New Standardized Tests Launch in Icelandic Primary Schools

New standardized assessments will be introduced in primary schools across Iceland this March. Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir, director of the Centre for Educational Services and School Administration, expressed high hopes for the exams. She said the results will help parents better understand their children's academic progress in key subjects. Coordinated diagnostic tests were previously administered to students in grades 4, 7, and 9 until 2021, when they were temporarily discontinued. Since then, new versions of these tests have been under development and are now ready for use. The updated assessments cover mathematics and reading comprehension and will be given annually to students from fourth through tenth grade. Schools are only required to administer them in grades 4, 6, and 9. The testing window spans four full weeks, allowing flexibility for schools to integrate the exams into regular classroom routines. According to Þórdís Jóna, students will simply attend school as usual and take the test at some point during that period. She emphasized that the assessments are shorter than previous versions and designed to fit seamlessly into the school year. The tests are part of an evaluation process that includes both status and progress measurements. Students in all grades from fourth through tenth will have access to the tests, but mandatory administration applies only to specific grades. The four-week window ensures that the assessments become a natural part of the school schedule rather than an interruption.