Science Literacy 2006 school release materials - NAP

• report to school authorities on students’ achievements in science• set priorities for school development planning; and• provide continuity for students moving from other schools.In using the test materials, it should be noted that:• the National Assessment Program – Science Literacy is a comprehensiveassessment but cannot assess all science knowledge and skills.• test results are one source of information about students’ progress, andinformation from other sources is necessary for accurate assessments to bemade.• the materials cannot be used to compare teachers and schools.The Assessment Administration Guidelines (see Chapter 3) must befollowed carefully.Using the results from the Science LiteracySchool AssessmentAlthough the major scientific concepts tested – Earth and Beyond, Energy andChange, Life and Living, and Natural and Processed Materials – are common to alljurisdictions, the manner in which they are taught varies according to the teachingstrategies used in individual classrooms, teachers’ own science backgrounds andenthusiasm for science, and the student outcomes established by the curriculumframeworks in use in particular States and Territories.Also, due to differences between jurisdictions in the way in which primaryschooling is structured, there are variations in the average ages of students and thelength of prior schooling at the time of testing.However, although the ways in which these test materials are used will inevitablyvary, they can provide very valuable information at the classroom, school andsystem levels.It is important to remember that these tests were developed through a rigorousconsultative process that included input from educational experts and referencegroups. The items and tasks were subjected to intensive development and weretrialled and administered under strict conditions to ensure the soundness of theNational Assessment Program. Users can therefore be confident that these testsmeet the highest possible professional and ethical criteria.