ACSF assessment tasks

This bank of assessment tasks for the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) has been developed with funding from the 2009/10 Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

The bank of tasks includes:

• assessment tasks for levels 1-3 of the ACSF
• a user guide that describes how to use the tasks
• a report form.

All the documents that make up the assessment bank, including the support documents, are accessible from the table at the end of this webpage.

The ACSF

The ACSF is a nationally endorsed framework that provides:

• a consistent national approach to the identification of core language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skill requirements in diverse work, training, personal and community contexts
• a common reference point for describing and discussing performance in the five core LLN skill areas.

Information about the ACSF is available at the DEEWR ACSF website. At this site you can download a summary of the ACSF or the complete ACSF. Printed copies of both documents can be ordered - details are included at the website.

Who uses the tasks?

The ACSF assessment tasks should be used by assessors who are experienced LLN practitioners and who have a working knowledge of the ACSF.

Assessors who use these tasks for assessment should participate in moderation sessions with other assessors to ensure that the assessment judgements being made are consistent and reliable.

How are the assessment tasks used?

Each of the assessment tasks includes:

• a summary of the ACSF skills covered
• notes about industry coverage and contextualisation
• instructions for the assessor
• a mapping of the ACSF skill indicator and Aspects of Communication covered in the task.

The tasks have been developed in Microsoft Word® format so that they may be contextualised for different industry areas, or for use in different assessment contexts.

The ACSF assessment tasks user guide explains in detail how to use the tools to conduct an assessment against the ACSF, and how to contextualise the assessment tasks. This document can be accessed from the link below under 'Support documents'.

Which tasks should be used?

An initial interview with the candidate will provide the assessor with information about the candidate's oral communication skills, about learning skills, and information to make a choice about which assessment tasks will be appropriate for the ACSF assessment.

An interview form including questions to guide the interview is available below.

Reporting on the ACSF assessment

An ACSF assessment record form is also available for summarising the ACSF assessment. The form can be accessed below.

Copyright and acknowledgements

ACSF assessment task user guide

ACSF assessment record

Generic multi-level tasks	ACSF skill and level coverage	Industry coverage	Description
A self-assessment	Learning 2, Reading 2, Oral communication 1	Cross industry	Reflective questions about own skills
Interview form	Learning 1-4, Oral communication 1-4	Cross industry	Reflective question and answer, particuarly useful for new workers
Making numbers work	Numeracy 1-4	Cross industry	Multi-level numeracy questions
Write away	Writing 1-3	Cross industry	Personal writing based on a photo
Write instructions	Writing 1-3	Cross industry	Writing instructions

Assessment task	ACSF skill and level coverage	Industry coverage	Description
Admit a resident	Reading 3, Writing 2	Aged care	Transfer information from one text type to another
Check the vehicle	Reading 2, Writing 2	Transport	Read information and fill out a form
Complete a log - Aged care	Reading 2, Oral communication 2-4	Aged care	Read tables and role play
Complete a log - Security	Reading 2, Oral communication 2-4	Security	Read tables and role play
Fill out a claim form	Reading 2, Listening 3, Writing 2	Transport	Read information, completing a short report
Fill out a time sheet	Reading 1-2, Oral communication 1-2, Numeracy 1-2	Aged care	Read and complete a time sheet based on given information
Injury hotspots - Health and community services	Reading 2-3, Writing 2-3, Numeracy 3	Health and community services	Read diagrams, plot a graph
Injury hotspots - Hospitality	Reading 2-3, Writing 2-3, Numeracy 3	Hospitality	Read diagrams, plot a graph
Plan time	Reading 1-2, Listening 2, Numeracy 2	Agrifood	Read and construct a timetable
Read and respond to an MSDS	Reading 2-3, Writing 2-3	Cross industry	Read and interpret source material
Read signs	Reading 1	Cross industry	Read safety signs
Stay safe in the workplace	Reading 2, Writing 3, Numeracy 1-3	Resources and infrastructure	Listen to information, write report, interpret graphs
Take a message	Writing 2, Listening 2	Aged care	Listen to telephone conversation, take a message
Understand feed charts	Reading 1-2, Numeracy 2	Agrifood	Read charts, calculate amounts
Use a floorplan	Reading 2, Numeracy 1-4	Construction	Read a house plan, calculate and draw additional building
Use emergency procedures	Reading 1-2	Cross industry	Read a procedure
Use fire extinguishers	Learning 3, Reading 3, Writing 2	Cross industry	Follow instructions
Use hand signals - Aviation	Learning 3, Reading or Listening 3	Aviation	Read instructions and demonstrate hand signals
Use hand signals - Security	Learning 3, Reading or Listening 3	Security	Read instructions and demonstrate hand signals