PAT tests and results, explained

PATs, or Progressive Achievement Tests, are short multiple-choice tests that many New Zealand schools use to see how children are going in maths and reading. They're made by NZCER, the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.^[1] This guide explains what the results mean and what you can do about them.

Study Compass is independent and not affiliated with NZCER. We don't sell PAT papers or copies of PAT questions. Our practice questions are our own, written for the same skills.

What they test

• Maths: number knowledge and strategies, algebra, geometry and measurement, and statistics.^[1]
• Reading: reading comprehension, plus separate tests for vocabulary and listening.^[1]

The tests are written for Years 3 to 10.^[1] Children do them on a computer or on paper, depending on the school.

Scale scores and stanines

A PAT report usually shows two numbers:

• A scale score. This places your child on a scale that runs across all the year levels, so you can see growth from one year to the next.^[1]
• A stanine, from 1 to 9. This compares your child with a national sample of New Zealand children in the same year level. 1 is the lowest, 9 the highest, and 4 to 6 is the middle band.^[1]

A single PAT is one piece of evidence, not a verdict. Teachers combine it with classwork and other assessments when they decide how your child is going.^[1]

What your child's stanine means, and what to do next

Stanines can change from one test to the next. Steady practice on the right skills usually shows up first as a rising scale score, even while the stanine stays the same.

When schools use them

Schools choose their own assessment tools. Many run PATs early in the year, and NZCER suggests Term 1 where possible.^[2] Since 2026, schools must assess reading, writing and maths twice a year in Years 3 to 8. They can use PATs, e-asTTle, or the Ministry's new SMART tool, which is replacing e-asTTle.^[2][3]

How to help before and after a PAT

• Practise the skills, not the test. Learning PAT papers off by heart wouldn't help and would make the result less useful to the teacher. Regular practice of the maths and reading skills underneath does help, both in class and at the next PAT.
• Keep the basics quick. Fast recall of number facts and daily reading help in every part of the test.
• Ask for the next step. "What does this result tell you about what to work on?" is the most useful question at a parent meeting.
• Look at growth. A rising scale score from one year to the next matters more than one stanine.

Want to see the kind of questions your child will meet? Try our free PAT-style practice questions for Years 3 to 8. They're marked as you go and need no sign-up.