can also toggle between an individual report and overall trends and patterns for the class (a rubric list report).
- Will there be an item report like we get in PAT Pāngarau or PAT Pānui?
This report is more like the STAR report, and is not going to be exactly the same as for PAT Pāngarau or PAT Pānui. However, we are updating these reports every week to try and make them as useful as possible for you, your ākonga and their whānau. Suggestions welcome!
- Will there be any national norms at each year level?
- Do they get stanine scores?
There will be national norms for year levels – these are in development pending more student data for our reference information.
- How does comparison over time work when you may change genre each year?
We will be looking at the elements in each rubric to see change over time, with a focus on scale score progressions. We will be able to develop this further as we get more reference information from ākonga sitting the assessment, particularly as they sit the assessment multiple times over a longer period.
Future versions of PAT Tuhituhi (including paper tests and Year 3-4)
- Is there going to be something coming out for years 3 and 4?
- Will Year 4 come on board also?
Now that we have Tuhituhi online for Years 5-10, we are developing a paper-based writing assessment for Years 3 and 4. This is due to be released in February 2026. We will also look at whether Year 4 ākonga are using the current test and work on developing content.
- Will you develop a paper text for Y5-6 like Y3-4?
Yes, we would like to develop paper tests for most year levels!
- Will the year 3 and 4 paper based test be marked online?
- On the paper-based Year 4 assessment, will it have the capability to upload samples/scan them so the system marks them rather than teachers?
We are exploring whether we can scan the handwritten tests into the auto scoring system, but nothing is confirmed yet.
General questions about PAT Tuhituhi
- When you say the tool was trialed, what exactly were you investigating? Ease of use by teachers and students? Teachers’ level of agreement with the scoring? General usefulness?
Yes, yes, and yes! We also spent a month with 32 human markers looking at all of the auto scoring from 17,000 scripts, comparing to separate human marking as well. This is where we began our work for norms and where students sit. We welcome feedback from teachers about the usefulness of the assessment, and about their thoughts on PAT Tuhituhi scoring.
- Why is this an online assessment, from year 5, when typing is not included in the new curriculum, until year 6? Are the developers aware of research which demonstrates that students are not developmentally ready to coordinate two hands for typing, until the age of 10, at the earliest. Have they considered that this test may encourage teachers to teach typing too early, and with an opportunity cost to writing by hand?
PAT Tuhituhi is an online writing assessment – it should be used where appropriate to the specific classroom context. Teacher judgment on what is appropriate for their ākonga is vital. Whilst it is crucial that students are provided with opportunities to develop fluent writing (transcription) skills, New Zealand classrooms also have one of the highest rates of screen use in the world. We hope that the online writing assessment will be useful to many kaiako, including those who frequently use online writing in their classroom. With the future development of paper tests, we hope to provide even more PAT Tuhituhi assessment options for kaiako and ākonga.
- Does this data link to their NSN number, so the data follows with them?
Student data is linked to NSN numbers – this allows us to produce individual student reports. However, PAT Tuhituhi data does not follow students from school to school – the data for PATs is owned by the school.
- How much does PAT Tuhituhi cost?
Whether you’re in NZCER Assist already or not, we are offering a free subject subscription this year for PAT Tuhituhi. This makes the only cost for schools in 2025 a $3.50 fee per student assessment.
For further information on PAT Tuhituhi, including the sample tests and rubrics, click here!