The INVALSI testing season is knocking on the door.
From March to June, millions of students at five different school levels - second and fifth grade, eighth grade, second and fifth grade - will be asked to demonstrate the level of skills achieved in four disciplines: Italian, mathematics, English
reading
, English
listening
(listening);
except for second grade and second grade, which do not have an English test.
Tests that will be carried out entirely on the computer - except in primary school, where the paper version remains - according to a calendar that establishes the school within the "windows" set by the institute.
Like every year, the students who will have to face them change.
So it is necessary to review the main information you need to know.
To do this, the student portal Skuola.net consulted the leading expert on the subject:
Roberto Ricci, president of the INVALS
I Institute. Together with him, they built a sort of compass to orient themselves within the 2024 Trials.
What will the 2024 INVALSI test calendar be?
“On March 1st we start with fifth grade students and will continue until March 27th.
Each school will have its own flexible calendar.
For these it will be an exam requirement.
In April it will then be the turn of the eighth graders, from the Thursday after Easter (4 April) until the end of the month.
While the youngest, those in primary schools, will carry them out on May 6th (only fifth graders), 7th and 9th, for the moment in their case still on paper.
Finally, the secondary school students, called to take tests from May 13th to May 31st.
For eighth and fifth grade students there will also be a supplementary test, from May 27th to June 6th".
How long do individual tests last?
“The duration of the tests varies depending on the school level.
Those of older children are longer than those of children.
The standard duration - therefore excluding those children who need more time for personal needs - for older students will still be one and a half hours, a maximum of two hours.
What do the tests consist of?
"
The Italian test consists of reading texts of a different nature (novels, newspaper articles, blogs, etc.) but then there are also questions on vocabulary (understanding the meaning of the words placed in the text) and some of a grammatical nature, again functional to understanding. Mathematics is instead divided into two sections: one concerns the foundations of mathematics, those that one must not forget even when one stops studying, which can be useful in everyday life; the other, more specific to depending on the directions, it will have contents more focused on various paths. Finally, English has the same structure as for the tests that issue certifications and is entirely centered on written and oral communication".
How are the tests carried out?
“The questionnaires are administered on the computer;
a more common, simpler, cheaper and also more ecological tool, not using paper at all.
From a technical-operational point of view, the tests can be carried out with computers but also with tablets.
Typically you go to the computer lab.
The tool is very flexible, schools can organize themselves as they see fit, even on specific dates.
The only obligation is that the tests take place at school."
Who prepares the INVALSI tests?
“The INVALSI tests are structured according to national indications (what were once called programmes) and are prepared by experts but above all, 90% of them, by school teachers with a lot of experience behind them”.
What happens if the computer suddenly stops working, for example due to connection drops or power outages?
“There is a whole range of alternative plans in case, for example, the internet connection drops or the computer crashes.
If the test is interrupted for less than ten minutes, the student can resume, perhaps changing positions.
If the interruption lasts more than ten minutes, the test will have to be repeated, but the system will still have saved the answers given up to that moment."
Is it mandatory to take the INVALSI tests?
“Yes, as required by law.
The reason is to provide students, schools and the school system as a whole with an evaluation parameter on skill levels.
And to have a yardstick for comparison between the various parts of our territory and, in the case of the language test, to also make a comparison with peers from other countries".
What does it mean that tests are an exam requirement in eighth and fifth grades?
“The law requires the student to have taken the tests to be able to take the exam, and that's all.
The INVALSI tests, therefore, do not average the grade of either the middle school diploma or the high school diploma.
It is a great advantage, because you will be able to test yourself without worries, being able to give your best.
A form of self-evaluation.
Among other things, you can also request an electronic test result badge, which is particularly useful especially with regards to the English test".
When will the test results be available?
Results will not be immediately available to the student.
This is mainly because there are many open-ended questions that require a long process of elaboration.
The date of publication of the results then varies depending on the class.
Those in fifth grade should have them already at the end of May.
Those in eighth grade towards the end of June, together with the results of their exams.
The other levels, having no calendar tasks, will have to wait roughly until September.
Once the results have been published, adults will be able to download the tests from the INVALSI website by entering the access credentials provided on the day of the test.
For minors, access to the results will be available through schools or families."
Fifth grade students will have the opportunity to download the so-called digital badges directly from the INVALSI website: what are they?
“Badges can be used in various ways.
To give an example, that of English, reporting standard learning levels, can be recognized as a certification by universities, exempting from any language qualifications that may be required.
Or, for access to various post-high school international study programmes, one of the assessment tools could be a certification of skill levels: the diploma cannot be used while the INVALSI tests can".
But, in the end, what is the purpose of the INVALSI tests?
“The INVALSI tests are very useful.
First of all, to understand what the level of learning is, not only of a student compared to his classmates, but by placing the students in a broader context.
Furthermore, they allow us to develop more specific public policies, as has happened in recent years with the increase in resources invested in improving students' skills.
Without INVALSI it would have been impossible to achieve the same result."
What can you bring on the day of the test?
“For the Mathematics test, rulers, squares, compass, protractors and any type of calculator are permitted (provided they cannot be connected to the Internet).
Furthermore, the same platform on which the tests take place includes a calculator.
For Italian and English, however, the use of a dictionary is not permitted.
Unless there are particular needs for individual students, the same ones who already use study aids on a daily basis."
How can you practice for the INVALSI tests?
“You can do it in two ways: the most important, and perhaps the most difficult, is to study to do well in school every day;
the second is to consult the examples published on the INVALSI website.
Bearing in mind that the contents of all the tests do not require particular memorisation.
For example, if I need a formula, there is a form.
While the Italian test does not require knowledge that goes beyond the text.
What matters is understanding."
Finally, a curiosity: why do the questionnaire ask for personal things, such as how many books are there in the house?
“Knowing the cultural context within which students live helps to better understand the results, and then consequently improve the school system, in order to help the girls and boys most in difficulty”.
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