Research and analysis

National curriculum test handbook: 2016 and 2017

Information on the processes for the design, development and delivery of the 2016 and 2017 key stage 1 and key stage 2 national curriculum tests.

Documents

National curriculum test handbook: 2016 and 2017

National curriculum test handbook: 2016 and 2017 technical appendix

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Details

The government introduced a new national curriculum for schools in England in 2014. This curriculum was assessed in mathematics, English reading and English grammar, punctuation and spelling for the first time in 2016.

The National curriculum test handbook: 2016 and 2017 describes how the tests of the new curriculum at key stages 1 and 2 were designed, developed and delivered and presents validity and reliability evidence related to the tests.

The handbook has been produced by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). STA is an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) and is regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) using Ofqual’s regulatory framework for national assessments.

This document will be of interest to those involved in assessment, including teachers and other education professionals.

The National curriculum test handbook: 2016 and 2017 technical appendix contains data from the 2016 and 2017 live national curriculum test administrations.

It includes:

  • information on item writing agencies
  • information on trialling agencies
  • dates of governance meetings
  • dates and numbers of standard setting participants
  • item metadata
  • test statistics
  • numbers of papers sent to schools
  • test orders for modified versions of the tests
  • review marking outcome links
Published 21 December 2017