Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students
On 1 July 2016, the Australian Government introduced Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to ensure that ITE graduates have the literacy and numeracy skills required to meet the demands of the teaching profession.
Starting in 2017, achieving the standard on this test became a graduation requirement for both undergraduate and postgraduate initial teacher education (ITE) students aiming to teach in primary and/or secondary settings.
From 2024, students with a proficiency in an Australian First Nations language can apply for an alternative recognition of language proficiency, and do not have to complete the LANTITE.
On this page:
What is the LANTITE?
The LANTITE is a government requirement that is managed and administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
The LANTITE is a test comprised of two test components: literacy and numeracy. Each test component comprises 65 multiple choice and single answer questions that are completed on a device.
Who is required to take the LANTITE?
Students enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course that qualifies them to teach in a primary and/or secondary setting are required to achieve the standard of the LANTITE to graduate from their degree.
The only exception to this requirement is for students who can demonstrate a proficiency in an Australian First Nations language. These students may request an alternative recognition of language proficiency and do not have to achieve the standard in the LANTITE. Check our frequently asked questions for more information on exemptions to LANTITE.
Courses that require the LANTITE to graduate
- Bachelor of Education Primary
- Bachelor of Education Early Childhood and Primary
- Master of Teaching Primary
- Master of Teaching Secondary
Courses that do not require the LANTITE to graduate
- Bachelor of Educational Studies
- Bachelor of Education Early Childhood Teaching
- Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching
The course rules for Swinburne ITE courses listed on this page state that, unless students can demonstrate proficiency in an Australian First Nations language, they must:
- Attempt both components of the LANTITE within the first 100 credit points for bachelor degrees and 50 credit points for Master degrees.
- Achieve the standard for both components of the LANTITE by 200 credit points for Bachelor degrees and 100 credit points for Master degrees (Please note that these requirements may differ for students who have transferred into the course).
When to take the LANTITE
The government stipulates that ITE students who have the LANTITE requirement cannot be awarded their degree (graduate) if they have not successfully achieved the standard on both components of the LANTITE or have demonstrated a proficiency in an Australian First Nations language. For more information, visit the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher on the ACER website and Accreditation Standards and Procedures on the ATSIL website.
If you are a full-time Bachelor student without recognition of prior learning, you must attempt the LANTITE in your first year and have achieved the standard by the time you finish your second year. If you are a full-time Master student, you must attempt the LANTITE in your first semester and have achieved the standard by the time you complete your first year.
You may sit the LANTITE before enrolling in an ITE course. If you are transferring into an ITE course, you must have attempted both LANTITE components before you transfer. For more information on sitting the test before enrolling and transferring into an ITE course, check our frequently asked questions.
Test dates
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) manages the test on behalf of universities in Australia. The two test components can only be completed four times per year during specified test windows. You can choose to sit both the Literacy and Numeracy test components on the same day, in the same test window or in different test windows.
For specific registration and test dates please refer to the ACER website.
Ready to register?
Visit the ACER website to learn everything you need to know about registering for LANTITE.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, ITE students may sit the LANTITE before enrolment. Any attempts should be recorded on the enrolment form with a copy of the LANTITE results.
If you wish to transfer into an ITE course that requires the LANTITE, you must attempt the LANTITE or apply to demonstrate proficiency in an Australian First Nations language before they may proceed with the transfer. You may also need to complete the LANTITE earlier than other students. Please read the transfer requirements for when you have to achieve the standard by.
Yes, if you can demonstrate that you are proficient in an Australian First Nations language, you can apply for an alternative recognition of language proficiency, and you do not have to complete the LANTITE.
A request for alternative recognition must be submitted promptly after enrolling in the course. All necessary documentation should be completed within the first 100 credit points for bachelor degrees and 50 credit points for Master degrees.
For further information on how you provide evidence of your language proficiency, please contact us.
Swinburne recognises Indigenous peoples have the right to know, use and develop language, and understands the importance of language revitalisation. Therefore, we encourage and support students who are proficient in a First Nations language to apply for alternative recognition.
You are encouraged to prepare for the test by completing the practice tests on their Swinburne LANTITE Canvas shell before you register for the test, and you can also get in touch with us for more information.
Practice materials are also available on the ACER LANTITE website after registration, but they are not in the format of the test.
If you are not confident in your ability to achieve the standard after completing the practice tests on Canvas are encouraged to follow the roadmap provided on Canvas. You may also attend workshops and/or meet with an advisor for a one-on-one consultation.
If you are neurodiverse or live with a disability, mental health or other health-related needs, you may apply for reasonable adjustments with ACER during the registration window. Reasonable adjustments are considered by ACER on a case-by-case basis. They may include additional time, rest breaks and text-to-speech software. For more information please visit the ACER website.
The test results are usually released a month after the test window closes.
ACER will make your test results available to you via email and your ACER account. Please note that your results will also be sent to Swinburne’s Student Admissions team, and your student enrolment profile will be updated. If your results are not reflected on your transcript within a month of the results have been released, you may contact the Progress Team.
If you have achieved the standard in the LANTITE prior to starting your degree at Swinburne, you should provide this information on your enrolment form. If you do not see this information reflected on your student enrolment profile, please email your results to the Progress Team at fhadstudentprogress@swinburne.edu.au.
If you do not achieve the standard for one or both components of the test on your first attempt, you can re-sit the test component. Visit the ACER website for more information.
If you have achieved the standard for one, but not the other, then you only need to re-sit the component in which you were not successful.
From 2025, There are no longer any limits on the number of attempts for the LANTITE literacy and numeracy test components set by ACER. Although you can now sit the test as many times as you like, it is not always advisable to re-sit the test in the next test window.
To help you prepare for your next attempt and assess your readiness to re-sit, we strongly recommend that you meet with an advisor from the LANTITE support team before you register for your next attempt. To make an appointment, please contact us.
The course rules for Swinburne ITE courses state that you must achieve the standard for both test components of the LANTITE by 200 credit points for a Bachelor degree or 100 credit points for a Master degrees. If you have not achieved the standard for the LANTITE by this time, you have not made satisfactory progress, and you will not be able to enrol in any further professional experience (placement) units until you have achieved the standard.
If you have not achieved the standard for both test components of the LANTITE after another 50 credit points (250 credit points for a bachelor degree or 150 credit points for a master degree, you will not be able to enrol in any further units. Once the standard has been achieved for both test components, you will be able to resume your degree in the next semester.
Please note that if you have transferred into your course from another pathway, the credit points by which you need to achieve the standard by may be earlier than 200 credit points (bachelor degree) or 100 credit points (master degree).
For more information about enrolment and LANTITE requirements, please email us or call 1300 794 628.
If you are a Swinburne student and have questions about the Swinburne support program, please access the LANTITE Canvas shell or contact us.
Yes, the cost of each test component involved in the LANTITE is the responsibility of the student.
For more information on test fees and specific costs, please visit the ACER website.
Students can choose whether to sit the test at a test centre (in person using a computer at the test centre) or take the test online via remote proctoring using their own device.