Longitudinal assessment of learning outcomes in basic education, first and third grade

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) will implement a longitudinal assessment of learning outcomes in basic education. The aim of the assessment is to get information about learning outcomes and changes in students’ competence curves focusing in mother tongue and literature (Finnish, Swedish, and Finnish as a second language) and mathematics. Students’ transversal competences will be assessed concurrently according to the new Finnish national core curriculum (Finnish National Agency for Education, 2014).

The target group of the first assessment is first graders in primary education in fall 2018. During the first phase, data will be collected two times from the same pupils in order to get information about learning outcomes and changes in students’ competence curves during the first two school years. The assessments will be implemented in the beginning of the first grade and at the first transition point, in the beginning of the third grade in fall 2020.

After the first phase, it is possible to implement follow-up assessments with the same pupils and assess their learning outcomes and competence curves at the later transition point (after 6th grade) and at the end of the primary education (9th grade) ‒ and in upper secondary or higher education.

The first report of the first grade assessment has been published (in Finnish).