Sa chuid thíos tá freagra tugtha againn ar na ceisteanna is comónta a chuirtear faoi thrialacha caighdeánaithe agus faoi thrialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO. Má tá tuilleadh eolais ag teastáil uait, déan teagmháil linn le do thoil ag tests@erc.ie
Cén fáth a bhfuil na trialacha seo á ndéanamh ag mo pháiste?
Bíonn ar bhunscoileanna trialacha caighdeánaithe a dhéanamh i Rang 2, 4 agus 6 sa Mhatamaitic agus sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla (i scoileanna Béarla), chomh maith le léitheoireacht na Gaeilge (i scoileanna Gaeilge). Déanfaidh go leor scoileanna gach dalta a thástáil gach bliain mar go ligeann sé dóibh dul chun cinn agus riachtanais na ndaltaí a rianú.
Cén cineál trialacha atá i gceist le trialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO?
Is éard atá i gceist le trialacha Dhroim Conradh an FTO ná an rud ar a dtugtar trialacha caighdeánaithe orthu. Tomhaiseann trialacha caighdeánaithe gnóthachtáil dalta i gcomparáid le daltaí i ngach scoil in Éirinn. Tá siad difriúil ó leithéidí na Sraithe Sóisearaí nó na hArdteistiméireachta, áit a athraíonn ábhar na trialach gach bliain. De ghnáth, déantar trialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO a athfhorbairt gach cúpla bliain chun a chinntiú go bhfuil siad suas chun dáta maidir le hathruithe sa chóras oideachais (mar shampla, uasdátaithe ar an gcuraclam) mar aon le saolta agus spéiseanna ilghnéitheacha dhaltaí na hÉireann.
Is éard atá i gceist le trialacha Dhroim Conradh an FTO ná trialacha íseal-gheallta toisc nach gcinneann na torthaí cad iad na roghanna a bheidh ag páiste sa todhchaí (ar an mbealach a d’fhéadfadh scór as scór ar scrúdú stáit ar nós na Ardteistiméireachta, mar shampla). Úsáideann scoileanna trialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO chun múinteoirí agus tuismitheoirí a choinneáil ar an eolas faoi conas atá ag éirí le foghlaim na ndaltaí, agus faoi na cineálacha tacaíochta agus deiseanna foghlama a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil uathu chun cabhrú leo an chéad uair eile. I gcodarsnacht leis sin, is sampla í an Ardteistiméireacht de thriail ardgheallta mar is féidir leis na torthaí tionchar a bheith acu ar roghanna staidéir agus gairme sa todhchaí.
Cé chomh cruinn agus atá scóir na dtrialacha?
Cé go bhfuil na trialacha deartha chun meastacháin mhaithe a thabhairt ar ghnóthachtáil daltaí, ba chóir duit cuimhneamh go bhfuil lamháil earráide i gceist le scór trialach gach páiste. Is é is cúis leis seo ná go seasann triail do “ghrianghraf” amháin den ghnóthachtáil, agus de bharr gur dócha go n-athródh toradh dalta beagán ag brath ar conas a mhothaíonn siad ar an lá. Cur i gcás, an méid fuinnimh atá acu; má tá siad neirbhíseach; má tá ocras orthu nó má tá siad tinn. Athróidh a dtorthaí beagán freisin bunaithe ar na ceisteanna tástála ar leith a fheiceann siad. Mar shampla, b’fhéidir go n-éireodh le leanbh a bhfuil grá acu don spórt beagáinín níos fearr ná mar is gnách agus iad ag léamh téacs faoi imreoir peile mar go bhfuil níos mó taithí acu ar na focail a úsáidtear. Tá sé úsáideach cuimhneamh ar an lamháil earráide seo i gcónaí agus tú ag iarraidh scór tástála do linbh a thuiscint. B’fhéidir go mbeadh sé ina chuidiú smaoineamh ar scór tástála caighdeánaithe mar phíosa amháin sa “mhír mearaí” faisnéise faoi fhoghlaim do linbh.
Is féidir leat tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar an tástáil chaighdeánaithe agus ar a cuspóir ó shuíomh gréasáin na Comhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) anseo.
An féidir liom “samplaí” de na trialacha nó “iarpháipéir” a fháil?
Níl samplaí de thrialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO ar fáil do thuismitheoirí/chaomhnóirí ar an mbealach atá siad ar fáil do scrúduithe na Sraithe Sóisearaí agus na hArdteistiméireachta, mar shampla. Tá seo amhlaidh toisc go gcaithfimid an t-ábhar trialach a chosaint. Ní bhíonn “iarpháipéir” ann mar go bhfanann an t-ábhar trialach mar a chéile ar feadh roinnt blianta, agus b’fhéidir nach dtagann leaganacha a bhí ann roimhe seo leis an gcuraclam reatha nó leis an gcomhthéacs sóisialta.
