The professional skills tests (skills tests) for prospective teachers assess the core skills that teachers need to fulfil their professional role in schools, rather than the subject knowledge needed for teaching. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism.
All current and prospective trainee teachers must pass the skills tests in numeracy and literacy before they can be recommended for the award of qualified teacher status (QTS).
Initial teacher training (ITT) providers are responsible for checking that all trainees meet the current ITT entry requirements for the skills tests, before they start the course.
The skills tests:
You can find more information about the skills tests in the context of teacher training via the Get into teaching website.
In February 2018, changes to the arrangements for the skills tests were announced.
• Candidates will have unlimited attempts to achieve a test pass.
• The 2-year lockout period will be removed; candidates previously locked out will be able to book tests for both subjects.
• All candidates will be able to book 3 tests per subject, free of charge. A charge will be applied from the fourth test attempt per subject.
If you have paid for and taken a second or third attempt at a test on or after 24 October 2017 and before 14 February 2018, you will automatically receive a refund for the cost of your test.
The Department for Education manages the development of new content for the professional skills tests for trainee teachers. To help us to do this, we are undertaking trials of new questions we plan to use in future tests. It is important that we regularly update our tests and that we trial new questions to make sure that the skills tests remain valid and up-to-date for candidates.
The department is working with learndirect, the organisation contracted to deliver the professional skills tests, to run the next trial. Candidates taking the test may be asked to participate in the trial.
If you are a candidate and would like to participate, you may wish to know that:
You will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad as a thank you for your time.
For more information see prize draw terms and conditions (part E).