On this page (10 sections)
The short answer
The LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students) is a computer-based test that every Australian teaching student must pass before graduating. In 2026 it costs $196 for both components or $98 for one. Each component has 65 questions and takes 2 hours. Since 2025 there's no limit on attempts, and a pass never expires.
- Run by ACER in four test windows a year, at test centres or by remote proctoring.
- The standard is set at the top 30% of the Australian adult population.
- Fail one component? You only re-sit that one.
- Next window: 26 October to 8 November 2026 (registration closed 5 October).
What the LANTITE is and who must sit it
The LANTITE checks that future teachers have personal literacy and numeracy in the top 30% of Australian adults. ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research) develops and runs it. AITSL states that all undergraduate and postgraduate education students must pass it before graduation, and some universities also require it for entry or before final placement. If you don't pass both components, you can't graduate from an accredited teaching degree, which means you can't register.
You can sit the test before you enrol. A component you pass as an unenrolled candidate still counts after you enrol, which helps career changers who want to check the hurdle before committing to a degree.
2026 LANTITE fees
You pay for each component every time you register and sit it. ACER accepts MasterCard or Visa credit cards. Refund and reasonable adjustment policies are on ACER's site.
What it costs if you need one re-sit
- First attempt, both components
- $196.00
- Result
- Literacy passed, numeracy not passed
- Re-sit numeracy only, next window
- $98.00
Your literacy pass carries over, so you never pay to sit that component again.
Test windows to the end of 2027
From ACER's test dates page, October 2026. Registration closes about three weeks before each window opens.
The test format
The test is computer-based. You can sit at a test centre or by remote proctoring from home, where a supervisor watches through your webcam. In numeracy, once you move from section 1 (calculator) to section 2 (no calculator), you can't go back. Wrong answers aren't penalised, so answer every question.
- Literacy covers reading (understanding and evaluating texts like those a teacher reads at work) and technical skills of writing such as spelling, grammar, punctuation and text organisation.
- Numeracy covers number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability, in contexts like reading student data, budgets or timetables.
The standard and how results work
The pass mark is set to the top 30% of the Australian adult population for personal literacy and numeracy. ACER validated the standard in 2017 against the OECD's international adult skills survey (PIAAC). Results show whether you met or did not meet the standard for each component, with feedback on sub-domains.
Result rules to know
- You only need to pass each component once.
- Passes are transferable between universities and don't expire.
- If you pass one component and not the other, you only re-sit the one you failed.
- Sub-domain results don't carry over: if you fail a component, you re-sit the whole component.
- Passes from the 2015 limited implementation and the February 2016 NSW requirement still count.
If you don't pass
From 2025, Education Ministers agreed there would be no limit on the number of times you can sit the LANTITE. That replaced the old three-attempt rule that forced some students out of their degrees. ACER still recommends talking to your university for support after a first or second unsuccessful attempt, before registering again.
A sensible re-sit plan
- 1
Read your sub-domain feedback
Your report shows which areas pulled your score down. Focus your preparation there.
- 2
Ask your university what support it offers
Many universities run LANTITE preparation workshops or learning support. Use them before you pay again.
- 3
Use ACER's official practice materials
Practise under timed conditions, and practise the numeracy no-calculator section separately.
- 4
Book the next window that leaves a buffer
Register before the window closes. Allow at least one more window before your graduation date.
- 5
Ask about reasonable adjustments if you need them
If you have a disability or condition that affects test-taking, apply for adjustments through ACER well before the registration deadline.
Test centre or remote proctoring?
Both options use the same test and the same standard. Check ACER's technical requirements before choosing remote proctoring.
Test centre
- Equipment, internet and supervision are provided
- Fewer things can go wrong on the day
- You may need to travel, especially from regional areas
- Session times depend on the centre's availability
Remote proctoring
- Sit at home on your own computer, watched by an online supervisor
- No travel, and more flexibility over where you sit it
- You need a private, quiet room, a webcam and a stable internet connection
- A technical failure or interruption can disrupt your session
If you choose remote proctoring, run ACER's system check on the computer you'll use well before the day, clear your desk, and make sure nobody will walk in. Have your photo ID ready. If your home internet is unreliable, a test centre is the safer choice.
When to sit it in your degree
Preparing well
Candidates who struggle often find numeracy the harder component, especially percentages, rates, reading graphs and the no-calculator questions. Rebuild mental arithmetic and fraction-decimal-percentage conversions first. For literacy, practise spotting grammar and punctuation errors in context, and reading longer texts quickly for the main argument. Two or three timed full practice tests are usually more useful than weeks of unfocused revision.
Free calculator
Teacher HECS-HELP calculator
LANTITE is one small cost of becoming a teacher. See what your whole degree costs to repay on a graduate salary.
See my HECS repaymentsFrequently asked questions
How much does the LANTITE cost in 2026?
How many times can you sit the LANTITE?
Can I sit the LANTITE online at home?
What is the pass mark for the LANTITE?
When are the next LANTITE dates?
Do I have to pass LANTITE before starting my teaching degree?
Is the LANTITE hard?
Does a LANTITE pass expire?
Sources we checked · last verified 2026-10-16
About this page
Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.
Keep reading
Degrees
Teaching degrees in Australia: Bachelor, Master of Teaching and which one you need
Bachelor of Education vs Master of Teaching vs double degrees: length, placements, accreditation and how to choose.
Getting started
How to become a teacher in Australia: every step, cost and timeline for 2026
The full route into teaching: degree, LANTITE, placements, registration, checks, funding and your first salary.
Registration
Teacher registration in Australia: every state's regulator, fees and rules compared
A state-by-state comparison of teacher regulators, 2026 fees, provisional and full registration, renewal rules and whether you also need a working with children check.
Career change
Changing careers to teaching in Australia: routes, money and what your experience is worth
How mid-career professionals retrain as teachers: the fastest routes, the money available, the pay you'll start on and how prior work is counted.
Costs
What a teaching degree costs in 2026: HECS-HELP, hidden costs and the money that offsets them
The real cost of becoming a teacher: the 2026 education HECS band, total degree debt, placement and registration costs, repayments and the payments that cut the bill.