Children in primary school take many different tests, for example the method tests; these are the tests that have been devised for the methods. Not every school uses the same methods, which makes it difficult to compare these test results with other children from the Netherlands. Schools therefore use national tests such as the Cito or the IEP. The scores a child achieves on the Cito can be compared with all other children who have taken the Cito. This score is called the skill score. The skill score is plotted in a clear graph, creating a clear picture of the child’s skill in a particular area at a glance. This graph is often added to the report and discussed over ten-minute meetings.
- Skill scores
- Student report – what’s in the graph
- Cito scores A to E or I to V
Skill scores
The skill scores give the opportunity to compare children across the country. The number of correct / incorrect on a test is converted into a score that can be compared to that of other children. In addition, it gives the opportunity to compare the children with themselves, for example compared to the year before. The higher the child scores, the higher the skill score. A child in group 3 will score lower on average than a child in group 4. If a child in group 3 makes everything right on the test, he / she still does not have the highest skill score. This is because the test in group 3 is easier than, for example, a test in group 8. The score therefore mainly says something about the level of the child, because it is not logical that a child in group 3 already knows all the material so well that he / she has the same skill score as a child in grade 8.
Student report – what is in the graph
At the average primary school, the children receive a report home about one to three times. This report indicates how a child has developed, where its strengths lie and where the child still needs to improve. The primary schools that use the Cito often also add a graph with the skill score to their report. In that graph you can see the Cito results of the different years. Those Cito results were converted into skill scores.
Below the graph, the x-axis, you see the different test moments. This starts at M3, which means middle group 3, which revolves around the test that was taken around January in group 3. Next comes E3, which comes down to the end of group 3. Then M4, E4 and M5 again. Each time there will be a score of the Cito in the middle of the year and a Cito at the end of the year.
On the left, the y-axis, you see the skill scores. Or rather the special measuring rod from Cito. A higher score means a higher skill.
Every child has its own line
The graph shows a black line, this is the skill score and thus the child’s skill. When that line is rising, it indicates that the child in question has progressed. The green area in the graph indicates the national average. If the black line is above the green area, the child scores better than the average student. If the line is below the green area, the child scores less well than the average student. A child who scores below the green area / average does not have to sound the alarm immediately. Not every child achieves the average level, this is certainly not a problem. However, it is important that the child continues to develop. If the black line (your child’s skill score) decreases, it is important to keep an eye on the child and possibly support it in order to return to the old level. When the black line goes horizontal / flat, it actually indicates that the child has not moved forward, but also not backward. However, the child has had at least 6 months of education and should therefore grow anyway. A horizontal / flat line is therefore also seen as deterioration.
So the most important thing about the graph is that every child has his own level, but must show progress. A child should progress; if the child does not grow, it must be better investigated how this could be possible. However, it is important to see this over a longer period of time. The first 2 to 3 school years will not be completely even and sometimes the skill score will fluctuate widely.
Cito scores A to E or I to V
As indicated in the previous heading, the graph also compares with the other children in the Netherlands, ie the national average level. This is indicated by different areas in different colors. The Cito shows different indications for the different areas that differ from A to E or I to V. In a table where I to V is indicated, the graph is divided into five areas. A score within the green area (III) refers to a level that belongs to the average level in the Netherlands. Also called the 20% of the students who score average. The area with III to II refers to the 20% of the students who score above average. A score from II to I refers to the top 20% in the Netherlands.
When the score is between III and IV, we speak of a score that is below average. The child then belongs to the 20% of students on the average. With a score of IV to V we speak of the weakest 20% in the Netherlands. These scores are below the green area on the graph.
To make things more difficult, a standard from A to E is also used. An A-score is the highest score. However, when using A to E, they do not use 20% increments. They divide it into different percentages, ranging from 25% to 15%. It is therefore important to see which standard is used per graph. See the tables below.
| IV | |
|---|---|
| 20% highest scoring students | I 20% |
| 20% above the national average | II 20% |
| 20% national average | III 20% |
| 20% below the national average | IV 20% |
| 20% lowest scoring students | V 20% |
| AE | |
|---|---|
| 25% highest scoring students | A 25% |
| 25% well above to just above the national average | B 25% |
| 25% just to well below the national average | C 25% |
| 15% well below the national average | D 15% |
| 10% lowest scoring students | E 10% |
