Assessments of reading and numeracy for younger children will include automatic marking
The Welsh Government has announced plans to take national reading and numeracy tests for the country’s schoolchildren online, with a three-year implementation plan due to begin at the start of the 2018-19 academic year.
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said it would apply to all pupils in years two to nine and involve personalised assessments specifically designed for use in Wales.
They will automatically adjust the level of the questions to match the child taking the test, providing an appropriate level of challenge to each one.
She added that the change will reduce marking time and administration.
In response to questions about how the tests will be accessed and the nature of automation involved in the assessment, a spokesperson for the Welsh Government told UKAuthority that the full details of the plan are still being developed.
Benefits
The authority has said the benefits will include more detailed information on a child’s performance, a reduction in feedback times to teachers and learners, and that schools will be able to test classes, small groups or individuals according to their facilities and at a suitable time.
Williams (pictured) said: “These tests are about raising standards by showing the next steps that children need to take in their learning. The move to online personalised assessments for reading and numeracy will benefit pupils, parents and teachers.
“Pupils will be taking assessments that will adapt to their needs and skills. They will have the benefits of automatic marking and schools will have feedback faster than before, giving them a better picture of how they can help all their learners to move on.”
Image from Welsh Government, Open Government Licence v3.0
