Teachers' views on the effect of compulsory statewide numeracy testing on the teaching of mathematics in the primary school.

Abstract

This paper reports on teachers' views on the effects of compulsory numeracy testing in Years 3, 5, and 7 in Queensland primary schools. In a pilot study, teachers in city and country schools were surveyed to determine their opinions about the appropriateness and validity of the tests, the influence that such testing has had on their teaching and assessing of mathematics, and how they are using the results of the tests. Even in a relatively small sample, there is great diversity of opinion about the tests, and it appears that of the test results are not being used to any great extent