This week, eighth graders in Lithuania will take part in trial mathematics assessments organized by the National Education Agency (NŠA) to measure their skills and readiness for future examinations. Additionally, tenth and eleventh graders will also be assessed this week, while twelfth graders are scheduled for next week. Simonas Šabanovas, the head of NŠA, noted that an earlier survey indicated that 72% of schools participated in the trial assessments last year, with more than 75% of students completing the trial tasks, highlighting a significant engagement level among students.

Particularly, the results have shown that students who participated in these trial assessments tend to score higher in actual evaluations and exams, suggesting that these preliminary tests help enhance overall academic performance. Šabanovas emphasized the importance of these trials as effective supportive tools for students and integral components of their preparation for achievement assessments and maturity exams, indicating a positive correlation between trial participation and academic success in formal examinations.

The trial mathematics task for eighth graders is designed based on the curriculum covered in grades 5-8 and will be administered electronically in schools, allowing students 90 minutes to complete the assessment. Preliminary scoring will be provided shortly after completion, enabling students and educators to gauge performance and focus on areas needing improvement before the official examinations begin.