Overview
Identification
Country or Region
PakistanTitle
National Achievement Test
Study Type
National student assessment
Summary
Abstract
The National Assessment Test (NAT) is administered annually by the National Educational Assessment System and the Provincial Assessment Centers to grade 4 (ISCED 1) and grade 8 (ISCED 2) students in general education programmes in public schools. At the beginning, the assessment was administered every four years.
The NAT is a low-stake assessment. It is a written assessment, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. At each grade, all test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.
The NAT serves the following purposes:
- supporting teachers (training, relevant materials, etc.)
- school or educator accountability
- promoting competition among schools
- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes
- monitoring education quality levels
- planning education policy reforms
- reforming curriculum and school based assessments
Kind of Data
Random sample
Units of Analysis
Results are reported at the student, school, sub-national and national levels. Data are disaggregated by sex, geographic location (urban and rural), major cities and provinces.
Results are published in reports that are available in print and online. The results are published in the media, and disseminated through brochures and newsletters.
Scope
Notes
The NAT assesses several subjects: English language, Urdu language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
However, not all subjects are assessed every year for each class. In 2014, the NAT assessed English language and Science in Grade 4; and Urdu language and Mathematics in Grade 8.
The Mathematics, Science and Social studies test can be taken in English, Urdu and Sindhi. The test language depends on the children's geographic location. For example, children in Sindh province take the tests in Sindhi.
Description of test items: Test items consist of multiple choice questions with three or more response options, open-ended questions requiring short constructed responses and essay writing.
Description of stimuli: Test stimuli consist of continuous, non-continuous and mixed texts.
Reporting metrics: Student performance is reported by average score. The minimum requirement to meet the national standard is a score of 500 out of 1000, or 50%.
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
National (However, different provinces may be covered every year)
Universe
Students enrolled in grade 4 (ISCED 1) and grade 8 (ISCED 2) in general education programmes in public schools.
Producers and Sponsors
Primary Investigator(s)
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|
|
National Educational Assessment System
| Government |
|
Provincial Assessment Centers
| Provincial governments |
Other Producer(s)
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|
|
National Educational Assessment System
| Government | Test development and administration; data processing and dissemination; programme development |
|
Provincial Assessment Centers
| Provincial governments | Test development and administration; data processing and dissemination; programme development |
|
Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training
| Government | Funding |
Metadata Production
Metadata Produced By
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|
| National Education Assessment System | NEAS | Government | Overall organisation of the assessment process |
| UNESCO Institute for Statistics | UIS | United Nations | Questionnaire design, metadata collection, review and publication |
Date of Metadata Production
2014
DDI Document ID
PAK-NAT-2014
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