SpLD assessment toolsThe list of suitable tests for the assessment of specific learning difficulties (SpLD) in Higher Education is a key part of the National Assessment Framework for Applications for Disabled Students' Allowances. The purpose of the list is to promote quality and consistency in the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) process. New test lists for Pre-16 and Post-16 age ranges are now available to download from our Downloads page and from the links on this page. Revised test lists issued June 2021. A correction has been made to the Post-16 list as the WASI was omitted in error. The updated version in available from our Downloads page [update 28 Aug 21]
STEC [SpLD Test Evaluation Committee]
STEC is a sub-committee of the SPLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC). Its purpose is to provide guidance on assessment materials to SASC. Its responsibilities are: - To review and evaluate assessment materials on a regular basis.
- To revise and update the test recommendations of the SpLD Working Group 2005/DfES Guidelines.
- To maintain a list of approved assessment materials for SpLDs in higher education.
- To engage with the publishers and distributors of assessment materials.
- To carry out other business as advised by and agreed with SASC.
- To report to SASC on a regular basis, including an annual written report to be submitted to SASC‘s AGM by the Chair.
STEC Pre-16 and
Post-16 Test Lists, and SASC guidance on aspects of assessment are downloadable from this page. The WRAT Expanded has accidentally been left in the Post-16 List
Mathematics section. It is a very old test and should not be included. It has
now been removed. Updated list titled 'Post 16 Test List June 2020 -amended July 2020'. Please share this advice with colleagues and other stakeholders. Updated editions of tests It is considered good practice to use the most recent edition of a test or battery.
However, older editions of tests can be used for 2 calendar years after the year of
publication of the most recent edition of the test, or January 2021, whichever is the later date). [update June 2021] Percentiles Confirming guidance agreed in October, percentiles can be used at the discretion of the assessor but are not considered to be mandatory for APC renewal. If an assessor chooses to include percentiles in a report, particular care must be taken as they can magnify small differences within the average range (SS 85-115) which may not be significant, yet large differences near the outer limits of the average range can seem reduced. The standard score must always be given alongside the percentile' [Update April 2015] Maintaining test standards. SASC advises it is best practice for assessors not to put examples from test papers of errors in reports at all. Advice for training and assessments should be to not state test items, but only give examples of types of errors being made. Assessors are also reminded that working papers from assessments should not be made available as these could affect the standardisation of the test. [update issued August 2014] Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJIV Cog) The Woodcock Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities has been approved
for inclusion on both the Pre-16 and Post-16 Tests Lists. It could potentially
be used to give evaluations of vocabulary knowledge, a range of reasoning
skills, processing speed, working memory, phonological awareness and
phonological memory. The publisher Riverside Insights has indicated that a
Specialist Teacher Assessor with an APC would be suitably qualified to use the
WJIV Tests of Cognitive Abilities. Guidance on its use within a diagnostic
assessment has been produced and is available in downloads (Link
to guidance). [February 2021] TAPS-4 Test TAPS4 has been revised from previous versions and rebranded as a test of language processing skills (as opposed to auditory processing skills). It contains tests of listening comprehension, auditory memory and phonological processing skills. STEC has issued guidance (available at Downloads) including a cautiinary note about the phonological processing tests when assessing adults.TAPS4 has been revised from previous versions and rebranded as a test of language processing skills (as opposed to auditory processing skills). It contains tests of listening comprehension, auditory memory and phonological processing skills. STEC has issued guidance (available at Downloads) including a cautionary note about the phonological processing tests when assessing adults. See downloads for full review. [Jan 2019] WIAT III (UK) The WIAT III UK is now available and as an updated version of the WIAT II is acceptable for assessments for DSA. STEC has issued guidance on use of WIAT-III UK. Updated guidance on the WIAT-III UK is now availabel from the downloads page (June 2021) A separate document comparing the WIAT-II UK with the new WIAT-III UK has also been produced (Dec 2017). These are both accessible from the Downloads page. Guidance on the use of digital scoring platforms supplied with certain assessment materials.
