Free Practice Questions for Alberta PAT
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Key Facts: Alberta PAT Exam
Alberta Provincial Achievement Tests are written in Grade 6 and Grade 9 (Alberta Education).
There is no Grade 3 PAT in Alberta; only Grades 6 and 9 are assessed.
PATs are administered in four subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
PAT results report two standards: the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence, with no pass or fail.
The Grade 9 Social Studies PAT contains 50 multiple-choice questions across governance, rights, and economics.
PATs include machine-scored multiple-choice items, with written-response components in the humanities subjects scored separately.
The Grade 9 Science PAT covers five units: Biological Diversity, Matter and Chemical Change, Environmental Chemistry, Electrical Principles and Technologies, and Space Exploration.
PATs are free for students and are delivered on the Digital Assessment Platform or on paper during May and June windows.
The Alberta PATs are Grade 6 and Grade 9 provincial standardized tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; this free bank drills the multiple-choice portion. There is no Grade 3 PAT.
Sample Alberta PAT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Alberta PAT exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 130+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In a story, a character is described as someone who "never gave up, even when everyone told her the dream was impossible." Which word best describes this character?
2A reading passage is organized with a heading, several paragraphs, and a labelled diagram. What is the main purpose of including the labelled diagram?
3Read this sentence: "The thunder roared like an angry giant stomping across the sky." What literary device is used?
4A paragraph begins: "There are several reasons why recycling matters. First, it saves natural resources. Second, it reduces landfill waste." What is the main idea of this paragraph?
5In a passage, a boy looks out the window, sighs, and slowly puts away his soccer cleats as rain pours down. What can the reader most likely infer?
6Which sentence uses correct punctuation?
7An author writes an article to convince readers that schools should serve healthier lunches. What is the author's main purpose?
8Read this line from a poem: "The wind whispered secrets through the willow trees." What does the poet suggest by saying the wind "whispered"?
9In an informational article about polar bears, the word "adaptation" is used. Based on context describing thick fur that keeps bears warm, what does "adaptation" most likely mean?
10A Grade 9 reading passage presents two opposing viewpoints on banning single-use plastics, each supported by evidence. What text structure does this passage use?
About the Alberta PAT Exam
The Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) are Alberta's standardized assessments written by all students in Grades 6 and 9 to measure achievement against the provincial Programs of Study. PATs are administered in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. There is no Grade 3 PAT. Each subject test includes machine-scored selected-response (multiple-choice) items, and the humanities subjects also include separately scored written-response components. Tests are delivered on the Digital Assessment Platform or on paper during May and June windows, with some Grade 9 students writing in January. Results report whether students meet the acceptable standard or the standard of excellence rather than a pass or fail. This free practice bank covers the selected-response portions across all four subjects for both grades.
Exam sponsor: Alberta Education, Provincial Assessment Sector (Government of Alberta). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 questions
Time Limit
Per subject, about 60-90 minutes with extra time permitted
Passing Score
No pass or fail; results report the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
English Language Arts (Reading)
Reading comprehension of narrative and informational texts: main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, text features, figurative language, point of view, and author's purpose. The selected-response reading section is machine-scored; writing is a separate component.
Mathematics
Number, patterns and relations, shape and space, and statistics and probability, spanning Grade 6 (fractions, decimals, percent, patterns, area, data) and Grade 9 (exponents, polynomials, linear relations, circle geometry, surface area).
Science
Grade 6 units (Air and Aerodynamics, Flight, Sky Science, Trees and Forests, Evidence and Investigation) and Grade 9 units (Biological Diversity, Matter and Chemical Change, Environmental Chemistry, Electrical Principles and Technologies, Space Exploration), plus scientific inquiry skills.
Social Studies
Grade 6 democracy and citizenship (Ancient Athens, the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Canadian government) and Grade 9 Issues for Canadians (governance and rights, the Charter, and economic systems in Canada and the United States).
Preparing for the Alberta PAT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No pass or fail; results report the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Per subject, about 60-90 minutes with extra time permitted
- Exam / certification fees: Free for students in publicly funded Alberta schools Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 130 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Alberta PAT: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grades write the Alberta PAT?
Students write Provincial Achievement Tests in Grade 6 and Grade 9. There is no Grade 3 PAT. The Grade 6 and Grade 9 tests cover English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Is there a Grade 3 PAT in Alberta?
No. There is no Grade 3 Provincial Achievement Test. PATs are administered only in Grade 6 and Grade 9. Younger grades may use other classroom and screening assessments, but those are not PATs.
What format are the PAT questions?
PATs include machine-scored selected-response (multiple-choice) questions in every subject. The humanities subjects (English Language Arts and Social Studies) also include written-response components that are scored separately. This practice bank focuses on the multiple-choice portion.
How are PAT results reported?
There is no pass or fail. Results are reported against two standards: the acceptable standard, reflecting adequate provincial expectations, and the standard of excellence, reflecting high achievement. Schools use the results to inform teaching and provincial reporting.
Do students have to pay to write the PAT?
No. The Provincial Achievement Tests are written at no cost as part of provincial assessment in publicly funded Alberta schools. There is no exam fee for students.
When are the PATs administered?
The PATs are mainly written during test windows in May and June, with some Grade 9 tests offered in January. Schools schedule the specific dates within the provincial windows set by Alberta Education.