LANTITE Numeracy
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students - widely known as LANTITE - is the assessment that initial teacher education students in Australia sit to demonstrate that their own literacy and numeracy are in the top 30 per cent of the adult population. ACER lists the test among the programs it hosts, and candidates generally encounter it as a computer-delivered assessment taken during their teaching degree. The numeracy component, which is the focus of this page, is organised around three domains: number and algebra; measurement and geometry; and statistics and probability. Questions are set in contexts a teacher meets in schools - reading class data, interpreting timetables, working with budgets, scaling recipes, judging whether a stated answer is reasonable - rather than in abstract mathematics. Preparation therefore means refreshing core skills and, just as importantly, practising the reading of a problem: identifying what is being asked, checking units, and confirming that an answer makes sense in context. The most useful study plan is diagnostic: attempt mixed practice under time pressure, log every error by domain, then drill the weakest domain before returning to full sets. Official details on registration windows, test length, item counts, fees, retake rules and result validity change over time, so confirm current arrangements with ACER and your university before booking. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by ACER.
What you'll study
About LANTITE Numeracy preparation
What topics does the numeracy test cover?
Practice material is normally grouped into three domains: number and algebra (operations, ratio, proportion, percentages, patterns), measurement and geometry (units, perimeter, area, volume, time, scale, angles), and statistics and probability (reading tables and graphs, averages, spread, chance). Expect these skills embedded in school-style contexts rather than as isolated arithmetic drills.
How many questions are there and how long do I get?
We do not publish item counts or time limits here because they are set by the administering body and can change between sittings. Check the current official test information and your university's advice before you sit. For practice, simulate a timed block anyway: working accurately at pace is the skill most candidates lack.
How hard is the numeracy test?
The mathematics itself is generally described as around senior-secondary general level - no calculus, no advanced algebra. Difficulty comes from the context and the clock: multi-step word problems, unit conversions, and tables that must be interpreted correctly under time pressure. Strong school-level arithmetic plus careful reading is usually enough.
Can I use a calculator?
Arrangements for calculators and on-screen tools are set by the administering body and have changed over time, so confirm the current rule directly with ACER or your institution. Regardless, practise doing ratio, percentage and unit-conversion work mentally or on paper, because you cannot rely on a device for every item.
What if I don't pass - can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods and any limits on attempts are set externally and vary, so verify them with ACER and your university before booking. In practice most candidates who fail do so on timing rather than knowledge, so treat a retake as a signal to change method: more timed practice, an error log, and targeted work on the weakest domain.
In what order should I study the three domains?
Start with a diagnostic: do one mixed, timed set and record every mistake against a domain. Spend most of your study time on the domain with the most errors, since scores are cumulative across domains. Then rotate full mixed sets with focused drills, finishing with a full timed simulation in the week before your test.
What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?
Misreading the question, mixing units (minutes and hours, centimetres and metres), stopping at an intermediate value instead of the quantity asked for, and accepting an obviously unreasonable answer without checking it. A five-second sanity check - is this roughly the right size? - recovers a surprising number of marks.
Is my result valid for a fixed number of years?
Validity periods and how results are reported are determined by the administering body and by state and territory teacher registration requirements, which differ. Do not rely on secondhand advice: confirm the current position with ACER and the registration authority for the state where you intend to teach.
How should I prepare if I only have a few weeks?
Work in short daily blocks rather than one long session. Alternate 20-minute skill drills on your weakest topic with 30-minute mixed timed sets, and keep a written log of every error with the reason. Two weeks of that usually moves the needle more than rereading worked solutions without attempting questions.