Much summative assessment – for example, the national tests that pupils in England take
at the ages of 11 and 14 – depends on written tests of necessarily limited duration. As
already noted, this format restricts the range of learning outcomes that can be assessed and
excludes many of the higher-level cognitive and communication skills and the ability to
learn both independently and collaboratively. The high stakes attached to the results
encourage teaching to the test and excessive practising of test-taking. Research confirms that this can result in pupils being taught to pass tests even when they do not have the
skills that are supposedly being tested. A study commissioned by the Department for
Education and Skills (DfES) concluded that while drilling 11-year-olds to pass national
tests is likely to boost results it may not help pupils’ longer-term learning. The narrow
range of learning outcomes assessed by tests contrasts with the broad view of learning
goals reflected in the DfES Every Child Matters policy document.