Standards Testing Agency
The test development handbook was first published in 2017, describing the processes used to develop the national curriculum tests from 2016 onwards. The latest version of the handbook is provided on this page.
Technical appendices for the tests administered between 2016 and 2023 are provided separately and published annually for transparency.
The handbook provides an overview of the test design, test development and test administration processes used in the KS1 and KS2 tests in:
- English reading
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- mathematics
It also presents validity and reliability evidence.
This document is primarily for a technical audience. It is published for reasons of openness and transparency. It will be of interest to those who develop tests or are involved in assessment, including in schools.
The technical appendices contains data from the national curriculum test administrations, including:
- details of item writing agencies
- details of trialling agencies
- dates and type of expert review panels, including participation numbers
- dates and type of trialling, including the number of participating schools and pupils
- dates of governance meetings
- item metadata
- test statistics
- the numbers of test papers sent to schools
- the number and type of modified test orders
- the number and type of approved access arrangements applications
- the number and type of access arrangement notifications
- the number of approved special consideration applications
- the number and type of modified test papers returned for marking
The validity frameworks explain how validity is ensured throughout every stage of the development of the national curriculum tests. There are validity frameworks for the following subjects at KS1 and KS2:
- English reading
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- mathematics