Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/267423 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15686
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
How much young children should be tested and graded is a highly contentious issue in education policy. Opponents consider it detrimental to child mental health, leading to misaligned incentives in educational policy and having little if any redeeming impact on educational performance. Others see early testing of children as a necessary instrument for identifying early underachievement and educational targeting while incentivising schools to improve the educational performance of children. In practice, there is large crosscountry variation in testing regimes. We exploit random variation in test-taking in mathematics among early primary school children in Norway, a low testing environment. We examine two forms of testing, complex but low-stakes mathematics tests and relatively easy screening tests aimed at identifying children in need of educational assistance. In general, we demonstrate zero effects of testing exposure on later test score performance but benefits for screening tests on low-performing students. While we demonstrate no negative effects on student welfare, we do find an indication that testing improves aspects of teaching practices and students' perceptions of teacher feedback and engagement.
Subjects: 
student assessment
testing
student achievement
JEL: 
I28
I24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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