The Education and Training Evaluation Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, announced the implementation of the “NAFIS” national tests for the fourth consecutive year in all primary and intermediate schools, as well as early childhood schools, from April 14 to April 30, 2025. The objective is to measure and improve the academic performance of students and schools, evaluate the quality of educational outcomes, promote positive competition among schools and education offices, and measure the performance indicators of national tests in the Human Capability Development Program.
This year, the “NAFIS” tests will be administered in all government, private, and international schools across the regions and cities of the Kingdom, with the participation of around 1.5 million students studying in more than 26,000 schools. The tests will cover reading and mathematics for third-grade students, as well as mathematics, reading, and science for sixth-grade and third-grade intermediate students. The tests will be conducted on all students in the sixth grade and third-grade intermediate in the Kingdom’s schools, and on all third-grade students in a sample of elementary schools.
These tests are highly significant as they are utilized to measure key areas of school performance – learning outcomes – and link school performance evaluation with comparing performance and differences among schools, offices, and education administrations. Through these tests, the level of student learning and achievement in reading, science, and mathematics can be identified, along with determining the factors influencing them. Additionally, these tests measure the indicators of national tests in the Human Capability Development Program, implemented through integrated roles and continuous coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Authority to contribute to achieving the targets of Vision 2030 and the Human Capability Development Program.
Based on these tests, several detailed scientific reports will be issued at the national level, as well as at the level of education administrations and offices, and at the level of schools. Each school, office, and education administration will receive a performance card indicating the students’ performance levels in reading, mathematics, and science, comparing them with performance at the national level, as well as at the level of education offices and schools. The performance cards will be published on the Digital Excellence platform, providing decision-makers and beneficiaries with reliable performance indicators to facilitate corrective actions to enhance the quality of educational processes in schools and student academic achievement, while also monitoring progress and changes at all levels.
It is worth noting that the Authority implemented the first round of the “NAFIS” national tests for a sample of students in all primary and intermediate schools in the academic year 2021/2022, representing the “Preparatory Round.” It was then implemented in the academic year 2022/2023 for all targeted students in all primary and intermediate schools and in the previous year 2023/2024 where more than 1.1 million students participated, studying in over 20,000 schools.
These tests are conducted in accordance with the Authority’s organization, issued by a decision of the Cabinet, which includes “establishing and implementing educational standards and tests, such as national tests in public education stages related to general education evaluation.” To learn more about the national “NAFIS” tests, visit the link: https://nafs.etec.gov.sa/.
