Sample Tests

English

The ICAS English test for Year 4 challenges students to engage with a range of written texts and demonstrate their ability to identify, interpret, and analyse key elements. Tasks may include summarising the author’s main argument, pinpointing the noun a pronoun refers to, or explaining the use of rhetorical questions, among others.

The assessment is designed to evaluate essential English skills—namely comprehension, understanding of writer’s techniques, syntactic awareness, and vocabulary knowledge.

English is more than just a subject—it’s the foundation of success across the curriculum and beyond. As the world’s global language and a key pillar of the Australian curriculum, strong English skills empower students to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.

The ICAS English assessment offers an objective benchmark of student performance aligned with year-level curricula. It evaluates essential skills such as everyday literacy, critical and creative thinking, and effective communication—skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Challenge your students and uncover their unique literacy strengths with ICAS English—a powerful tool for guiding meaningful learning.

Students will read a variety of texts which narrate, describe, explain, argue, persuade and review. The texts will increase in complexity within each paper as well as from Introductory Paper to Paper H, moving from simple texts dealing with familiar subjects and topics to complex texts discussing abstract concepts and using sophisticated language structures.

Skill Area	Learning Objective	Key Student Outcomes
Text Comprehension	Locate, interpret, and evaluate ideas and events in visual and written texts	Find information in tables or diagrams Match descriptions to image parts Sequence events Interpret a character’s actions Summarise a writer’s argument Judge a character’s decision Contrast actions of characters
Writer’s Craft	Recognise, explain, and analyse language features and techniques	Identify techniques (e.g., simile, personification) Paraphrase figurative language Explain rhetorical questions Analyse text features to identify genre
Syntax	Identify and apply grammar structures for clarity and cohesion	Identify a pronoun referent Join sentences using conjunctions or connectives
Vocabulary	Interpret precise word meanings in increasingly complex texts	Determine the meaning of technical words from context

Mathematics

Designed to go beyond rote learning, the test encourages logical thinking, problem-solving, and the practical application of mathematical concepts—essential skills for confident learners.

Students may be asked to compare whole numbers, solve basic fraction problems, apply metric units accurately, identify lines of symmetry, interpret simple data, and more.

The Year 4 ICAS Mathematics assessment challenges students across five key skill areas:

Chance & Data
Number & Arithmetic
Algebra & Patterns
Space & Geometry
Measures & Units

"Where Numbers Shape Minds"

Mathematics in Year 4 is more than sums and shapes—it builds the logic, reasoning, and problem-solving foundations that spark curiosity and fuel future success in STEM.

The ICAS Mathematics assessment benchmarks students’ skills against national and international standards, helping teachers and parents identify strengths and areas for growth. With questions designed to stretch young minds across key areas like number patterns, spatial thinking, measurement, and data, ICAS makes maths meaningful—and exciting.

Skill Area	Learning Objective	Key Student Outcomes
Number & Arithmetic	Understand larger number ranges and apply basic operations and fractions	Count, order, and compare numbers to 10,000 Understand place value to 10,000 Recognise odd/even numbers Solve problems with unit fractions (2, 3, 5, 10) Multiply/divide using 2, 3, 5, 10 Use informal factors/multiples Add and subtract to 100
Algebra & Patterns	Apply early algebraic thinking to numerical operations	Complete number sentences involving all four operations
Measures & Units	Use metric units and estimation in practical contexts	Estimate, order, measure mass, length, and capacity Use metric units (cm, m, km, g, kg, L, mL) Read analog/digital clocks Calculate area and perimeter using grids
Space & Geometry	Interpret spatial relationships and geometric features	Follow pathways on grid maps Identify axes of symmetry Identify nets/elevations of 3D shapes Recognise and compare angles Understand angles as measures of turn
Chance & Data	Interpret data displays and basic probability	Count arrangements of objects/events Read bar charts, graphs, and two-way tables

Science

The Year 4 ICAS Science test challenges students to think like young scientists—observing, predicting, interpreting, investigating, and solving problems.

