Testing in years 3 & 4

[domesticsluttery]

DS1 came home today and said that the whole class (years 3&4) were given a test today to see if they needed "harder or easier work". DS2, who is in Year 2, was also given the same test but appears to be the only child tested in Year 2.

The test consisted of sentences where they had to fill in gaps, for example "The girl -- over the gate" then they had a list of words to choose from to put in the gap. Some questions were harder than others.

Does anyone know what this test was?

We are in Wales if that makes any difference.

DS2 says it said "Group Reading Test" on the front. I have Googled but I am still none the wiser really! Does it just test reading age or something else?

It sounds very like the old Nfer Group reading test - yes it gives a reading age

When you say "old" does that mean outadated and rubbish?

I'm a little puzzled by Reading Age Tests TBH as the ones that I have seen just seem to test ability to read a word rather than understand it. Is this right or am I just overly cynical?

DS2 in particular seems to be being tested a lot this term, usually the only person in his year, and school are being a bit wooly about telling me why. They are apparently going to explain fully at parents evening

Excuse spelling in last post, its a good job they aren't testing me!

No there are lots of different types which is why "reading ages" need to viewed with caution. Some are single word reading tests - Schonell Some are sentence reading tests - Salford Some check comprehension - YARK
Nfer - was/is a multi choice test where the child selects the correct word to complete a sentence - as with all multi choice tests there is an element of chance- 1-4 chance of guessing correctly

That sounds like the one.

At least they should theoretically score at least 25%

I haven't used it for at least 15 years (think it's been revised) but it is age standardised

DS2 did a test on the computer a couple of weeks ago too which involved teddy bears, it was apparently testing various areas and not just reading. Is this likely to be Nfer too?