South Australian

Spelling Test

53
 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPELLING TEST Spelling:
Approaches to Teaching and Assessment
(Westwood, Peter, 2005)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION

Alternatively,
1. Students should be seated in a position where copying from
others use the
is not possible. formatted
2. Each student requires a sheet of paper and pen or sheet and
pencil. photocopy
3. If not using the formatted sheets, students should number each item as required.
before
writing the response.
4. The method of administration is to say the number of the item. Then say the word clearly. Embed
the word in a sentence. Then repeat the word, saying for example: “Number 19: COST. How much
will the ticket COST? Write COST.”

5. If any of the sentences suggested here appear inappropriate for the age or ability level being
tested
they can be changed by the tester provided that the sense of the word is retained.
6. Students should be encouraged to attempt as many items as possible; but with young children,
or
students with learning difficulties, do not prolong the test unnecessarily.
7. It is usual to stop testing after a student has failed a block of ten consecutive items. (Note: Not
a
total of ten errors anywhere in the test, but a block of ten words coming together.)
8. When marking do not give credit for any words beyond the tenth consecutive
error.
9. When marking do not penalise for reversals, eg., b and
d.
10. No part-marks are to be given. A word is either correct or incorrect.

11. Ensure that the correct table of norms is consulted when determining students’ spelling ages and
interpreting scores (Tables 1 and 2 for Form A and Tables 3 and 4 for Form B).

SCORE INTERPRETATION

The student’s raw score is obtained by counting the number of items correct on his or her test sheet. No
credit should be given for correct responses occurring after a block of ten consecutive errors.

Table 1 (for Form A) and Table 3 (for Form B) allow the teacher to compare a student’s raw score with the
average score obtained by other students of the same age. It is also possible to determine whether the
student is performing within the ‘normal’ range of scores for his or her age level, or whether the score is
critically low. ‘Normal’ range indicates the spread of scores within which 50% of the students of that age
score. The critically low score represents the score below which only 10% of the age group would be scoring.
Students in the critically low group almost certainly need additional support from the teacher in order to

54
develop more effective spelling strategies.

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Examples:

 Student X: a girl aged 10 years 0 months scores 42 on the SAST Form A. This places her within the
‘normal range’ of performance for students of that age. See Table 1. Her score is slightly above the
average for her age group (average score would be 37).
 Student Y: Her friend, also aged 10 years 0 months, scores only 24 on the SAST Form A. This places
her in the bottom 10% of students of that age. It would be advisable to carry out further
assessments with this student in order to determine where special assistance can best be directed.

Referring to Table 2, the spelling age for each of the two students just described is approximately 11 years
2
months (Student X) and 7 years 1 month (Student Y).
When using Table 2 and Table 4 it is important to apply the known Standard Error of Measurement of SST
(plus/minus 2 points). Using Table 2, it would be more accurate and cautious to describe the spelling ages
of the two students referred to above as follows:

 Student X: 42-2=40 and 42+2=44

Spelling ages for scores of 40 and 44 are 10 years 8 months and 11 years 10 months
respectively. The spelling age for Student X is therefore within the range 10 years 8 months to
11 years 10 months.

 Student Y: 24-4=22 and 24+2=26

Reading from table 2, the spelling age for Student Y is between 6 years 10 months and 7 years
4 months.

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Table 2 – Form A
APPROXIMATE SPELLING AGES

Approximate Spelling Approximate Spelling

Raw Score Age Raw Score Age
Years, Months Years, Months
12 Below 6 yrs 33 8.10
13 6.0 34 9.1
14 6.1 35 9.4
15 6.2 36 9.6
16 6.3 37 9.11
17 6.4 38 10.2
18 6.5 39 10.5
19 6.6 40 10.8
20 6.7 41 10.11
21 6.8 42 11.2
22 6.10 43 11.5
23 6.11 44 11.10
24 7.1 45 12.2
25 7.2 46 12.5
26 7.4 47 12.8
27 7.6 48 13.0
28 7.8 49 13.5
29 7.11 50 13.10
30 8.1 51 14.4
31 8.4 52 14.11
32 8.7 53 15.7
54 16+

Using Table 2

Apply the Standard Error of Measurement +2 and -2 on the raw

score.
Example: Child spells 22 words correctly.

 Subtract 2 from 22 = 20
 Add 2 to 22 = 24
 Enter Table 2 at raw score 20 and at 24
 Child’s spelling age is thus within the range 6 years 7 months and 7 years 1
month.

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Table 2 – Form B
APPROXIMATE SPELLING AGES

Approximate Spelling Approximate Spelling

Raw Score Age Raw Score Age
Years, Months Years, Months
12 6.0 35 9.1
13 6.1 36 9.3
14 6.2 37 9.5
15 6.3 38 9.6
16 6.4 39 9.9
17 6.6 40 10.0
18 6.7 41 10.3
19 6.9 42 10.5
20 6.10 43 10.8
21 7.0 44 10.10
22 7.1 45 11.0
23 7.2 46 11.2
24 7.4 47 11.4
25 7.5 48 11.7
26 7.6 49 11.11
27 7.8 50 12.3
28 7.10 51 12.6
29 8.1 52 12.10
30 8.2 53 13.2
31 8.4 54 13.8
32 8.6 55 14.5
33 8.8 56 15.2
34 8.11 57 15.9
58 16.0

Using Table 4

Apply the Standard Error of Measurement + 2 and – 2 points on raw

score.
Example: Child spells 28 words correctly.

