VET Student Loan (VSL) LLN Assessment Tool – Introduction

The VET Student Loan – Language, Literacy and Numeracy (VSL LLN) Assessment Tool created by TLRG was designed and developed based on the requirements of the VET Student Loans Rules 2016.

This tool is based on the VET FEE-HELP – Language, Literacy and Numeracy (VFH LLN) Assessment Tool created by Safe Work Resources/TLRG and which was designed and developed based on the requirements of the report ‘Assessment of LLN testing instruments and processes for VET FEE-HELP providers’ (Dec 2015).

The assessment tool is designed to provide a VSL provider with a clear indication of whether or not a learner is at exit level 3 – beginning level 4 in order to access funding for diploma courses and above.

The structure and content of the VSL LLN Assessment Tool is based on a previous online LLN/ACSF assessment developed at the time the ACSF was introduced.

The original ACSF LLN Assessment Tool was designed to provide a free online indicator of a learner’s Reading, Writing, Listening, Learning and Numeracy skills. The series of questions were aligned to ACSF Level 1 to 4 across those core skills and the automatic marking results provide a spikey profile of the learner’s ability from 1-4 ACSF.

Question formats range from drag & drop, re-order items, point & click, multiple choice and text/numerical entry.

The VSL edition of the LLN Quiz (v2016.1) uses the same approach and content originally developed for the LLN/ACSF online quiz. This content has been narrowed down to focus primarily on reading and numeracy core skills and to ensure that there are 15 questions for each mapped to ACSF level 3 and 4 to ensure exit level 3 – beginning level 4 is assessed. (Mapping available in Appendix B of the VSL LLN AT User Guide).

The breakdown for each bank of 15 questions is:

• 12 questions at ACSF level 3 and,
• 3 questions at ACSF level 4.

The VSL LLN Assessment Tool runs in a web browser and sends the results of the assessment (pass/fail) directly to the RTO. The results display a score out of 15 for each bank of questions. The learner must get at least 13/15 to be considered at exit level 3 – beginning level 4.

The online VSL LLN Assessment Tool is provided via the LLN Robot system (v1.0.6).

The LLN Robot system is independent of the assessments and updates to the LLN Robot framework do not impact on the content or version of the VSL LLN Assessment Tool.