Monitoring Student Progress in Mathematics and Science
The Finnish National Board of Education is responsible for developing education, and thus conducts national assessments of learning outcomes. National assessments are sample-based and focus on the central content of the national curriculum, mainly at the end of basic education. Since 1998, the Finnish National Board of Education has implemented a national assessment of mathematics five times for Grade 9 (in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2011, and 2012) and twice for Grade 6 (in 2000 and 2007). During this same period, two national assessments of natural sciences have been implemented for Grade 9 (in 1998 and 2011). These national assessments provide schools and teachers with regular updates about the knowledge and skills of their students in relation to other schools and national objectives of instruction.17
Teachers are responsible for student assessment in the classroom, and may decide on the methods of assessment, which typically include teacher-made examinations, examinations based on the textbook, and continuous observation of student progress.