Books and journals

NZCER Press publishes a range of books and journals focused on pedagogy in the early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. They are written for use in initial teacher education settings and schools. 

Books are written by a range of academics and practitioners, while journals (including Set: Research Information for Teachers) bring together a diverse group of practitioners and researchers to educate, inform, explore, and innovate.  

If you would like to publish with us or simply want to know more, you will find further information here.  

Buy paper tests | Buy online tests via NZCER Assist | Paper test order form

Please note: Tests 6 and 8 have been discontinued. Click here for more information.

PAT: Listening Comprehension is a standardised test for Years 3-10 that assesses a student's comprehension of texts read to them.

It uses short stories, extracts from novels, poems and nonfiction items. Because the student is listening rather than reading, their response provides information about meaning making that is independent of their ability to decode text.

The test includes content which assesses a student’s ability to understand that more than one meaning can be made of a piece of text. It also tests their understanding of the patterns of stress and intonation in language, known as prosodic features. As with PAT Pānui, the large majority of questions require students to infer as opposed to simply recall information. Placed alongside PAT Pānui, it will give teachers a better understanding of their students’ thinking about texts. 

Supporting information: 

• PAT: Listening Comprehension information sheet
• Guide to assessing literacy twice yearly.
• PAT Listening Comprehension Teacher Manual

PAT Listening Comprehension remains available as one of schools' options for assessment in 2026. NZCER recommends using PATs in Term 1 like in previous years, as our norms are based on Term 1 data.

Benefits of PAT: Listening Comprehension

• Multiple tests reflect expected progress through the curriculum. Teachers choose appropriate tests for students well above or well below - these students do not need to sit the year level test.
• Student-centred and relevant, giving an immediate picture of how students are achieving and progressing against the curriculum. Provides trustworthy evidence of achievement, useful for transition data of students’ learning pathways.
• Curriculum progressions built into multi-choice questions supporting teachers’ moderation and analysis of curriculum levels and needs.
• All Students’ results end up on one scale no matter which test they sit. This allows for accurate school-wide and/or CoL-wide reporting for strategic goal setting and planning.
• CoL/multi-school analysis reporting for trends, patterns and shift using ethnic, gender and year level filters for targeted improvement in teaching and learning.

How to access PAT: Listening Comprehension

To use this test online, you will need an NZCER Assist account - please contact assessmentservices@nzcer.org.nz if you do not have one. 

Tests can only be purchased by schools or parents/caregivers of homeschooled children with a current exemption certificate.

If you can't shop for paper tests online, you can download this order form and email it to sales@nzcer.org.nz 

Administering and marking the paper test

The test is administered by the teacher. The instructions, texts and questions are read to students on CD or via audio file. The teacher script provides the test administrator with advice, instructions on what to say between test items and the CD track numbers. You’ll also find detailed information in the teacher manual.

The test time is 40 minutes, or approximately 50 minutes when tasks such as distribution of materials and explanations are included.

Please note that CDs are no longer available for this test - audio files are available as MP4 downloads only. Email sales@nzcer.org.nz and we'll provide access to the files.    

For more support, contact our team at assessmentservices@nzcer.org.nz or check out our solutions and knowledge centre.

This one-hour workshop supports leaders to explore their Me and My School reports. The facilitated conversation will guide leaders to connect and reflect on the impact of the teaching and learning from the learners’ point of view through analysing the reports. Before the workshop, our advisers will analyse of your school’s survey data.

The Me and My School survey uses a research-based definition of the three aspects of student engagement: cognitive, behavioural, and emotional/affective. The data provides an insight into how students see themselves as learners, which helps understand learning from the learner's point of view.

The workshop will help you:

• understand the three aspects of student engagement and their place in improving teaching and learning
• interpret the reports (class, year and schoolwide)
• critically reflect on the impact of this information on improving learning in your school

This workshop is ideal for school leaders who want to understand data from their school/s. 

Register for this workshop

The cost for a school or Kāhui Ako workshop is $220 + GST. The workshop is delivered online and lasts 1 hour. Please read the terms and conditions.

To register for an NZCER workshop please contact our Education Advisors, Julie Roberts and Melissa Denzler at education.adviser@nzcer.org.nz - or fill out the form below and we'll get back to you!