{"id":9619,"date":"2024-11-20T12:42:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T12:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/?p=9619"},"modified":"2024-11-22T15:05:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T15:05:37","slug":"what-is-test-standardisation-and-why-does-it-matter-to-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/what-is-test-standardisation-and-why-does-it-matter-to-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"What is test standardisation and why does it matter to schools?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the years I have worked extensively to support schools with pupil assessment, tracking and monitoring. I’ve developed numerous assessment systems, in particular, to help reduce teacher workload but also to ensure that data is meaningful, manageable and supports teaching and learning. Assessment for learning does include both formative and summative assessment. In this blog, I\u2019ll explore the significance of test standardisation, its benefits, and how it impacts children’s learning for the better.<\/p>

What is test standardisation and why is it important?<\/strong><\/h5>

Completing a test will give you a raw score (e.g. 35 out of 50) but, on its own, the raw score isn\u2019t particularly useful as it doesn\u2019t give any context of how successful the child that has been in comparison to other tests or nationally. For example, if most children taking the same test get 45 or more out of 50 (it’s an easy test) the child getting 35 out of 50 is probably not achieving expectations, even though they scored what is normally assumed a pretty good percentage score of 70%. On a different test a child may get a raw score of 20 out of 50. This child may well be achieving national expectation if most children only score 15 out of 50 on the test (it’s a hard test). <\/p>

Standardised tests enable comparisons between different tests because they usually give the average raw score on a test the value of 100. This is irrespective of the difficulty of the test, so it is easy to see whether a child is above or below the average of 100. 50% will be at and above 100 and 50% will be below. These tests can also be age standardised.<\/p>

With a standardised score, 100 is awarded to show the national average score for that test. If a child achieves a standardised score of 100, they have achieved the average score of that test compared to other children nationally who have taken the same test. Any standardised score above 100 means a child has achieved an above average score. A standardised score that is less than 100 means a child has achieved a below average score. This easily shows teachers whether a child is achieving above or below the national average and by how much to show how successful a child has been in that test. <\/p>

A standardised score also allows you to compare children\u2019s achievements across different tests, enabling teachers to analyse a child\u2019s achievements more accurately. Children can be classified borderline national expectation if they achieve a standardised score between 85 and 90. Some of them will go on to achieve national expectation in future tests. Any with standardised scores between 91 and 95 will have even more a chance of achieving national expectation in the future and, as a rule of thumb, a child achieving a standardised score of 95 or above should achieve a scaled score of 100 or above and therefore achieve national expectation in future tests.<\/p>

But be warned it is not an exact science, we know all children are unique and how they achieve on one test on one day has lots of other factors involved. However standardised tests are a great way to support accurate teacher assessment and help highlight any gaps in learning.<\/p>

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Entering White Rose Maths Test Scores for a Standardised Score Conversion<\/strong><\/h5>

Accurate time-saving teacher assessment in maths is essential in primary schools. How? Easy.<\/p>

If you’re on Maestro and use White Rose Maths<\/a> end-of-block or termly tests, then simply follow the instructions below or click to watch the video demonstration:<\/p>

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Watch video instructions<\/a><\/div><\/div>
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Adding test events to your timetable<\/strong><\/p>

To enter test scores into Maestro, you will need to add the test to the Timetable. To do this you can either add a test event by clicking on the timetable or by going to Pupil tests<\/strong> then Test selection<\/strong> on the sidebar menu.<\/p>