 Subtract 2 from 28 = 26
 Add 2 to 28 = 30
 Enter Table 2 at raw score 26 and at 30
 Child’s spelling age is thus within the range 7 years 6 months to 8 years 2
months.

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 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPELLING TEST (SAST) – Form A
Teacher Reading Copy

1. on Please put your shoe ON. Write ON.

2. hot The water in the bath is HOT. Write HOT.
3. cup I drink from a CUP. Write CUP.
4. van The lady can drive the VAN. Write VAN.
5. jam I like jam on my bread. Write JAM.
6. mud I got MUD on my shoes when it rained. Write MUD.
7. sit Please SIT on this chair. Write SIT.
8. beg I taught my dog to BEG for a biscuit. Write BEG.
9. me This present is not for ME. Write ME.
10. go I will GO to the shops after school. Write GO.
11. do What will you DO next? Write DO.
12. of I am not sure OF your name. Write OF.
13. the Is this THE toy you want? Write THE.
14. so You did that job SO quickly. Write SO.
15. plan I used a PLAN to make this model. Write PLAN.
16. ship A SHIP is on the sea. Write SHIP.
17. chop The butcher will CHOP the meat. Write CHOP.
18. from Our new teacher comes FROM Sydney. Write FROM.
19. thin The THIN cat squeezed under the fence. Write THIN.
20. lost I LOST my key. Write LOST.
21. dart I threw a DART at the dartboard. Write DART.
22. seem The shop did not SEEM to be open. Write SEEM.
23. food We must take FOOD to the picnic. Write FOOD.
24. for Is this letter FOR me? Write FOR.
25. are Animals ARE in the field. Write ARE.
26. who WHO was that knocking at the door? Write WHO.
27. here Put the box over HERE. Write HERE.
28. fire We need dry sticks to start the FIRE. Write FIRE.
29. date What is the DATE today? Write DATE.
30. loud Your voice is too LOUD. Write LOUD.
31. eye Please shut one EYE and look at this. Write EYE.
32. fight I saw two dogs FIGHT in the park. Write FIGHT.
33. friend She is my best FRIEND. Write FRIEND.
34. done What have you DONE with your book? Write DONE.
35. any Are there ANY cakes left? Write ANY.

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36. great I was chased by a GREAT big dog. Write GREAT.
37. sure I am not SURE how to spell this. Write SURE.
38. women Two WOMEN went for a swim. Write WOMEN.
39. answer Please ANSWER my question. Write ANSWER.
40. beautiful The flowers in the garden look BEAUTIFUL.
41. orchestra I play the piano in the ORCHESTRA.
42. equally They shared the money EQUALLY.
43. appreciate Thank you. I APPRECIATE your help.
44 familiar His face seemed FAMILIAR. Had we met before?
45. enthusiastic The student was an ENTHUSIASTIC player.
46. signature She wrote her SIGNATURE on the paper.
47. breathe Fresh air is good to BREATHE.
48. permanent Will that sign be taken away or is it PERMANENT?
49. sufficient We have SUFFICIENT food to L&ST for the weekend.
50. surplus We will sell the SURPLUS apples. We have too many.
51. customary It is CUSTOMARY to shake hands.
52. especially This gift is ESPECIALLY for you.
53. materially This story is not MATERIALLY different from the one in your book.
54. cemetery The funeral took place at the CEMETERY.
55. leisure She spent her LEISURE time in the garden.
56. fraternally FRATERNALLY means the same as brotherly.
57. successful The fund-raising was very SUCCESSFUL.
58. definite I agreed on a DEFINITE time to meet her.
59. exhibition There is an art EXHIBITION at the gallery.
60. apparatus We use this APPARATUS in the science lab.
61. mortgage I bought the house by taking a MORTGAGE.
62. equipped The campers were EQUIPPED with new tents.
63. subterranean SUBTERRANEAN means under the ground.
64. politician Did you vote for that POLITICIAN?
65. miscellaneous Mixing different items together makes a MISCELLANEOUS set.
66. exaggerate The fish wasn’t that big! Don’t EXAGGERATE.
67. guarantee My washing machine has a two-year GUARANTEE.
68. embarrassing I find it EMBARRASSING to give a speech.
69. conscientious Students who work hard are said to be CONSCIENTIOUS.
70. seismograph A SEISMOGRAPH is an instrument to measure the strength of
earthquakes.

(Westwood, P., Spelling Approaches to teaching and assessment, ACER,

2005)

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 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPELLING TEST (SAST) – Form B
Teacher Reading Copy

1. in Come IN to the classroom. Write IN.

