Provincial Achievement Test · Alberta
Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test
- Grade 9
Dates and details can change. We do our best to keep this page up to date, but check the official sources before relying on it.
- Total time
- 2 h 35 min
- Marked questions
- 50
- Parts
- 2
- Calculator
- Not allowed
- Format
- On a computer
Grade 9 K&E ELA PAT practice test
The whole exam or the parts you choose, in its own format, on the clock.
The exam in the app
Its parts, and what you can use in each
A question, timed, with the exam’s tools
The marked result, part by part
A practice run of Saskatchewan’s Grade 9 math assessment.
Free with a MapleMind account
When
2 sessions this school year: January and June.
January 2027
- Wednesday, January 20, 20279:00–10:20 AM · Part A
- Thursday, January 21, 20279:00–10:15 AM · Part B
June 2027
- Thursday, June 3, 20279:00–10:20 AM · Part A
- Tuesday, June 8, 20279:00–10:15 AM · Part B
The dates are Alberta’s own, read on September 28, 2026. See the official schedule (alberta.ca)
What’s on it
2 topics. Part A — persuasive writing and Part B — reading: informational 50% / narrative-poetic 50% across 4 reporting categories count most, at 50% each.
- Part A — persuasive writing50%
- Part B — reading: informational 50% /
narrative-poetic 50% across 4 reporting categories 50%
How it’s built
An essay, multiple-choice questions and questions in sets.
- Part A: Writing
- Time
- 80 min
- Of the marks
- 50%
- Essay
Write one persuasive essay for the audience and purpose given, then revise and correct it.
- Part B: Reading
- Time
- 75 min
- Questions
- 50
- Marks
- 50
- Of the marks
- 50%
- Multiple choice
- Questions in sets
50 questions, each worth 1 mark: 25 on informational texts and 25 on stories and poems.
How it’s marked
- Below the acceptable standard
- Acceptable standard
- Standard of excellence
Teachers mark your writing centrally, and a computer marks the reading. Your results are reported against two provincial standards: the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence.
On the day
- First sittingPart A, the writing, set for 80 minutes.
- On another dayPart B, the reading, set for 75 minutes.
Two parts, on the computer. Part A starts with 10 minutes to talk over ideas in a small group, or think on your own, with space to plan. Everyone may take up to double the time for each part.
Getting ready
1 official document to practise with, and 3 tips.
Official practice
Tips from the people who write it
- Part A is one persuasive essay for a real audience and purpose: practise writing the whole thing, start to finish.
- Use a dictionary only if you already use one comfortably.
- Part B is half informational reading and half stories and poems.
After the exam
- Results
The school shares early results with families by the end of the school year. The Individual Student Profile follows in early September 2027, on myPass and from the school.
- Marks
Whether the test counts in a school mark is up to the school authority.
- If you miss it
A student absent on test day writes it when they’re back, before the last scheduled day. The principal, with the parents, can ask for a student to be excused where writing would harm them or they can’t take part in a meaningful way.
From General Information Bulletin 2026–2027, Grades 6 and 9 Provincial Achievement Testing (alberta.ca), read on October 27, 2026.
More for you
Students
Start with the topics worth the most marks, then write full practice exams under the real time limit.
Practise itParents
Put the dates on the family calendar. The Parent Dashboard shows each practice exam’s result.
See the Parent DashboardEducators
The topic weights and the official practice above make a review plan. Students can write practice exams in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
For schools
Questions about this exam
When is the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test in 2026–27?
The next sitting is January 20, 2027, 9:00–10:20 AM. This school year it’s written in January 2027 and June 2027.
How long is the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test?
It takes 2 hours 35 minutes in all, over 2 parts.
How many questions are on the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test?
It has 50 marked questions.
Can you use a calculator on the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test?
No. Calculators aren’t allowed.
How are Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test results reported?
At 3 levels: Below the acceptable standard, Acceptable standard and Standard of excellence.
Where can I find practice tests for the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test?
Alberta publishes K&E ELA scoring guide + practice. MapleMind also builds a full practice exam in its format, free with an account.
Practise for the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test
Practice exams for the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test, written like the real ones.
