ICAS

What is ICAS?

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is conducted by Educational Assessment Australia, UNSW Global Pty Limited. UNSW Global is a not-for-profit provider of education, training and consulting services and a wholly owned enterprise of the University of New South Wales.

Students from over 20 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Pacific and the USA participate in ICAS each year. EAA produces ICAS papers that test students in the following skill areas:

  • Computer Skills
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Spelling
  • Writing

What subjects and skills are being assessed?

Computer Skills
General computer skills using familiar contexts, including:

  • Common operating systems and hardware
  • Word processing
  • Graphics and multimedia
  • Spreadsheets and databases
  • Internet and email
  • Programming and scripting*

* Australia Years 9/10 & New Zealand Years 10/11 only

More about ICAS – Computer Skills >>

English
Reading and language skills in a range of texts. Students are required to locate, identify, interpret, infer and synthesise information in and about texts, focusing on the aspects of:

  • reading for meaning in literary texts
  • reading for meaning in factual texts
  • textual devices
  • syntax
  • vocabulary

More about ICAS English >>

Mathematics
Mathematical skills in a range of contexts from the following areas:

  • Number and Arithmetic
  • Algebra and Patterns
  • Measures and Units
  • Space and Geometry
  • Chance and Data

More about ICAS – Mathematics >>

Science
Scientific skills in the subject contexts of Earth and Beyond, Natural and Processed Materials, Life and Living, and Energy and Change, including:

  • Knowledge
  • Measuring and Observing
  • Interpreting Data
  • Predicting/Concluding from Data
  • Investigating
  • Reasoning/Problem Solving

More about ICAS – Science >>

Spelling
Spelling of words that range from words with simple spelling patterns to words with difficult or unusual spelling patterns, in four different contexts:

  • Dictation
  • Proofreading
  • Error correction
  • Applying rules and conventions

More about ICAS – Spelling >>

Writing
Writing a narrative or an argument text, demonstrating:

  • Text purpose and structure
  • Language choices that enhance the writing
  • Syntax and grammar
  • Punctuation
  • Spelling

 

Test Date

New Zealand

The following summary shows the ICAS subjects available in New Zealand. 

Select the subject below to view further details about test durations and formats.

ICAS Subject  Year Levels  Entries Closing  Test Date  Entry Fee per student 
Computer Skills  Years 4-11  26 April 2011  24 May 2011  NZD 7.50 
Science  Years 4-13  11 May 2011  8 June 2011  NZD 7.50 
Spelling  Years 4-8  24 May 2011  21 June 2011  NZD 9.50 
Writing  Years 4-13  24 May 2011  21 June 2011  NZD 17.50 
English  Years 4-13  5 July 2011  2 August 2011  NZD 7.50 
Mathematics  Years 4-13  19 July 2011  16 August 2011  NZD 7.50 

  

2011 Results Available

  • Computer Skills: TBC
  • Science: TBC
  • Spelling: TBC
  • Writing: TBC
  • English: TBC
  • Mathematics: TBC

Worked Solutions / Answers

Please use our Worked Solutions / Answers Request Form to obtain a detailed answer for any ICAS question.
Worked solutions will be emailed to your nominated email address.
 

Awards

Award  For each year level in New Zealand 
Medal  when a top score is judged to be sufficiently meritorious 
High Distinction Certificate  the top 1% of participants 
Distinction Certificate  the next 10% of participants 
Credit Certificate  the next 25% of participants 
Participation Certificate  for all remaining participants 
Achievement Certificate  Schools may wish to award this certificate to a student or students who have not received one of the Credit, Distinction or High Distinction certificates for high scores. Achievement Certificates can be downloaded from an individual school’s secure online reporting website. The awarding of Achievement Certificates is entirely at the discretion of schools. 

For further conditions for eligibility of awards, please refer to the terms and conditions . 