Níor cheart do dhaltaí “an triail a chleachtadh” agus níor cheart do mhúinteoirí ábhar trialach Dhroim Conrach an FTO a mhúineadh nó eolas a thabhairt do na daltaí faoin leagan amach a bhaineann leis. Tá na scóir trialach ó thrialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO bunaithe ar shampla ionadaíoch náisiúnta de dhaltaí a rinne an triail gan aon ullmhúchán speisialta don triail. Mar sin, níl torthaí na ndaltaí bailí nó úsáideach a thuilleadh má tá “cleachtadh déanta ag daltaí ar an triail” nó má tá an triail “múinte” ag múinteoirí dóibh.
É sin ráite, is féidir triail a bhaint as triail samplach ar ardán DOTS an FTO. An aidhm atá ag an triail samplach seo ná go léiríonn sé duit conas a ghluaiseann daltaí trí thriail ar DOTS an FTO. Lena chois sin, taispeánann sé roinnt (ní gach ceann) de na gnéithe atá ar fáil agus tú ag déanamh tástála, cur i gcás amadóir agus scáileán athbhreithnithe. Is ceisteanna samplacha éasca iad na ceisteanna sa triail taispeána seo agus ní ábhar trialach ceart atá iontu.
An féidir liom féachaint ar pháipéar trialach/torthaí tástála mo linbh?
Is féidir, chun cloí le RGCS, tá an Foras Taighde ar Oideachas den tuairim go bhfuil tuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí i dteideal breathnú ar pháipéar trialach a bpáiste féin. Is éard a bheidh i gceist leis seo de ghnáth ná leabhrán trialach comhlánaithe do dhaltaí Rang a hAon agus Rang a Dó, agus bileog freagraí comhlánaithe taobh le leabhrán trialach bán do Rang a Trí go dtí Rang a Sé.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach a thabhairt faoi deara go bhfuil ábhar thrialacha Dhroim Conrach an FTO faoi rún agus nach féidir ábhar na dtrialacha a scaipeadh. Bainfidh daltaí eile agus scoileanna úsáid as na trialacha seo sna blianta ina dhiaidh sin, agus ní mór an t-ábhar a choinneáil slán lena chinntiú go bhfanann na torthaí bailí.
Molann an Foras Taighde Oideachas nach féidir breathnú ar fhreagraí páiste ach amháin faoi mhaoirseacht bhall foirne scoile. Ní cead grianghraf a ghlacadh den ábhar tástála ná fótachóipeáil a dhéanamh air. B’fhéidir go n-iarrfaidh scoil do pháiste ort do ghuthán a fhágáil in áit shábháilte lasmuigh den seomra (m.sh. in oifig na scoile) lena chinntiú go bhfanann ábhar na trialach slán.
Ar chóir go bhfaigheadh do leanbh díolúine ó thástáil?
Is féidir díolúine a thabhairt do dhaltaí ar roinnt cúiseanna. Is féidir le leanaí a bhfuil míchumas fisiceach nó intleachtúil/foghlama orthu díolúine a fháil más rud é go gcuirfeadh an míchumas cosc orthu dul i ngleic leis an triail. Ina theannta sin, féadfar díolúine a thabhairt do leanaí a bhfuil a dtaithí ar an teanga tástála teoranta agus atá ag fáil scolaíochta trí Bhéarla nó trí Ghaeilge le níos lú ná bliain amháin. Ar bhonn ginearálta, ba chóir daltaí chun san áireamh nuair is féidir.
Tá treoir bhreise faoi dhíolúintí agus socruithe réasúnta ar fáil ón Roinn Oideachais anseo. Is le príomhoide na scoile atá an cinneadh díolúine a thabhairt do dhalta ar leith, agus ba chóir go gcuirfí san áireamh riachtanais, cumas agus leas an dalta agus an cinneadh á dhéanamh.
An féidir socruithe réasúnta a dhéanamh?
Is féidir socruithe a dhéanamh do dhaltaí áirithe agus iad ag tabhairt faoi thriail.
D’fhéadfadh an dalta atá i gceist:
- an triail a dhéanamh ag leibhéal níos ísle ná leibhéal an ranga;
- an scrúdú a dhéanamh i seomra ciúin;
- am breise a fháil do shosanna compoird;
- an triail a dhéanamh le tacaíocht ó Chúntóir Riachtanas Speisialta;
- léitheoir a bheith acu don triail matamaitice (cibé léitheoir daonna nó gléas digiteach a léann téacs os ard);
- triail pháipéir a fhreagairt ag baint úsáid as an leabhrán trialach seachas as bileog freagraí (baineann sé seo le Rang 3 aníos);
- úsáid a bhaint as forleagan daite.
