Under the Standards for RTOs 2025, Standard 2.2 – Suitability Advice is one of the most important changes:
👉 Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital (LLND) testing is now mandatory before enrolment.
This is a major shift. LLND used to be seen as “best practice.” Now it’s a compliance requirement, and failing to meet it puts your RTO at immediate audit risk.
As a compliance consultant with over 15 years of experience, I can tell you this: most non-compliances I see with LLND are not about whether RTOs test — it’s about how they test.
What Standard 2.2 Requires
Your RTO must demonstrate:
Pre-enrolment LLND testing
All students must be assessed before enrolment or before a Letter of Offer is issued (for CRICOS).
Suitability advice
- Results must be recorded, and RTOs must provide advice on suitability for the course.
- Students who don’t meet entry requirements must receive options (support, alternative pathways, bridging).
Digital skills included
- The “D” (digital literacy) is no longer optional. Known as RTOs 2.0 to 5, digital capability is required for modern workplaces and online training.
Contextualisation
- LLND must reflect the course and industry. Aged care, carpentry, or IT students should not all sit the same generic test.
Common Non-Compliances with LLND (What I See in Audits)
From years of consultancy and observing ASQA audits, these are the most frequent non-compliances under Standard 2.2:
- Still using pre-2015 LLN tools with no digital literacy component.
- LLND not tailored to the industry or qualification.
- Example: Certificate III in Carpentry students asked abstract algebra instead of measurements, ratios, and WHS signs.
- Assessors left guessing at levels.
- No clear framework for mapping results to ACSF levels.
- Without marking guides, two assessors may score the same response differently.
- Assessors unsure of what constitutes a pass/fail.
- No guidance on reasonable adjustments.
- LLND identifies low-level students, but RTO has no documented process for extra support, referrals, or bridging.
- Some RTOs still test during orientation. This is a clear non-compliance under the new Standards.
- Letters of Offer issued without LLND testing.
- International students enrolled in courses far above their language and numeracy level.
Case Study – Individual Support RTO
Context:
An RTO delivering Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) faced an audit in 2024.
Findings:
- LLN was done at orientation — after students had paid fees.
- No digital literacy test included.
- Test questions were generic and not relevant to the aged care context.
- No marking guide — assessors could not explain how they judged ACSF levels.
- No documented support plan for low-LLN students.
Outcome:
ASQA issued a non-compliance under Standard 2.2.
Rectification:
- Implemented contextualised LLND tools for aged care (numeracy tasks around medication dosage, literacy around care notes).
- Added digital literacy tasks (emailing supervisors, using online care systems).
- Created a marking guide with ACSF levels clearly mapped.
- Developed a Suitability Advice Procedure (support plans, bridging programs, alternative pathways).
Result: Compliance restored. Student outcomes improved — fewer dropouts, better preparedness for placements.
Self-Assurance Checklist for Standard 2.2
Ask yourself:
Do we conduct LLND testing before enrolment/Letter of Offer? 
Does our tool cover Language, Literacy, Numeracy, AND Digital? 
Is the test contextualised to the qualification and industry? 
Is the test contextualised to the qualification and industry? 
Do assessors have a clear marking guide linked to ACSF levels? 
Do we have assessor instructions (including reasonable adjustments)? 
Do we record results and provide documented suitability advice? 
Do we have a support pathway (bridging, tutoring, referral)? FAQs on Standard 2.2 – Suitability Advice
LLND stands for Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital skills. It’s mandatory pre-enrolment because these are the foundation skills needed for training and safe workplace performance.
Before enrolment. For CRICOS, before issuing a Letter of Offer.
Each training product has typical ACSF requirements. For example:
- Cert III trades → ACSF 3 in numeracy.
- Cert IV business → ACSF 4 in literacy and digital.
Your LLND tool should be mapped against ACSF indicators.
No. LLND must be contextualised to reflect industry tasks. Aged care, carpentry, and IT all require different applied skills.
RTOs must provide suitability advice, which may include:
- Additional learning support,
- Bridging programs,
- Referral to foundation skills training, or
- Advice to consider a lower-level course.
Yes. The “D” is mandatory under Standards 2025. Digital skills may include:
- Using learning platforms,
- Completing online forms,
- Sending emails,
- Using industry-specific digital tools.
Yes, but ensure:
- The test is secure,
- The student is the one completing it,
- Results are documented.
Without documented evidence, you cannot prove that suitable advice was provided. This will be a direct audit finding.
- Use marking guides with ACSF mapping.
- Provide instructions on making fair, consistent judgments.
- Train staff to identify support needs and document advice.
- LLND done after enrolment.
- No digital literacy component.
- No marking guide → inconsistent results.
- No evidence of advice/support given to students.
Yes. AI tools can:
- Generate contextualised LLND tasks,
- Auto-mark digital tasks,
- Track ACSF mapping.
But compliance requires human oversight and assessor judgment.
LLND testing is no longer optional. It’s the first safeguard in ensuring students are capable, supported, and set up for success.
As someone who has spent 15 years in compliance and sat through countless ASQA audits, I can say this: RTOs who take LLND seriously don’t just avoid non-compliance — they deliver better outcomes and build stronger reputations.
Disclaimer:
The information presented on the VET Resources blog is for general guidance only. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information. VET Resources is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.
