Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum: Guidelines for Schools (NCCA, 2007) describes eight assessment methods which teachers use to gather evidence about children’s
progress in learning and to inform the next steps. Standardised testing is one of these methods. The administration of standardised tests to whole classes is inappropriate in infant
classes. The whole class administration of a test may be confusing and upsetting for young children at this early stage of development given the attention capacity needed to
complete a test booklet.
The developers of the Drumcondra reading and maths tests for 1st to 6th classes at the Education Research Centre, and the Micra-T and Sigma-T for 1st to 6th classes at Fallons,
are clear that these standardised tests, if used before the end of First class, should be administered in small groups only. Sharing test scores on report cards for infant classes is
not recommended.