Covering topics like Earth & Beyond, Energy & Change, and Natural & Processed Materials, the assessment develops core scientific thinking and real-world inquiry skills.

"Exploring Curiosity, Building Discovery Skills "

The ICAS Science competition challenges students to apply key STEM skills through an engaging, curriculum-aligned assessment that benchmarks their performance against peers. By testing abilities like observation, experimentation, analysis, and critical thinking, ICAS Science nurtures the foundations of the scientific method—essential not just for academic success, but for understanding the world.

Skill Area	Learning Objective	Key Student Outcomes
Observing & Measuring	Accurately observe natural phenomena, materials, and energy changes	Observe mountains and rivers Examine differences in materials Observe heating changes Note sensory responses
Interpreting	Interpret graphs, diagrams, and classification tools	Identify space equipment Read recycling graphs Use classification keys Interpret energy transformations
Predicting & Concluding	Draw conclusions and make predictions from given scientific contexts	Predict changes in food webs Predict force effects Conclude from cog diagrams Conclude material properties
Investigating	Design and conduct experiments or explore scientific processes	Investigate plant-bee interactions Explore sound production Test wind effects on objects Make and use paper
Reasoning & Problem Solving	Apply logic and reasoning to scientific situations or systems	Deduce Earth's motion from diagrams Evaluate design pros and cons Assess human impact on cycles

Digital Technologies

From formatting documents to exploring basic coding, the ICAS Digital Technologies test gives Year 4 students a chance to showcase their digital confidence and curiosity.

Covering essential areas like:

Word processing
Graphics & multimedia
Internet & email
Spreadsheets & databases
Programming basics

Students will complete fun and practical tasks—like editing images, bookmarking websites, and presenting data—that reflect real-world digital skills. It’s the perfect way to challenge young learners and prepare them for a tech-powered future!

"Building Digital Skills for Tomorrow."

In today’s tech-driven world, digital know-how is more than just a bonus—it’s a basic life skill.

The ICAS Digital Technologies assessment helps measure how confidently students can navigate the digital space—whether it’s formatting a document, using safe search tools, or exploring basic coding.

Aligned to Year 4 curriculum goals, the test ranks student performance objectively while building vital 21st-century skills like online safety, tech fluency, and creative problem-solving

Skill Area	Core Topics	Student Outcomes – Tasks May Require Students To:
Digital Systems	• Hardware & Software • Terminology • Peripheral Devices • Basic Operations	Identify hardware/software Recognise parts of digital systems and menu bars Understand apps and backup purpose
Word Processing	• Document creation • Editing & formatting • Print functions	Create/save documents Use cut, copy, paste Format text (font, size, colour, alignment) Use spell check Use print preview
Graphics & Multimedia	• Drawing tools • Image manipulation • Multimedia components	Resize, rotate, flip graphics Use drawing tools Recognise icons (audio/video) Create simple slideshows
Internet & Email	• Web browsing • Email basics • Cyber safety • Search skills	Send, receive, reply to emails Identify browser parts, bookmarks, hyperlinks Apply search terms Understand digital footprint risks
Spreadsheets & Databases	• Spreadsheet layout • Data display • Basic databases	Identify active cells Interpret simple spreadsheets Present data appropriately Perform simple database searches
Programming	• Coding logic • Block-based coding	Recognise sequence and logic in basic block coding

Writing

The Year 4 ICAS Writing assessment tests students’ ability to express ideas clearly and creatively in two key formats:

• Persuasive writing – crafting arguments, adverts, or campaign messages to influence the reader. /li>
• Narrative writing – creating engaging story beginnings, vivid settings, or strong character descriptions.

Students are assessed on their use of genre, textual grammar, and syntax/punctuation, offering clear insight into their writing skills and literacy development.

"Write it. Shape it. Own it."

