Essential Secondary Science Assessment (ESSA)

ESSAonline 2013 date: Tuesday 12 November 2013

2013 technology profile (PDF 16 kB)

Schools wishing to check their technology readiness for ESSAonline should visit http://diagnostics.janison.com

The second online interactive multimedia ESSA test called ESSAonline was held on 13 November 2012. Over 59 000 Year 8 students in all government and a range of non-government schools experienced the online format which incorporated video, audio and animations. The student reports were distributed in early March 2013.

The first online interactive multimedia ESSA test called ESSAonline was held on 22 November 2011. Over 58 000 Year 8 students in all government and a range of non-government schools experienced the new online format which incorporated video, audio and animations. The student reports will be distributed from February 2012.

The ESSA 2010 written test was held on Tuesday 23 November 2010 for approximately 60000 Year 8 students in all governments and a range of non-government schools. Reports will be distributed by schools from March 2011.

Additionally, an online practical component (OPC) pilot test was held on 21 October 2010 in registered schools. Approximately 32000 students in 349 government and non-government schools completed this interactive multimedia simulation of an experiment.

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 (PDF 282kB)
• onion (PDF 222kB).

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 (PDF 42kB) can be downloaded.

The ESSA framework (PDF 51kB) 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.