Test Details

 

Computer Skills

Paper  Year Level  Breakdown of Questions  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  30 multiple choice  30 minutes 
B  Y 5  30 multiple choice  30 minutes 
C  Y 6  35 multiple choice  35 minutes 
D  Y 7  35 multiple choice  35 minutes 
E  Y 8  40 multiple choice  40 minutes 
F  Y 9  40 multiple choice  40 minutes 
G  Y 10  45 multiple choice  45 minutes 
H  Y 11  45 multiple choice  45 minutes 

More information about ICAS – Computer Skills >>
 
 

 

Science

Paper  Year Level  Breakdown of Questions  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  30 multiple choice  45 minutes 
B  Y 5  30 multiple choice  45 minutes 
C  Y 6  40 multiple choice  55 minutes 
D  Y 7  40 multiple choice  55 minutes 
E  Y 8  45 multiple choice  1 hour 
F  Y 9  45 multiple choice  1 hour 
G  Y 10  45 multiple choice  1 hour 
H  Y 11  45 multiple choice  1 hour 
I  Y 12  45 multiple choice  1 hour 
J  Y 13  45 multiple choice  1 hour 

More information about ICAS – Science >>
 
 

 

Spelling

Paper  Year Level  Breakdown of Questions  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  12 dictation (teacher marked) / 13 multiple choice ‘rules and conventions’ / 6 proofreading / 9 correcting (teacher marked)  Dictation plus 25 minutes 
B  Y 5  15 dictation (teacher marked) / 13 multiple choice ‘rules and conventions’ / 8 proofreading / 9 correcting (teacher marked)  Dictation plus 25 minutes 
C  Y 6  15 dictation (teacher marked) / 13 multiple choice ‘rules and conventions’ / 8 proofreading / 9 correcting (teacher marked)  Dictation plus 25 minutes 
D  Y 7  15 dictation (teacher marked) / 15 multiple choice ‘rules and conventions’ / 10 proofreading / 10 correcting (teacher marked)  Dictation plus 25 minutes 
E  Y 8  15 dictation (teacher marked) / 15 multiple choice ‘rules and conventions’ / 10 proofreading / 10 correcting (teacher marked)  Dictation plus 25 minutes 

More information about ICAS – Spelling >>
 
 

 

Writing

Paper  Year Level  Form of Writing  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  Persuasive  30 minutes 
B  Y 5  Persuasive  30 minutes 
C  Y 6  Persuasive  30 minutes 
D  Y 7  Persuasive  30 minutes 
E  Y 8  Persuasive  30 minutes 
F  Y 9  Persuasive  30 minutes 
G  Y 10  Persuasive  30 minutes 
H  Y 11  Persuasive  30 minutes 
I  Y 12  Persuasive  30 minutes 
J  Y 13  Persuasive  30 minutes 

More information about ICAS – Writing >>
 
 

 

English

Paper  Year Level  Breakdown of Questions  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  45 multiple choice  45 minutes 
B  Y 5  45 multiple choice  45 minutes 
C  Y 6  50 multiple choice  50 minutes 
D  Y 7  50 multiple choice  50 minutes 
E  Y 8  55 multiple choice  55 minutes 
F  Y 9  55 multiple choice  55 minutes 
G  Y 10  60 multiple choice  1 hour 
H  Y 11  60 multiple choice  1 hour 
I  Y 12  60 multiple choice  1 hour 
J  Y 13  60 multiple choice  1 hour 

More information about ICAS – English >>
 
 

 

Mathematics

Paper  Year Level  Breakdown of Questions  Test Duration 
A  Y 4  40 multiple choice  45 minutes 
B  Y 5  40 multiple choice  45 minutes 
C  Y 6  40 multiple choice  45 minutes 
D  Y 7  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
E  Y 8  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
F  Y 9  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
G  Y 10  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
H  Y 11  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
I  Y 12  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 
J  Y 13  35 multiple choice / 5 free response  1 hour 

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