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National Testing of Pupils in Europe:

Objectives, Organisation and

Use of Results

Eurydice: i sistemi educativi europei al traguardo del 2010 25 September 2009, MIUR, Rome

Teodora Parveva

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Presentation :

Scope of the report

Main findings

Issues for policy discussion

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National Testing of Pupils in Europe

• Definition of national testing

• ISCED levels 1 and 2

• Reference year 2008/09

• Three chapters1. Historical context

2. Objectives and organisation of tests

3. Use of test results

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National testing of pupils in Europe1. Historical context

1. Historical context• Originally for certification

• Expansion since the 1990s linked to school autonomy, decentralisation, efforts to improve the quality of education

• 2008/09: - no national tests: BE (de), CZ, EL, WLS, LI

- not all tests fully implemented: BG, DK, DE, IT, CY, ES, AT

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National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation

2. 1. Main objectives of national tests

• Most often high stakes decisions or monitoring

• Less common identification of learning needs

• Usually one test has several objectives

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National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation

Main objectives of national tests, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09

Taking decisions about the school career of pupils

Monitoring schools and/or the

educational system

Identifying individual learning

needs

x = No national tests

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National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation

2.2. Organisation of national tests

Whole cohort or sample Frequency and timing Tested subjects Responsible bodies

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

3. Use of test results with regard to:

individual pupils school-level policy national education policy

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

Use of results for individual pupil’s school career, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09

Certification

Streaming

Progression to the next stage

No national tests or no impact on the pupil’s school career

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

Use of test results to improve school policy:

• In most countries schools receive data for comparision with the national average + other schools

• Improvement strategies are usually left up to schools

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

A minority of countries:

• Take account of test results in school evaluation

• Publish aggregated data for each school

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National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation

Use of test results in school evaluation, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09

A. Test results used in external evaluation

B. Recommendations for the use of test results in internal evaluation

No A and no B

No national tests

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

Publication of individual schools’ results in national tests, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09

Publication organised, or required of schools, by central/local government

Publication at the discretion of schools

No publication

No national tests

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National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results

Use of test results by national governments

• Reports on the state of the education system

• Measures to address disparities between schools or poor national performance

• Reforms of study programmes or continuing professional development programmes

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National testing of pupils in EuropeSummary

• Three national tests during compulsory education

• Tests serve several purposes

• Participation of whole cohort

• Organised by an agency

• Results rarely published or used for school evaluation

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National testing of pupils in EuropePolicy issues for discussion

• Single or multiple objectives• Use of combination of assessment

instruments• Need for performance data vs risk of

over-testing• Possible narrowing of curricula• How to test skills, not only content• Assessment as part of the learning process