Illawarra parents have mixed feelings about revamped NAPLAN test
A recent change to the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) test system in the Illawarra region has sparked mixed reactions among parents. The new system, which uses a four band scale instead of the previous ten band scale, has both its proponents and opponents.
While some parents believe that the previous ten band system was better for accurately gauging their children’s academic performance, others feel that the new four band system provides a more manageable and less stressful experience for their kids. Mr. Nolan, the owner of Illawarra Tutoring, highlights the importance of reducing the pressure that students feel during standardized testing.
Standardized tests like NAPLAN can create a high-stress environment for students as they are often seen as benchmarks for their academic abilities. The switch to a four band system is seen as an attempt to alleviate this pressure by simplifying the grading scale and making it easier for students to understand and interpret their results.
Proponents of the previous ten band system argue that it offered a more nuanced assessment of students’ abilities and provided a clearer indication of their strengths and weaknesses. However, critics of the ten band system believe that it encouraged an unhealthy focus on achieving high scores and placed unnecessary pressure on students to perform at a certain level.
The mixed reactions from parents highlight the ongoing debate surrounding standardized testing and the best methods for evaluating students’ academic progress. While the four band system may be seen as a step towards a less stressful testing environment, it remains to be seen whether it accurately reflects students’ true abilities.
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