ACER will trial new Social-Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) survey statements in terms 3 and 4, 2026, adding a few extra items to student surveys. Responses will be de-identified and excluded from school reports. This trial aims to test new content for future SEW surveys without impacting student experience. No action is required, though surveys may take slightly longer, typically within the usual 20-30 minute timeframe.
What's happening?
ACER will be trialling new Social-Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) survey statements throughout terms 3 and 4, 2026.
A small number of additional survey statements will appear for students at the end of their normal surveys. ACER will collect de-identified student responses to these new statements for trial and analysis purposes, but responses will not be included in your school reports.
What do you need to do?
No action is needed from you, except to be aware that students may take slightly longer to complete their surveys.
The standard recommendation is to allow 20 mins and 30 mins, respectively, for the Primary and Secondary surveys. The vast majority of students complete their SEW surveys in less time, so the additional trial statements are unlikely to require extending the standard time allowed.
Why?
ACER undertakes trialling to ensure newly developed content is appropriate for inclusion in new or updated assessment products.
Our aim is to collect a sufficient sample of responses from students across year levels and in a variety of schools to enable reliable and robust psychometric analysis of the items, while ensuring the addition of trial items does not negatively affect the assessment experience of students.
New items demonstrated by the trial to perform well in measuring the survey construct may be included in future editions of the SEW survey.