D’fhéadfadh cineálacha eile cóiríochta a bheith indéanta freisin agus ba chóir iad a phlé le múinteoir do linbh.
Má dhéantar socrú, ba cheart duit na torthaí tástála a léirmhíniú go cúramach mar go ndearnadh an tástáil ar bhealach difriúil ó na coinníollacha a úsáideadh don chaighdeánú.
Tabhair faoi deara le do thoil nach bhfuil sé inmholta go hiondúil léitheoir a bheith ag dalta do thriail léitheoireachta mar áis réasúnach. Má dhéanann an scoil é seo, ba chóir go dtuigfeá nach litearthacht léitheoireachta sa chiall thraidisiúnta a bhíonn á mheasúnú a thuilleadh, ach scileanna éisteachta teanga.
Cé go bhféadfadh an scór amh (líon ceisteanna a freagraíodh i gceart) roinnt eolais úsáideach a thabhairt faoi eolas teanga an linbh i gcoitinne, ní bheidh sé éasca an scór caighdeánach a léirmhíniú mar scór litearthachta léitheoireachta.
Cé chomh slán agus atá sonraí mo linbh?
Tá slándáil faisnéise scoile agus leanaí ríthábhachtach don Fhoras Taighde ar Oideachas. Bainimid úsáid as slándáil den chineál is nua-aimseartha chun eolas a thugann an scoil dúinn a chosaint. Stóráiltear agus próiseáiltear sonraí de réir dhlíthe na hÉireann agus na hEorpa um chosaint sonraí. Stóráiltear sonraí scoile a sheolann scoileanna chugainn trí DOTS ar fhreastalaí criptithe arna óstáil san LEE ar scamall slán Microsoft Azure.
Tá gnéithe slándála fairsinge agus prótacail ag ardán DOTS an FTO agus Microsoft Azure chun Sonraí Pearsanta a chosaint lena n-áirítear:
- Bréagainmniú agus criptiú ar Shonraí Pearsanta
- Prótacal HTTPS agus fíordheimhniú cónasctha
- Múnla slándála rólbhunaithe Rochtana Srianta
- Salannaítear pasfhocail d’úsáideoirí áitiúla agus baintear iad le algartam Base64
- Ailtireacht slándála srathaithe
- Soláthraíonn Azure SQL feidhmiúlacht iniúchta ionsuite
- Balla Dóiteáin Fheidhmchlár Ghréasáin Azure.
Soláthraíonn Microsoft Azure bunús slán a bhaineann le slándáil fhisiciúil, slándáil ar bhonneagair agus ar oibriúcháin. Úsáideann Microsoft cur chuige srathaithe i leith na slándála agus tá a n-ionaid sonraí deimhnithe chun cloí leis an bpunann is cuimsithí de chaighdeáin agus de dheimhniúcháin a bhfuil aitheantas acu ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta. Má tá tuilleadh eolais ag teastáil uait déan teagmháil linn le do thoil ag tests@erc.ie
In the section below we have answered the most common questions asked about standardised tests and the ERC Drumcondra tests. If you require more information, please contact us at tests@erc.ie
Why is my child doing these tests?
Primary schools have to carry out standardised tests in 2nd, 4th and 6th Class in Mathematics and English reading (in English-medium schools), as well as Irish reading (in Irish-medium schools). Many schools will test all students every year because it allows them to track students’ progress and needs every year.
What kind of tests are the ERC Drumcondra tests?
The ERC Drumcondra tests are what are known as standardised tests. Standardised tests measure a student’s achievement compared to students across all schools in Ireland. They are different from exams like the Junior Cycle or Leaving Certificate, where the content of the test changes every year. The ERC Drumcondra tests are usually redeveloped every few years to make sure they are up to date with changes in the education system (for example, updates to the curriculum) and the diverse lives and interests of students in Ireland.
The ERC Drumcondra tests are what are known as low-stakes tests because their results do not determine what options your child will have in the future (in the way that a score from a score on a state examination like the Leaving Certificate might, for example). Schools use the ERC Drumcondra tests to keep teachers and parents informed about how students’ learning is going, and what kinds of support and learning opportunities they might need to help them next. In contrast, the Leaving Certificate is an example of a high-stakes test because the results can influence future study and career options.
What does my child’s test score mean?
Schools assess students’ learning progress and their needs in lots of different ways. Standardised test results are just one way of assessing students, and scores should be looked at and interpreted along with other assessment methods to help you build an overall picture of your child’s learning. Please remember that these tests are just a snapshot of performance on any particular day. When talking to your child’s teacher about their progress, they will take all elements of your child’s learning into consideration.
How accurate are the test scores?
