PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

The test is only one part of Qatar’s comprehensive assessment system. Anotherrole is played by classroom-based tests developed by teachers. The third componentconsists of international assessments that allow for the comparison of the performanceof Qatari students with those in other countries. The Evaluation Institute oversees theimplementation of the three major international student assessments—TIMSS, PIRLS, andPISA—the last two focus on reading.In addition, high-stakes summative tests are conducted in all Ministry of Educationschools at the end of each grade. Students are tested in all Ministry of Education schools,during the same school week by a writing and oral reading test assigned by the school.Independent schools are free to choose both the time and the test used for determiningstudents’ grades.Monitoring Individual Student ProgressIn grades 1 to 4, students are monitored and progress is documented with assessmentcards by the schools. Students take both oral and written examinations for this purpose.In grades 1 and 2, verbal assessments are predominant. In the upper grades, both verbaland written assessments are used, as well as homework grades.Starting with the Qatar Comprehensive Educational Assessment’s 2006 administration,individual student performance in all subject areas (and strands) tested in this assessmentare reported in customized reports to students and parents. This includes information onperformance on the overall subject area of Arabic as well as the reading strand, indicatingwhether students have met the Qatar Curriculum Standards.PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaQatarTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 317