Essential Secondary Science Assessment (ESSA)

The ESSA 2010 written test will be conducted on Tuesday 23 November 2010.

Additionally, a pilot of the ESSA practical test, called the Online Practical Component (OPC), is being planned for Term 3 2010. Information about the test and its technology requirements will be provided to schools in the first half of the year and interested schools can self-nominate.

Download information about developing the OPC (245kb pdf)

The ESSA 2009 test is mandatory for Year 8 (14-year-old) students in all NSW government schools. The pencil-and-paper test will be conducted in schools on Tuesday 24 November 2009.

Download the ESSA 2009 Log Sheet (79 kb pdf) and ESSA 2009 Tally Sheet (59 kb pdf), as required, to complete the administration for the return of test materials.

Download the ESSA 2009 Administrative Manual (571kb pdf)  for information about preparation for and conduct of the pencil-and-paper ESSA 2009.

Download the ESSA 2009 Special Provisions School form (26kb pdf); ESSA 2009 Exemption form (27kb pdf); ESSA 2009 Special Provisions Parent form (27kb pdf); ESSA 2009 Withdrawal form (27kb pdf); as required.

The ESSA 2008 test was held on Tuesday 25 November 2008. The test consisted of a 16 page colour stimulus magazine and a 20 page test booklet containing three extended response tasks and 75 short response items.

Download a report about marking of extended response tasks (14kb pdf)

Additionally, a pilot of the computerised ESSA OPC practical test was held on Wednesday 5 November 2008.

These short response items are related to articles in the ESSA 2005 Pilot stimulus magazine. Groups of sample items can be downloaded for articles called:

• Sun, Earth and Moon (282 kb pdf)
• Onion (222 kb pdf).

Students take approximately five to eight minutes to compose a response to each extended response task. A sample task from the ESSA 2005 Pilot called Heating ice (42 kb pdf) can be downloaded.

The ESSA Framework (39 kb pdf)  is used to design and select items for the test, and as the basis for reporting student achievement in the test. It was developed using the NSW Board of Studies Science Years 7-10 Syllabus, 2003, the theory of learning called SOLO and classroom practice.