Teaching and Learning

Check-In Assessments

The Check-in assessments are short online reading and numeracy tests used across NSW public schools to provide a quick snapshot of how students are progressing in key literacy and numeracy skills. They help teachers identify strengths, target areas for improvement and plan effective teaching aligned with the NSW curriculum.

Check-in assessment overview

Overview of the online Check-in reading and numeracy assessments for students in Years 7 to 9 commencing Week 1 Term 3 and concluding Week 4 Term 2. Student timetables will be available on their year group Google Classrooms in Week 11 of Term 2.

All students complete a reading and a numeracy test of approximately 50 questions each. 

These assessments support the identification of students’ performance in literacy and numeracy and inform next steps in teaching and learning. Feedback is available in Scout and PLAN2, aligned to NSW syllabuses, the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions, and targeted teaching strategies.

Purpose of the assessment

The Check-in assessment is an annual online assessment for students in Years 3 to 9 in NSW Public Schools. All students complete a reading test and a numeracy test. 

The reading and numeracy tests are designed to take up to 60 minutes each.

Both the reading and numeracy tests have approximately 50 items (including a small number of items for trial purposes). 

The Check-in assessment supports the identification of students’ performance in literacy and numeracy and informs next steps in teaching and learning.

Data provided

The Check-in Scout reports allow teachers to identify strengths and areas of focus for students either at a cohort or individual level. Each question is mapped to syllabus outcomes, learning progressions and teaching strategies. 

Results are also placed on the Check-in measurement scale. The scale shows how the school and individual students have performed over time. The scaled scores require time for statistical processing. 

Focus areas

The Check-in assessment aligns with outcomes from the NSW English and Mathematics syllabuses and progressions from the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions.