📖 About ICAS — International Competitions and Assessments for Schools
What every family needs to know
🏅 ICAS Medal System — How Your Score Compares 🥉 Credit 🥈 Distinction 🥇 High Distinction 🏆 High Distinction+ 🌟 Top 1%
ICAS is an independent, international skills-based assessment designed by UNSW’s Educational Assessments. It is taken annually by students in Years 2–12 across Australia, New Zealand and internationally.
📋 Five ICAS Subjects
- 📖 English — Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and language conventions
- ➕ Mathematics — Number, algebra, measurement, geometry, data and probability
- 🔬 Science — Scientific reasoning, experimental design, natural and physical sciences
- ✍️ Writing — One creative or persuasive writing task
- 💻 Digital Technologies — Computational thinking, programming logic and digital literacy
🏆 Medal Benchmarks
- 🏅 Participation: Everyone who sits ICAS receives a certificate
- 🥉 Credit: Top ~25% of participants
- 🥈 Distinction: Top ~10%
- 🥇 High Distinction: Top ~3%
- 🌟 High Distinction with Distinction/Special Award: Top 1%
💡 Year 9 (Paper G)
Year 9 = Paper G. ICAS questions are set at curriculum level — Paper G is calibrated to the Year 9 Australian Curriculum. Questions test reasoning and application, not just recall.
💡 Tip: ICAS results are reported nationally and internationally. A High Distinction from ICAS is a recognised academic achievement that can be included in CVs, scholarship applications and school extension records.
