FAQ

In the section below we have answered the most commonly 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 must carry out standardised testing in English reading and Mathematics – and, in Irish-medium schools, Irish in 2nd, 4th and 6th Class. Many schools choose to test all students each year because they find that the results contribute to teachers’ and parents’ understanding of children’s progress and needs. Standardised test results are just one method of assessment, and, many other elements will combine to build an overall picture of your child’s learning. Please remember that these tests are just a snapshot of performance on a day. Teachers will take all elements of your child’s learning into consideration when discussing your child’s progress with you.

Is the test like the Junior or Leaving Certificate exams?

Unlike the Junior Cycle or Leaving Certificate exams, where the test content changes year-on-year, the ERC Drumcondra tests do not change each year. ERC Drumcondra tests are typically redeveloped every few years to reflect changes in the curriculum and the diverse lives and interests of the student population in Ireland.

How accurate are the test scores?

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 and often uses sport-related vocabulary might perform a bit better when reading a passage about an athlete than when reading a passage about a musician. To understand your child’s test score, you should always keep the margin of error in mind. It is 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 paper tests or “past papers”?

In order to protect the integrity of the tests, samples of the ERC Drumcondra tests are not available to parents/guardians. Furthermore, “past papers” do not exist because the test content remains the same for a number of years, and previous versions may not correspond to the current curriculum or social context. Any samples or past papers would be identical to the actual test your child will sit.
It is not intended that pupils would “practise the test” or that teachers would teach the actual content contained in an ERC Drumcondra tests or familiarise pupils with the exact test format. Results from ERC Drumcondra tests are based on a comparison with a nationally representative sample of pupils who took the test with no special preparation. As a result, pupils’ results are no longer valid or useful if pupils have “practised the test” or if teachers have “taught to the test”.
It is worth noting that ERC Drumcondra tests are designed to reflect the curriculum and to provide information about pupil performance in relation to the curriculum. As such, the best way that your child can prepare for ERC Drumcondra tests is to take part in the regular curriculum-based learning activities developed by their teacher.
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 navigates 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 position of the Educational Research Centre is that parents/guardians are entitled to view their own child’s test script. This will usually be a completed booklet for First and Second class and a completed answer sheet alongside a blank booklet for Third to Sixth class.
Please note that the content of the ERC Drumcondra tests is confidential and it is important that it does not circulate among the general public. Other pupils and schools will use these tests in subsequent years, and in order to protect the integrity of the tests, the content must be kept secure.
As such, the Educational Research Centre would stipulate that a child’s answers be viewed under the supervision of a school staff member only. 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, and can reasonable accommodations be made?

Exemptions – The test administration manuals indicate that pupils may be exempted who have a physical or intellectual/learning disability that would prevent them from engaging with the test in a meaningful way, or who have insufficient experience (generally, less than one year) of instruction through English or Irish. In general, we advise that pupils be included whenever possible.
Additional guidance about exemptions and reasonable accommodations is available from the Department of Education here. This document states that the decision to exempt a particular pupil lies with the school principal, taking into account the pupil’s needs, abilities and best interests.
Accommodationscould include, but are not limited to:
  • a child taking the test at a lower level than their class level;
  • taking the test in a quiet room;
  • extra time for comfort breaks;
  • taking the test with the support of a Special Needs Assistant;
  • a 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 primary Level 3 (3rd class) upwards);
  • using coloured overlays.
If an accommodation is made, the test results must be interpreted cautiously as the test was conducted outside standardisation conditions.
Please note that it is not usually advisable to supply 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, 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 interpretable as the comparison with the population is no longer a like-for-like one.

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