Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the use of a standardised marking distribution also known as a bell curve for Irish as is used in English and maths standardised tests. [62490/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At primary school level standardised testing must be carried out on an annual basis at 2nd, 4th and 6th class as follows:

• English-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in English reading and Mathematics
• Irish-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in Irish reading, English reading and Mathematics

The Drumcondra tests are standardised tests developed by the Education Research Centre (ERC) to assess pupils’ achievement in Irish reading, English reading, Mathematics. The tests are based on Ireland’s curriculum and have been administered to a representative sample of our school population in order to generate a ‘bell curve’ of results. A child’s test score in a particular subject area gives an overall estimate of their achievement relative to the spectrum of achievement of all pupils in Ireland at that grade level. For example, if a child scores in the “average” range on a test (STen 5 or 6), we estimate that their achievement is broadly in line with the national average.”

Please note that the “bell curve” referred to here is the expected outcome where we have a sample of many pupils and where those pupils see many questions. The distribution is not imposed on results by the Centre in the creation of norms. In some tests, in smaller populations, the results may be non-normal (or not following a “bell curve”). However, this is the exception.

Information about the Drumcondra Tests can be found at (www.erc.ie/erc-drumcondra-tests/).

FAQs for Parents () (www.tests.erc.ie/parent-faqs).