What is a standardised test?
Standardised tests measure your child's achievement in literacy and numeracy compared to other children throughout the country at the same class level or age level. Schools are required to administer these tests at the end of second, fourth and sixth class.
Information sheets for parents
Sharing assessment information with parents is an important part of teachers’ assessment practice. To help schools in this process, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed information sheets for parents which explain the meaning of standardised test scores.
There are two information sheets. One information sheet focuses on using Standard scores to explain the test results while the other information sheet focuses on using STen scores to explain the results.
The information sheets are available in a range of languages.
Information sheets
1. Understanding Standard Scores: information for parents
This information sheet is also available in the following languages:
2. Understanding STen scores: information for parents
This information sheet is also available in the following languages:
Context for developing the information sheets
In July 2004, the NCCA was requested by the then Minister for Education and Science to provide advice on standardised testing in compulsory education. The NCCA ’s advice presented in Advice on Standardised Testing in Compulsory Schooling (2005, PDF, 225 KB), examined different purposes for standardised testing and outlined particular issues associated with this method of assessment.
The document made recommendations for supporting and promoting good practice in assessment, and for reporting including the development of Report Card Templates for reporting children’s progress to parents.
Building on the advice to the Minister, the NCCA included standardised testing as one of a continuum of assessment methods in Assessment in thePrimary School Curriculum: Guidelines for Schools (2007). The purpose of the guidelines is to support teacher’s knowledge and understanding of assessment, and they show how a variety of assessment methods including standardised testing can be used to support assessment of children’s progress and achievement, and to extend and enrich their learning. The guidelines present examples of how standardised testing can be used for these purposes using sample activities from classrooms.
Downloads and Related Links
Reporting standardised test results to parents using STen scores (2007) (PDF, 32 KB )
Reporting standardised test results to parents using standard scores (2007) (PDF, 32 KB)
Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum: Guidelines for schools
Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum: Guidelines for Schools (2007) BROWSABLE VERSION
Advice on Standardised Testing in Compulsory Schooling (2005) (PDF,225 KB)
Department of Education and Skills Circulars