MONITORING STANDARDS IN EDUCATION
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SCHOOL ASSESSMENT MATERIALS

The Assessment Materials

MSE produces school assessment materials for school use. These materials are based on the assessments that are used in the Random Sample assessment program. They allow schools to compare their students' standards with those across the state, in particular the state mean performance and range of performance.

The assessment materials are standards-based. The Curriculum Framework and Outcomes and Standards Framework form the basis for assessing and reporting. The materials allow for inferences to be made of students' level achievement in the substrands, the mean level performance of a class and/or cohort and the range of levels that a class or cohort achieves.

The assessments use standardised tests that are developed through a rigorous consultative process with WA educational experts. Reference group input, paneling of test items, initial piloting with students and extensive trialing in WA schools occurs prior to administration of the assessments in WA classrooms.

As the assessments are standardised, they are an important tool for assisting moderation of student outcomes across the system.

Assessments are available in all learning areas. Depending on the nature of the learning area, the assessment materials consist of stimulus materials (print/audio/video), student test booklets, teacher administration instructions, marking keys with moderation instructions, guidelines for analysing results, and performance profiles or progress maps.

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Why Use the Materials

The materials can be used by schools to achieve a number of goals:

Classroom Use
At the classroom level, teachers can use the results to:

  • Diagnose individual students' strengths and weaknesses in terms of actual skills and understandings that the student does or does not demonstrate on the assessment
  • Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the class as a whole
  • Determine the strengths and weaknesses in the teaching of aspects of the curriculum
  • Obtain an indication of level achievement in the substrands described in the Outcomes and Standards Framework

The assessment materials can also be used:

  • To assist teachers when setting their own assessment criteria
  • As models of good assessment tasks
  • To moderate individual teacher judgment with that of the state

Whole School Use
At the whole school level, school administrators can use the results to:

  • Infer level achievement in the substrands described in the Outcomes and Standards Framework
  • Make comparisons with the state mean
  • Make comparisons with the state range
  • Track year cohorts longitudinally
  • Report to the school community
  • Inform school development plans
  • Provide continuity for students between schools (primary/primary and primary/high)

The assessment materials can also be used to:

  • Moderate teacher judgments across the school with those of the state

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When to Use the Materials

The state data is gathered through the random sample assessment program in September. Therefore, to make valid comparisons with the statewide data, students should be assessed as close to September as possible.

However, as the materials can be used to achieve a number of goals, the time of administration will vary from school to school. If tests are administered at other times of the year, comparisons with state data should only be made with students' age and development and the degree of curriculum exposure in mind.

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Which Students should Sit the Assessments

The MSE assessment material is based on the Random Sample assessments, which are, for most learning areas, designed for students in years 3, 7, and 10. Therefore, it is best to use the materials with these year groups.

However, depending on the information required from the assessments, it is possible to use them with other year groups. For example, some larger schools may wish to use year 7 materials at the commencement of the school year to inform the organisation of year 8 classes. In other cases, some teachers may use the assessments to gain diagnostic information on skills and understandings that students may or may not have. For example, a teacher of year 4 may use the year 3 materials for diagnostic purposes. This information can then inform planning for the year.

If the assessments are administered to students in years other than years 3, 7 and 10, comparisons with state data should be interpreted with caution. The degree of curriculum exposure that these students have had, and their age and development, should be considered in any judgements about performances.

Before administering an assessment to a cohort, schools should determine whether students in that cohort have previously sat the assessment. Where students have had prior exposure, results are likely to be inflated and therefore not an accurate estimation of performance. However, it is possible that students may not engage with a test on a second sitting, and the results may be deflated.

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Cautions

School administrators and teachers should remember the following cautions when using MSE school assessment materials:

  • Assessments do not cover an entire curriculum. However, they assess the important knowledge and skills described in the Outcomes and Standards Framework for all learning areas
  • The results provide only one source of information. Supplementation is required from other sources before a determination of a student's progress is made
  • The materials cannot be used to compare teachers and schools
  • The teachers instructions should be followed to maximise standardisation

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Costs

The MSE assessment materials are intended for school use only. They are provided as a service, free of charge, to WA Government schools. Costs, including postage costs, for educational institutions other than Western Australian government schools will be applied.

Details of costs can be found via the Links to the Learning Areas (see section below).

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Links to Details of Assessment Materials

Click on the Learning Area links to find out more about the materials.

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Ordering Assessment Materials

To order Assessment Materials Click on Ordering Assessment Materials.
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