Schools shift to new transition test amid concerns over fairness and consistency
Hundreds of primary schools in the Netherlands are switching to a different transition test for their eighth-grade students this year. This shift is notable, as the Ministry of Education maintains that it doesn’t matter which of the six available tests a student takes.
According to data obtained by the Volkskrant from the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO), the test from market leader Cito is growing in popularity. The “Leerling in Beeld” test was selected 83,275 times, compared to 77,767 last year, marking an increase of roughly 7 percent. Meanwhile, the "Route 8" test by A-vision saw a significant decrease, with requests falling from 21,371 last year to just 13,736 this year, a 36 percent drop.
The transition test, which will be administered again at the end of this month, replaced the final exam last year. Its goal, like the previous exam, is to determine the most appropriate secondary school level for each student. A key change this year is that the teacher’s judgment is no longer the deciding factor; instead, the outcome of the test is critical. Additionally, schools are now required to advise students in a way that promotes equal opportunities, which could mean raising the recommendation level for certain students.
The shift in preferences by schools is largely driven by the results from the previous year. The Cito test, for example, was associated with a higher number of recommendations for students to attend HAVO/VWO (Dutch high schools), exceeding the national average. On the other hand, Route 8 often led to fewer HAVO/VWO recommendations and more students being directed toward practical education. The Route 8 test had a higher usage in special primary schools.
The Ministry of Education does not view the shift in test preferences as a concern. "As long as students receive the same advice based on equal performance on the various tests, that’s fine," said a spokesperson for the Ministry.
Perceived differences
Despite the Ministry’s claims that it doesn't matter which test is used, school leaders seem to believe that the choice of test affects the outcome. "Schools are responding to the perceived differences between the tests," says Merel Doeser, spokesperson for the PO-raad, the representative body for primary education. "They expect this to enhance the chances for their students."
Last year’s test results led to significant unrest among school leaders. Many noticed that the results of the transition tests often deviated sharply from their students’ previous performance, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Concerns were raised that there were structural differences between the outcomes of the various tests.
The Ministry of Education explained that these discrepancies could be attributed to certain types of schools consistently choosing specific tests. They also stated that this should not matter, as all tests had been standardized for the first time, making them comparable to one another.
David Izelaar, director of A-vision, the company behind the Route 8 test, confirms that the drop in its test’s popularity is likely a result of disappointing results. He is investigating the causes, suggesting that the standardized norms might not work as well for his test. Furthermore, some schools may prefer paper-based tests, while Route 8 is only available in digital format, while other providers offer both options.
The cost of maintaining the multi-test system is 8.5 million euros annually, including the development of standardized norms. Test providers receive half a million euros for creating a test, plus an amount per student who takes the test. Consequently, providers have a financial incentive to encourage schools to select their tests.
Criticism of the multi-test system is growing from several quarters. The PO-raad advocates for a single transition test, arguing that the current system fails to achieve the intended goal of equal opportunities. Members of the Tweede Kamer have also called for a return to a single test. A motion proposed by D66 to explore this option was passed in December with a broad majority in the House of Representatives.
However, State Secretary Mariëlle Paul (Education) has repeatedly emphasized that the current system reflects a widely shared political desire. Until 2015, Cito was the sole provider of the final test for eighth-grade students. The Tweede Kamer considered it important to reduce Cito's monopoly and give schools more freedom of choice.
