One of the most controversial topics in education today is the use of the Provincial Achievement Test, also known as the PAT. PATs are used to evaluate and assist in improving programs, maintaining standards and improving student outcomes. These tests are standardized tests that are at the same academic level for all students and focus on the same curriculum topics. All students write these tests at more or less the same time in school in the same class. In most provinces, students write PATs in grades three and six of elementary school. These tests present sections of the main subject areas; mathematics, literacy, science and social studies. French immersion schools have tests written in French with French language sections as well. These tests are used to provide additional information about student and school performance. However, some organizations use it to compare schools and districts. Some teachers do not understand these assessments and modify their teaching practices to accommodate this perception. Teachers focus a lot on the basic information covered by the test and all of the curriculum listed. Teachers need to consider the difference between assessment of learning and assessment of learning. The assessment view of learning has given external testing an inferior view from teachers. External tests are used to verify the quality of education. There are three issues surrounding assessing student learning with achievement tests: poor understanding of fair assessment, perceptions of external accountability initiatives, and inappropriate assessment of at-risk students. The first argument with achievement testing is that some teachers have a weak understanding...half of the paper...and they have also misread the results and feel like their child is not doing as well as they thought academically or that the teacher is not teaching as well. Finally, some students are given less of an advantage because of their test preparation. Some teachers focus more on the test, while others focus on the entire curriculum. In conclusion, Provincial Results Audit is a positive program, but education on the concept of Provincial Results Audit needs to be better communicated to the public, as well as the results and process. Works Cited Aitken, N., Webber, C. F., Lupart, J., Scott, S., & Runté, R. (2011, July). Assessment in Alberta: Six areas of concern. In Il Foro Educativo (Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 192-209). Taylor & Francis Group.Alberta Provincial Achievement Testing: A Guide for Parents. (2013). Edmonton: Alberta Education.