National Assessment of Achievement of Students Completing Grade 4 in Year 2015

Period of study: From September 2015 to July 2016

National Assessment of Achievement of Students Completing Grade 4 in the year 2015 is to be conducted by the National Education Research and Evaluation Center (NEREC) in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Education in order to determine the achievement levels of the above students in First Language, Mathematics, English and TIMSS (Mathematics). Similar assessments of achievement of Grade 4 students were carried out in the years 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2013 by the NEREC again with the patronage of the World Bank and the Ministry of Education. These four assessments tested the achievements of students in First Language, Mathematics, English and TIMSS (Mathematics).

While the test papers were constructed based on the then syllabus for studies in years 2004, 2007 and 2009, new test papers were developed for the national assessment conducted in the year 2013. The test papers that will be used for the 2015 assessment will be the same as in the year 2013. This will facilitate the comparison of achievement levels of students in the year 2015 with those of the year 2013.

Main Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this national assessment is to determine the achievement of learning outcomes of students completing grade 04 in the year 2015 and to compare such achievement with that of 2013.

Objectives of the study

1. Assess the extent to which the expected learning outcomes have been achieved by grade 4 students in 2015

2. Identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses of student achievement in relation to subject content and related skills

3. Examine whether there are disparities in achievement in relation to school type, medium of instruction, school location, and gender

4. Compare the achievement level of students in 2013 with that of 2015.

National Report

National Assessment of Achievement of Students Completing Grade 08 in Year 2014

Period of study: From August 2014 to July 2015

The purpose of a national assessment is to provide information on the state of education in a country which will assist authorities to take decisions to improve student achievement. With this intention national assessments of achievement of grade 8 students were carried out by the NEREC in the years 2005 and 2008. These studies assessed the achievement of students in three subject areas, namely, first Language, mathematics and science. National assessment of achievement of grade 08 students carried out in 2012 was based on the revised curriculum. For this, new tests were constructed for English language, mathematics and science. In addition to these three subjects, a test was constructed selecting items from Trends in Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS) that were in line with the Sri Lankan grade 08 curriculum to compare students’ achievement with international level. National Assessment of Achievement of Students Completing Grade 08 in the Year 2014 will be carried out by the NEREC in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and funded by the World Bank. Tests constructed and validated for 2012 for the national assessment purpose will be used as assessment tools for the year 2014 as well. The purpose of using the same tools is to compare the achievement levels in 2012 and with those of 2014.

Main purpose of the study
The main purpose of the above national assessment is to determine the achievement of the learning outcomes of students completing grade 08 in 2014 and to compare such achievement with that of 2012

Objectives of the study

1. Assess the extent to which the expected learning outcomes have been achieved by students

2. Identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses of student achievement in relation to subject content and related skills

3. Examine whether there are disparities in achievement in relation to school type, medium of instruction, school location, and gender

4. Compare the achievement level of students in 2014 with that of 2012.

National Report