The National Civics and Citizenship Sample Assessment was conducted in October 2004 with 10,712 Year 6 students from 318 schools and 9,536 Year 10 students from 249 schools. At both year levels, a sample of schools was selected with a probability proportional to size and then a sample of up to two classrooms was selected at random from those schools. The sample design and procedures, the high response rates (more than 90 percent) and the low levels of exclusions ensured that there was very little bias in the sample. The assessment was representative of the elements identified in the assessment domain and the assessment units were made up of items linked to a common stimulus. Various item types were used, including dual-choice, multiple choice, closed and constructed response items. Rotated forms of the test booklet ensured coverage of the domain. [p.viii-ix]