2. top Touch the TOP of your head. Write TOP.
3. can CAN you help me, please? Write CAN.
4. pet This dog is my PET. Write PET.
5. bus I come on the BUS to school. Write BUS.
6. dig I can DIG a hole in the sand. Write DIG.
7. fed We FED the animals at the zoo. Write FED.
8. men The MEN are painting the house. Write MEN.
9. be You can BE the next leader. Write BE.
10. to I must send this letter TO my friend. Write TO.
11. by Please come home BY five o’clock. Write BY.
12. no NO, you may not stay out late. Write NO.
13. was I WAS home early today. Write WAS.
14. son This mother gave her SON a present. Write SON.
15. flag The FLAG was blowing in the wind. Write FLAG.
16. trip Don’t TRIP over the books on the floor. Write TRIP.
17. stop The car must STOP at the red light. Write STOP.
18. skin Our bodies are covered by SKIN. Write SKIN.
19. cost How much will the ticket COST? Write COST.
20. thank THANK you. That was a good answer. Write THANK.
21. need I NEED more time to finish this work. Write NEED.
22. hook My fishing line has a new HOOK. Write HOOK.
23. part I will walk with you PART of the way home. Write PART.
24. four We will catch the bus at FOUR o’clock. Write FOUR.
25. our This will be OUR L&ST chance to win. Write OUR.
26. they THEY are not going to beat us. Write THEY.
27. hear Can you HEAR the noise of the traffic? Write HEAR.
28. fare How much is the bus FARE to your home? Write FARE.
29. gate Please close the GATE when you go out. Write GATE.
30. cloud There is a dark CLOUD in the sky. Write CLOUD.
31. air Let us go outside and get some fresh AIR. Write AIR.
32. tight I can’t put on this belt; it is too TIGHT. Write TIGHT.
33. cried The film was so sad, I almost CRIED. Write CRIED.
34. none NONE of you are likely to fail any tests. Write NONE.
35. ask We must ASK permission to do this. Write ASK.

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36. treat The party was arranged as a special TREAT. Write TREAT.
37 surf There is no SURF today; the sea is calm. Write SURF.
38. world There is a map of the WORLD. Write WORLD.
39. dancer My sister is a good ballet DANCER. DANCER.
40. unusual Your shoes are an UNUSUAL colour. UNUSUAL.
41. quality The photocopier needs high QUALITY paper. QUALITY.
42. furniture I don’t like modern style FURNITURE. FURNITURE.
43. reliable You can trust her, she is very RELIABLE. RELIABLE.
44 fashion The model wore a dress of the latest FASHION. FASHION.
45. laughter The sound of LAUGHTER makes me happy. LAUGHTER.
46. thoughtful It was THOUGHTFUL of you to help. THOUGHTFUL.
47. encourage Good marks will ENCOURAGE you. ENCOURAGE.
48. efficient The cleaner is hardworking and EFFICIENT.
49. purpose What is the PURPOSE of the visit?
50. curious I was CURIOUS to know the reason.
51. acceptable Your gift is very ACCEPTABLE.
52. equipment The builders moved their EQUIPMENT.
53. choir I was chosen to sing in the school CHOIR.
54. chemically The two substances were analysed CHEMICALLY.
55. neighbour I often smile and speak to my NEIGHBOUR.
56. nocturnal A NOCTURNAL animal comes out at night.
57. assessment We use examinations as one form of ASSESSMENT.
58. adolescence ADOLESCENCE is the period between 13 to adulthood.
59. casualty The driver of the wrecked car was the only CASUALTY.
60. catalogue You can check the price and details in the CATALOGUE.
61. boulder A large BOULDER and some smaller rocks blocked their path.
62. exemplary She gave an EXEMPLARY performance in the debate.
63. magnificent The queen looked MAGNIFICENT in her robes.
64. substitute The team decided to use the SUBSTITUTE player.
65. maintenance A motorcycle needs regular MAINTENANCE.
66. disguise He did not want to be recognised so he put on a DISGUISE.
67. proprietor. The owner of the business is called the PROPRIETOR.
68. vaccination To prevent catching this disease you need a VACCINATION.
69. excruciating The injury to her knee caused EXCRUCIATING pain.
70. kaleidoscope A KALEIDOSCOPE is an instrument or toy that makes patterns
of light with coloured glass.

Peter Westwood and Kerry Bissaker

(2005)

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 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPELLING TEST (SAST) – Form A or Form B
Student Recording Copy

Student’s Name:

Today’s date: Date of Birth: Year Level:

Raw Score:
Your age:....................years.................months

1 16

2 17

3 18

4 19

5 20

6 21

7 22

8 23

9 24

10 25

11 26

12 27

13 28

14 29

15 30

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31 51

32 52

33 53

34 54

35 55

36 56

37 57

38 58

39 59

40 60

41 61

42 62

43 63

44 64

45 65

46 66

47 67

48 68

49 69

50 70

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