Writing is a vital life skill — central to how we think, learn, and communicate. That’s why the ICAS Writing test is designed to challenge students and uncover their ability to express ideas with clarity, creativity, and structure. The ICAS Writing assessment provides an objective ranking based on year-level curricula, evaluating key skills such as planning, grammar, punctuation, and genre awareness. Whether crafting compelling narratives or persuasive arguments, students gain insights to help them grow as effective communicators across all subjects.

Skill Area	Learning Objective	Learning Outcome
Genre Awareness	Identify and apply the structural features of persuasive and narrative texts	Students can structure texts using appropriate formats and techniques for each genre.
Idea Development	Generate and express ideas creatively and logically in written form	Students produce clear, relevant, and engaging content tailored to purpose and audience.
Textual Grammar	Use correct grammar, including tense, pronouns, and connectives, for clarity and flow	Students apply accurate grammar to support coherence and reader understanding.
Syntax & Punctuation	Apply correct sentence structure and punctuation to enhance meaning	Students write with syntactic accuracy and correct punctuation, improving readability.
Vocabulary Choice	Use descriptive and purposeful vocabulary appropriate to the genre and audience	Students select language that enhances expression and impact in their writing.
Planning & Organisation	Organise ideas logically within a clear beginning, middle, and end	Students structure writing with clear progression and effective paragraphing.

Spelling Bee

Around 40 words—from simple to tricky—test more than just memory. Students apply visual, sound, word-building, and origin knowledge to spell with confidence and accuracy.

It’s a fun, brain-boosting challenge for growing minds!

"Spell. Shine. Succeed."

Spelling is more than memorising words — it’s the foundation of literacy, clear communication, and academic confidence. That’s why the ICAS Spelling Bee remains one of our most popular assessments.

While spellcheck has its place, it isn’t foolproof — and it can’t replace the critical thinking and language awareness students develop through spelling practice. Research shows strong links between spelling, reading, and writing development, with lasting benefits that extend far beyond the classroom.

Skill	Learning Objective	Learning Outcome
Recognising grammatical and sight words	Identify and recall high-frequency grammatical and irregular sight words accurately.	Students correctly spell common function words (e.g., “who,” “through”) and high-visibility vocabulary (e.g., “beautiful,” “children”).
Distinguishing commonly confused words and homophones	Use contextual understanding to choose correct spellings for words that sound alike.	Students avoid confusion between words like “passed” vs “past” and apply the correct spelling based on meaning.
Recalling visual spelling patterns	Recall and apply common visual spelling patterns, including silent letters.	Students spell words with silent letters (e.g., “lamb,” “autumn”) accurately from memory.
2. Phonological Knowledge
Using sound-letter relationships to spell words	Decode and encode words using knowledge of phonics, digraphs, and trigraphs.	Students correctly spell words like “frighten,” “preserve,” and “stretch” by applying phoneme-grapheme correspondences.
Distinguishing sound confusions	Identify and correct common sound-based spelling errors.	Students use correct spelling for sounds represented in different ways (e.g., “germ,” “badge,” “original”).
3. Morphological Knowledge
Using prefixes, suffixes, and root words	Apply knowledge of word structure to spell new or derived words.	Students spell derived words (e.g., “usefully,” “disappear”) using appropriate affixation rules.
Applying spelling rules when modifying base words	Understand and apply rules for doubling consonants, dropping silent 'e', or changing ‘y’ to ‘i’.	Students modify base words correctly (e.g., “hop” “hopping,” “lazy” “laziness”).
Building words with multiple affixes	Combine base words with more than one affix to form complex words.	Students accurately spell extended word forms (e.g., “unpopularity,” “insignificance”).
4. Etymological Knowledge
Recognising foreign-origin words	Identify and recall the spelling of common words with foreign roots.	Students correctly spell borrowed words (e.g., “chef,” “garage,” “restaurant”).
Understanding subject-specific and classical roots	Use knowledge of classical elements in technical or academic terms.	Students demonstrate accurate spelling and recognition of root-based words (e.g., “symphony,” “parallel”).