While the tests are designed to give good estimates of students’ achievement, you should bear in mind that there is a margin of error around every child’s test score. This is because a test represents a single “snapshot” of achievement, and a child’s result is likely to vary a little depending on how they are feeling on the day. For example, how much energy do they have; are they nervous; are they feeling hungry or ill? Their result will also vary slightly based on the particular test questions that they see. For example, a child who loves sport might perform a bit better than usual when reading a text about a football player because they are more familiar with the words used. It is useful to always keep this margin of error in mind when you are trying to understand your child’s test score. It might be helpful to think of a standardised test score as just one piece in the “jigsaw” of information about your child’s learning.
You can find further information on standardised testing and its purpose from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) website here.
Can I get “samples” of the tests or “past papers”?
Samples of the ERC Drumcondra tests are not available to parents/guardians in the way that they are available for the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations, for example. This is because we need to protect the content of the test. “Past papers” do not exist because the content of the test stays the same for a number of years, and previous versions may not correspond to the current curriculum or social context.
Pupils should not “practise the test” and teachers should not teach the actual content of an ERC Drumcondra test or make the students familiar with their format. Test scores from ERC Drumcondra tests are based on a nationally representative sample of pupils who took the test with no special preparation for the test. Because of this, pupils’ results are no longer valid or useful if pupils have “practised the test” or if teachers have “taught to the test”.
However, it is possible to try a demo test on the ERC DOTS platform. The purpose of this demo test is to show you how the student moves through a test on ERC DOTS. It also shows you some (but not all) of the features available when taking a test, such as a timer and a review screen. The questions in this demo test are easy sample questions and not actual test content.
Can I view my child’s test paper/test results?
Yes, to comply with GDPR, the Educational Research Centre is of the view that parents/guardians are entitled to view their own child’s test script. This will usually be a completed test booklet for First and Second class, and a completed answer sheet alongside a blank test booklet for Third to Sixth class.
It is very important to note that the content of the ERC Drumcondra tests is confidential and test content cannot be circulated. Other pupils and schools will use these tests in subsequent years, and the content must be kept secure to make sure that results remain valid.
The Educational Research Centre recommends that a child’s answers can only be viewed under the supervision of a school staff member. The test content must not be photographed or photocopied. Your child’s school may ask you to leave your phone in a safe place outside the room (e.g. in the school office) in order to ensure that the test content remains secure.
Should my child be exempted from testing?
Pupils can be exempted for a number of reasons. Children who have a physical or intellectual/learning disability that would prevent them from engaging with the test in a meaningful way can be exempted from testing. Also, children whose knowledge of the test language is limited and who have been receiving schooling through English or Irish for less than one year may be exempted. In general, pupils should be included whenever possible.
Additional guidance about exemptions and reasonable accommodations is available from the Department of Education here. The decision to exempt a particular pupil lies with the school principal, and they should take into account the pupil’s needs, abilities, and best interests when making the decision.
Can reasonable accommodations be made?
Accommodations for certain pupils can be made for testing. These could include a child:
- taking the test at a lower level than their class level;
- taking the test in a quiet room;
- getting extra time for comfort breaks;
- taking the test with the support of a Special Needs Assistant;
- having reader for the mathematics test (whether a human reader or a digital device that reads text aloud);
- answering a paper test using the test booklet rather than an answer sheet (applies from 3rd class) upwards;
- using coloured overlays.
Other kinds of accommodation may also be possible and should be discussed with your child’s teacher.
If an accommodation is made, you should interpret the test results cautiously as the test was carried out differently to the conditions used for standardisation.
Please note that it is not usually advisable to have a reader for a reading test as a reasonable accommodation. If the school does this, you should be aware that what is being assessed is no longer reading literacy in the traditional sense, but rather listening language skills.
While the raw score (number of questions answered correctly) may still offer some useful information about the child’s language knowledge more generally, the standard score will not be easily interpretable as a reading literacy score.
How secure is my child’s data?
The security of school and child information is of the utmost importance to the Educational Research Centre. We use state-of-the-art security to safeguard information entered by the school. Data is stored and processed in strict compliance with Irish and European data protection laws. School data inputted by schools through DOTS is stored on an encrypted server hosted in the EEA on the secure Microsoft Azure cloud.
The ERC DOTS platform and Microsoft Azure have extensive security features and protocols to protect Personal Data including:
- Pseudonymisation and encryption of Personal Data
- HTTPS protocol and federated authentication
- Restricted Access role-based security model
- Passwords for local users are salted and hashed with a Base64 algorithm
- Layered security architecture
- Azure SQL provides built in auditing functionality
- Azure Web Application Firewall.
Microsoft Azure provides a secure foundation across physical, infrastructure, and operational security. Microsoft use a layered approach to security and their data centres are certified to comply with the most comprehensive portfolio of internationally-recognized standards and certifications. If you require more information please contact us at tests@erc.ie
