The Essential 2025 SASC Test List
The June 2025 SASC List of Suitable Tests has arrived, and it is more than just a bibliography; it is a mandatory professional blueprint. Whether you are a specialist teacher assessor or an educational psychologist, staying compliant with these updates is essential for providing evidence-based reports, especially for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) applications.
Here is everything you need to know about navigating the 2025 updates and ensuring your practice remains gold-standard.
The Power of Professional Due Diligence
The integrity of an SpLD assessment rests on the STEC (SASC Test Evaluation Committee) review process. This committee rigorously vets tests for validity, reliability, and standardization.
As an assessor, your responsibility is twofold:
- Follow the List: Use only the instruments approved for the specific age and educational level of your learner.
- Stay Informed: It is non-negotiable to read the SASC/STEC Guidance notes found in the “Comments” column of the list and fully digest the latest test manuals.
Breaking Down the Core Assessment Domains
The 2025 guidelines emphasize a holistic approach. An assessment is not a collection of isolated scores; it is a narrative of a learner’s cognitive profile.
1. Language and Reasoning Skills
To diagnose an SpLD, you must first establish that the learning difficulty is “unexpected.”
- Mandatory Requirements: You must include standardized measures of receptive and/or expressive language (vocabulary and structure) and phonological awareness.
- Why it matters: Strong reasoning can be a “protective factor,” proving that while attainment may be low, the underlying cognitive potential is high.
2. Attainment: Literacy and Writing
The 2025 list reinforces that markers for dyslexia must be thoroughly investigated through speed, accuracy, and fluency.
- Reading: You need a mix of graded word reading, speeded sight-word reading, non-word decoding, and reading comprehension of continuous prose. Pro-tip: Include oral reading for qualitative analysis to compare against listening comprehension.
- Spelling & Writing: A standardized single-word spelling test is required, alongside a prose writing task. This task is vital for observing how a learner handles grammar, coherence, and writing speed under timed conditions.
3. Attainment: Mathematics
For learners struggling with dyscalculia or math-based difficulties, the 2025 list categorizes tests into:
- Basic Calculation (Timed)
- Graded Computation (Untimed)
- Mathematical Problem Solving
- Visual-Spatial Processing: Assessments here must include visual working memory and spatial processing measures.
4. Cognitive Processing: Memory and Speed
Underlying cognitive factors often hold the “why” behind attainment gaps.
- Speed of Processing: Focus on Rapid Automatised Naming (RAN) and visual-motor speed.
- Memory: You must measure verbal working memory. If literacy is the primary concern, phonological short-term memory (the ability to repeat speech sounds) is also a requirement.
Technical Alerts: What’s Changing?
The June 2025 update includes critical technical warnings that could impact your current “test kit.”
- Composite Scores Over Subtests: STEC prioritizes Composite, Cluster, or Index scores. Relying on a single stand-alone subtest is often discouraged and, in some cases, explicitly prohibited in the “Comments” column.
- The “Sunset” List (Upcoming Withdrawals): Several industry staples are on their way out.
- WRIT (Wide Range Intelligence Test): Scheduled for withdrawal on January 1, 2026 (with a grace period until Dec 31, 2026).
- Under Review: Keep an eye on the BAS3, WAIS-IV UK, and WASI-II, which are currently under review for removal in May 2026.
Final Thoughts for the Modern Assessor
Adhering to the June 2025 SASC List ensures your assessments are robust, defensible, and—most importantly—helpful for the learner. By combining these mandatory tools with the SASC 2025 Report Format and your own continuous professional development (CPD), you ensure that every diagnosis is backed by the highest standards of evidence-based practice.
Is your test kit up to date? Check the latest full guidance on the SASC website to ensure your next assessment is fully compliant.
