• 01What LANTITE is — and why it exists3
• 02The two components — format and what they test4
• 03When you must pass it — the timing trap5
• 04Cost, attempts, and resits — what it costs and how often6
• 05How to prepare — and who tends to struggle7
• 06Accommodations — special testing conditions8
• QFrequently asked questions — quick answers9

LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education) is a national test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Every student enrolled in an accredited initial teacher education (ITE) program in Australia must pass both components before they can graduate. Without it, you cannot complete your degree or be registered to teach. [Source: ACER / Department of Education, 2026]

It is not a test of your teaching ability or your subject knowledge. It assesses your own personal literacy and numeracy: the everyday reading, writing, and number skills a teacher needs in professional work. The standard is set at achievement equivalent to the top 30% of the Australian adult population in each area, a benchmark validated in 2017 against the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). [Source: ACER, 2026]

The point of the test is to confirm that every graduate teacher, regardless of subject area, meets a common floor of personal literacy and numeracy. A specialist music or PE teacher is held to the same numeracy standard as a maths teacher, which is why the numeracy component catches people who assumed it would not apply to them.

LANTITE has two components, sat in separate two-hour sessions. You do not have to sit them on the same day, and you can pass them in either order. Each component has 65 questions in selected-response (multiple choice) or short-answer format. There is no extended essay. [Source: ACER, 2026]

The literacy component is a single section. Roughly half is reading comprehension drawn from texts a teacher would realistically encounter (school policies, student reports, professional communications), and the rest tests technical writing skills: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. The technical-skills items are where many candidates lose marks, especially anyone who relies on spell-check in everyday writing.

The numeracy component has two sections. Section 1 has 52 questions and you can use the on-screen calculator. Section 2 has 13 questions and the calculator is disabled. Once you move into Section 2 you cannot go back to Section 1, so manage your time in the first section deliberately. Content is roughly 65% number and algebra, 25% measurement and geometry, and 10% statistics and probability. [Source: ACER, 2026]

The single most common LANTITE mistake is leaving it too late. Students treat it as a graduation formality and discover, often in their final year, that they cannot start a placement until they have passed.

Most ITE providers now require you to pass both components before your final professional experience placement, not merely before you graduate. The exact milestone varies by university and course: some Bachelor of Education programs set it before an earlier placement, and many Master of Teaching programs set it before the final internship. If you miss the milestone, your placement is blocked, and because placements are scheduled in fixed teaching periods, a missed window can delay your whole course by months. [Source: provider policies, 2026]

From 1 August 2026, passing LANTITE also becomes a prerequisite for Conditional accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). If you intend to teach in NSW on a Conditional pathway, the test moves from a graduation requirement to an entry requirement. See the Teacher Passport NSW teacher accreditation guide for the detail. [Source: NESA, 2025]

For 2026, the fee is $98 for a single component and $196 for both components, GST inclusive. The fee is payable every time you register for a component, so a resit costs the same again. Verify the current fee on ACER's site before booking, as it is reviewed annually. [Source: ACER, 2026]

From 2025, there is no limit on the number of attempts. You can sit a component as many times as you need to meet the standard. This is a change from the previous rule of one attempt plus two resits per component. Some universities still apply their own course-progression policies on top of the national rule, so check whether your provider attaches any conditions. [Source: ACER, 2025]

You can sit at a physical test centre or through remote online proctoring from home. Book as early as you can: centres and preferred sessions fill, particularly in the windows closest to common placement deadlines. [Source: ACER, 2026]

LANTITE is passable for the large majority of teaching students, but it is not a test you should walk into cold. Treat it like any standardised test: learn the format, practise under time pressure, and target your weak area. Start with ACER's free official practice materials, which reflect the real question style and interface far more accurately than paid third-party courses. Sit a full timed practice component so the two-hour clock and the calculator split are familiar before test day.

If you have a disability, medical condition, or other circumstance that affects how you sit a test, you can apply for special testing conditions (reasonable adjustments) such as extra time, rest breaks, or assistive technology.

Apply through your ACER candidate account and submit supporting documentation (for example, a medical or psychological report) directly to ACER. Approvals take time to process, so apply well before the window you intend to sit in, not in the final days before booking. Adjustments are assessed against the documentation you provide, so make sure your evidence is current and specific about the support you need. [Source: ACER, 2026]

From 2025 there is no limit on attempts. You can sit each component as many times as you need to meet the standard. This replaced the previous cap of one attempt plus two resits per component. Your university may apply its own progression rules on top of this.

For 2026 the fee is $98 for a single component or $196 for both, GST inclusive. The fee is payable each time you register, so a resit costs the same again. ACER reviews the fee annually, so confirm the current amount before you book.

There is no fixed percentage. The standard is achievement equivalent to the top 30% of the Australian adult population in each component, validated against the OECD PIAAC survey. You pass each component separately.

Most providers require you to pass both components before your final professional experience placement, not just before graduation. The exact milestone varies by course. From 1 August 2026 a pass is also required for Conditional accreditation in NSW.

For most teaching students it is manageable with preparation, but it is not a formality. The numeracy no-calculator section catches mature-age career changers, and the literacy technical-skills questions catch EAL/D candidates. ACER's free practice materials make a large difference.

No. Once you pass a component, the result is permanent and transferable between providers. You never need to sit a component again after you have passed it, even if you change course or take a break from study.

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