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PRIM-gruppen
PRIM stands for PRov I Matematik, which means simply Testing in Mathematics.
As far back as 1956 when Stockholm Institute of Education was founded,
standardized achievement tests were constructed by the Department
of Educational Research. When PRIM-gruppen was established in 1984,
its purpose was to produce central and standardized achievement tests
in mathematics. At present PRIM-gruppen is developing a series of
various assessment and evaluation instruments within different areas.
Besides this PRIM-gruppen takes part in several national and international
projects and organizes courses, evaluations and seminars.
Research
PRIM-gruppen is a research group that conducts its research within
the area of ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, along with identifying and assessing
the vocational knowledge of students. PRIM-gruppen develops, within
this area, ASSESSMENT METHODS in collaboration with researchers, teachers,
pupils, teacher trainers and subject experts.
Developing qualitative assessment methods leads to, among other things,
the use of different types of test items, e.g. items with a more open
character. Knowledge profiles and self-assessments are other examples
that provide students and teachers with opportunities to assess the
level of understanding and competence within a knowledge area. Students’
knowledge progress in mathematics over time and analysis of how students
solve problems in mathematics are examples of the research areas that
are in continuous focus within the group. The students’ ability
to act, ability to cooperate, communicative ability and the students’ ability to take responsibility are research issues that concern vocational
knowledge which PRIM-gruppen focuses on in close collaboration with
working life. Tests and assessments
Tests, diagnostic and assessment materials which aim to provide information
about students’ knowledge in and attitudes towards different
subjects are some of PRIM-gruppen’s main areas of activity.
PRIM-gruppen is involved in developing a web based assessment instrument
for vocational subjects in the compulsory school as well as on the
upper secondary level.
PRIM-gruppen develops
• national subject tests in mathematics for the 3rd, 6th
and 9th grades
• national diagnostic materials in mathematics
for compulsory school
• national course tests in mathematics
for the upper secondary level, course A and course 1
• materials in the
form of items and instruments to assess students’ knowledge
in vocational subjects. The material is included in an item
bank kept by the National Agency for Education
• models
for course assessment.
and conducts
• evaluations at national level of knowledge and attitudes in
mathematics for the 5th and 9th grades
• evaluations at
regional level, municipal and school level of the basic knowledge
in mathematics for the 2nd, 5th and 8th grades
• evaluations
on a municipal and school level of the upper secondary school natural
sciences programme
• research on allergic students’ school situation.
The main sponsors are the National Agency for Education, municipalities
and schools.
Examples of mathematics tests for the compulsory school:
Year
9, part A (PDF)
Year
9, part B1 (PDF)
Year
9, part B2 (PDF)
Year
9, part C (PDF)
Examples of mathematics tests for the upper secondary school:
Course
A, part I (PDF)
Course
A, part II (PDF)
Formulas
for national test in mathematics – course A (PDF)
International
projects
PRIM-gruppen is involved in the OECD-project, PISA (Programme for
International Student Assessment). PISA is a survey that focuses
on the knowledge and skills in reading, science and mathematics of
15-year-olds in the principal industrialized countries. PISA assesses
how far students near the end of compulsory education have acquired
some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation
in society. PRIM-gruppen is responsible for the Swedish part of the
evaluation that concerns mathematical literacy.
Sweden has, through PRIM-gruppen, been involved in a project (IMATEC),
carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European
Communities under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. This concerned
the competence of engineers/technicians in mathematics and the development
of IT-based teaching aid in mathematics. Great Britain and France
were the collaboration partners. University departments, upper secondary
schools and industrial companies all worked together in this project.
Reports
Some hundred reports have so far been published by the group. The topics
covered are, among others, results and analyses from different mathematics
tests, different evaluations of students’ skills and achievements,
their self-assessment and attitudes. PRIM-gruppen has produced a VHS-material
for assessment of oral presentation in mathematics and web-based material for assessment in grade 3 and 6. Most of the reports
are in Swedish.
Courses, seminars
and conferences
Courses and seminars within different areas, at different levels and
for different target groups have been developed by PRIM-gruppen. Some
examples are:
• courses and seminars in analyzing and assessing
knowledge in mathematics or vocational subjects
• in-service
training on school level
• network conferences concerning
assessment of knowledge and competence.
The
National Tests and National Assessment in Sweden (PDF)
Collection
of problems
Stockholm University
PRIM-gruppen
SE-106 91 Stockholm
Sweden |
Phone +46 8
16 20 00
Fax +46 8 618 35 71
info@prim-gruppen.se |
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Page changed
2011-12-14
by astrid.pettersson@umn.su.se
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