PIPS

[tben2505]

Dear all,

 

We are looking into alternatives to PIPS - does anyone know of any?

 

Cheers

 

T

[eean]

Do you mean ePIPS the CEM / Durham university testing service?

What is your issue with it and what are you wanting to achieve?

I think they are launching a web based version soon.

[tben2505]

It's called PIPS and yeah it's run by CEM...

 

I'd like to get proper KS1/KS2 projected/predicted levels rather than just chances graphs - and also sublevels/decimals.

[eean]

I personally don't know of anything that will give you a certain predicted level, as such. I'd be interested to see anything you find.

 

Progress in Maths and Progress in English, was created by NfER but is now GL Assessment. Progress in Maths | GL Education

They are an electronic replacement to the optional SATS, so will give you an NC level and a standardised score. However, they are not computer adaptive like PIPS so 'top out' easily. Also, they stay the same each year. Staff will probably (subconsciously) end up teaching to that test.

 

I know PIPS can be pretty vague e.g. 'they have a 48% chance of getting a level 4 and a 45%chance of getting a 5.' Those numbers, I believe, are based on statistical analysis of how children have done previously. Some folks take the bigger of the two numbers and make that their predicted level, although it's pretty crude.

Those CEM people know their stats so if they could give you a more accurate prediction with any degree of accuracy then I think they would.

The reason why they are vague is because real children don't actually make that magical 'expected' 2 sublevels progress that everyone goes on about. I'd be interested to see how any product that claims to give a predicted sub-level actually knows.

[tben2505]

Thanks for the info - very helpful.