External Standardised Tests

Purpose

What is it testing and how?

National Assessment Program

Literacy and Numeracy
(NAPLAN)
NAPLAN tests provide point-intime information for students,
parents, teachers and principals
about student achievement
which can be used to inform
teaching and learning programs.
(VCAA, 2016)
NAPLAN tests assess a students
skills and knowledge in the
subject areas of reading, writing,
spelling, punctuation and
grammar and numeracy. Over a
period of 3 days, students in
years 3, 5,7 and 9 sit tests in a
written format. Questions can be
either multiple-choice, short
answer or require students to
write a story. See What is
NAPLAN for more information.
Tests range from 40-65 minutes
depending on year level and
topics mentioned above. NAPLAN
2016 Timetable.

What are the findings/

outcomes of the test?

Students receive individual

results and are placed on a scale
with band 1 below the national
standard and band 6 well above
the expected level.
School NAPLAN results are sent
to the school in
August/September and are
available to the general public
through the MySchool website.

Who develops the test and

what is their mission/values?

Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting
Authority (ACARA). ACARA seeks
to support 21st learning for all
Australian students. (NAP, 2013)
See more information at About
ACARA.

Trends in International
Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS)
TIMSS monitors international
trends and progress in
mathematics and science
achievement every four years.
(IEA, 2016)

TIMSS tests students in grades 4

and 8 every four years, testing
students on their mathematical
and scientific knowledge and
understanding. A TIMSS test
consists of multiple choice
questions and constructed
response items half of the
total number in each format.
The choice of question format is
determined by the
mathematical or scientific
content being assessed.
(Martin, Mullis and Foy, 2015)
TIMSS also collects data from
schools about learning
environments, school resources,
student attitudes, instructional
practices and support at home.
(IEA, 2016)
The findings of TIMSS tests
enable countries to monitor
progress on their education
systems in an international
context. These results help lead
discussions and improve
achievement outcomes. (TIMSS
PIRLS, 2012)
Student results are accumulated
in countries and placed into a
graph comparing each
countries results against one
another. See 2011 TIMSS
Mathematics Results for further
details. (Mullis et al., 2011)
TIMSS is conducted by the
International Study Centre in
Boston College. TIMSS was
developed by The International
Association for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement (IEA).
See About IEA for more
information and their mission
statement.