Assessment Development

NFER has been developing tests and other assessments for many sponsors, including national governments, for over 70 years. We develop print and digital tests for summative or formative assessment of a wide range of topics and subjects, across a wide age-range. In addition, we have developed our own tests for Primary progress tracking and monitoring of the core subjects.

What is the purpose of assessment?

The purpose of assessment is a key question that determines how assessments are developed and used. The assessments we have developed for use in schools generally fulfil one or more of the following functions:

  • to provide opportunities for diagnosis of areas of learning that require further development/consolidation
  • to provide performance data on pupils to enable measurement of attainment and monitoring of progress
  • to provide value-added data
  • to monitor national standards over time
  • to allow for international comparisons such as PIRLS, TIMSS and PISA
  • to inform professional development and training for teachers.