Lesson 12: teaching speaking in primary level pupils: monologue and dialogue questions to be discussed

3. Testing primary level pupils

Assessment is a tool for collecting and making use of information about the pupils’ learning experience, achievements and progress made. On the grounds of the assessments’ results, the perspectives for learning are planned and the education process is individualized. Assessment also helps to measure the level of success achieved by individual teachers and schools and to make reasonable judgments. While achieving better learning outcomes it is most important to sustain the pupils’ psychological safety. Due to this, a favourable climate for the child in the classroom, where pupils are not afraid to ask questions, has to be created. Pupils should not be afraid to make mistakes and differ in opinion from their peers.

In preparing its curriculum, each school stipulates the methods and orders for assessing pupils’ learning achievements and progress. The teachers plan their pupils’ learning achievements and their assessment in line with agreements reached by the school. They should also take into account the learning achievements, needs and capabilities of their pupils. When planning the learning achievements and assessments for pupils in grade 1, the teachers familiarise themselves with the recommendations of pre-primary teachers or those of the joint group of pre-school teachers to make a conclusion about the child’s performance.

Pupils’ achievements in primary schools are recorded as short commentaries and descriptions. Grades/marks (points) or signs and symbols are not used.

Pupils’ achievements are not compared publicly. The progress of a particular pupil is monitored and assessed, comparing current and previous achievements. If parents (guardians) request, the pupil’s position among his/her peers can be indicated, but only confidentially. It is emphasized that parents should be more concerned if their child reaches his/her full potential and not what his/her rank is.