Assessment test publishers and distributors can offer assessors the opportunity to digitally score test results via platforms they provide.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using such platforms to score test results and assessors may find it helpful to weigh up the pros and cons of using these platforms. This guidance explores some of these pros and cons. [Guidance issued March 2018] Assessors need to ensure that their use of digital scoring platforms is fully compliant with data protection legislation. Additional Guidance on the use of the Wide Range Achievement Test 5 (WRAT5) The WRAT5 is a re-standardisation of the WRAT4. The guidance downloadable from this website may assist assessors if they are considering purchasing and using this test. Assessors will need to take some time to familiarise themselves with this re-standardised test before use. There are some subtle but important changes that require noting. Some of these changes have been highlighted, in purple, in the guidance but assessors will need to read the Manual and Norms books thoroughly to familiarise themselves with the changes. [Guidance issued March 2018] FAM [Feifer Assessment of Mathematics] The Feifer Assessment of Mathematics has been approved by STEC. Additional information on the test battery can be accessed from our downloads page. (Jan 2018) ART-2 (Adult Reading Test 2nd Edition) The Adult Reading Test, 2nd edition has been approved by STEC. Further guidance has been issued (March 2017) can be accessed from our downloads page. FAR (Feifer Assessment of Reading) The Feifer Assessment of Reading has been approved by STEC. Additional information on the test battery can be accessed from our downloads page. (Jan 2017) KTEA-3 (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement 3rd Edition) Additional guidance on the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (3rd edition) has been issued. See link on this page. (update issued June 2016) TOMAL 2 [Test of Memory and Learning, 2nd edition] All 5 subtests of the Attention/Concentration Index [ACI] should ideally be administered to enable a fully accurate composite to be calculated. If for any reason a subtest score has been prorated it would be important for the assessor to clearly indicate in the report that the ACI score has been prorated and hence can only be used for a ‘statistical rather than a clinical purpose' (TOMAL2 p.59). The manual (p.59) also states ‘Although composites scores that contain a prorated value may be profiled, a specific prorated subtest standard score should neither be profiled nor taken as a reflection of an examinee's memory performance on the subtest the prorated score represent.' Consequently, we would not recommend that the individual subtest prorated score is documented in the report. [update issued August 2014] Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence® - Second Edition (WASI®-II) The WASI II is acceptable for DSA assessments in all areas the WASI I was listed. The WASI II is an updated version of the assessment battery. The WASI I is still acceptable as long as the forms are available. Woodcock-Johnson
IV Tests of Achievement UK & Ireland Edition (2014) (WJIVAch) STEC has
approved Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement UK & Ireland Edition (2014)(WJIVAch) for inclusion on the list of approved tests.
Additional guidance will follow in 2020. WJIVAch is
a battery of 11 attainment subtests, open to Teacher Assessors, which have
been adapted for use in the UK but are normed on a US population. It includes 6
core tests of aspects of reading, mathematics, and written language and 5
additional tests which can contribute to evaluating the pattern of strengths
and weaknesses within an individual's attainment. It covers an age range of 2
to 90 years. Woodcock-Reading Mastery Tests: 3rd Edition (WRMT-III). Pearson. 5-75+ years STEC approve the revised edition of this test battery with the following cautionary note: In the absence of the publishers/importers providing (a) a re-standardisation to accommodate UK culture and normative standards and (b) guidance/substituted materials on word/picture/phrase substitutions for Americanisms and other cultural features, STEC advises users to apply the necessary caution when administering the test. Notwithstanding this point, it is STEC's view that it considers this test useful and appropriate to administer for the purposes intended. STEC response to recent debate about WRIT The purpose of an ability test is to eliminate general learning difficulties and to examine potential – the WRIT can do both. A comparison between the WRIT and the WAIS is not particularly helpful as Verbal Analogies and Similarities are not measuring the same thing. Most people using the WRIT are well aware that there is some cultural bias as the test was not developed in the UK. Tests don't diagnose, people do'. An assessment is a differential diagnosis which uses a battery of tests to come to a conclusion about strengths and weaknesses and does not rely on any individual test for a diagnosis. Specialist Dyslexia Assessors do not only rely on the WRIT scores or a working memory deficit to make a diagnosis of dyslexia. They use data from other tests and take into account the verbal abilities of the student throughout the whole assessment process, noting receptive and expressive language skills. The assessment will also look at difficulties with working memory, phonological weakness and speed of processing, literacy weaknesses and specific skills associated with reading and writing. Additional testing may be carried out if supplementary evidence is required. Terms of Reference and Key Decisions from STEC meetings are accessible from the downloads page. |