Today marks the beginning of the 2025 INVALSI tests across Italy, set to run from March to May, with the first to take place involving students preparing for their final examinations. The tests aim to evaluate the academic competencies of students at various educational levels and provide insights on the general health of the Italian education system.
The INVALSI tests have become instrumental for assessing educational outcomes nationwide. According to experts from INVALSI, "Le rilevazioni standardizzate - spiegano gli esperti di INVALSI - non servono a dare un voto agli studenti e non sono connesse alle consuete attività di valutazione che i docenti svolgono in aula.” This emphasizes their role not as evaluative exams for students, but as tools for measuring overall system effectiveness.
The participating classes this year include second and fifth graders from primary schools (grades 2 and 5) as well as third graders from middle schools (grade 8), and second and fifth graders from secondary schools (grades 10 and 13). Each student is required to complete tests focusing on Italian and Mathematics, with students from grades 5, 8, and 13 also undergoing two English proficiency tests—reading and listening.
The schedule is structured with specific testing periods: the final-year students will conduct their tests between March 3 and March 31, where schools can select their specific testing dates within the window allocated by INVALSI. Comparatively, for the sample classes going through designated national assessments, these tests will be conducted from March 10 to March 13.
For the primary grades, students will undertake their tests as follows: the Italian test is scheduled for May 7, the Mathematics test for May 9, and the English test exclusively for 5th graders on May 6. Notably, the primary school tests will maintain the traditional paper-and-pencil format.
Active on the ground this year, schools enjoy some autonomy when selecting days for assessments for non-sample classes within pre-defined timeframes. Middle school students (grade 8) will conduct their INVALSI tests over the course of April, from the 1st through the 30th, whereas second-year secondary students (grade 10) will take theirs from May 12 to May 30, focusing only on Italian, Math, and key competencies without English tests.
Significantly, this year sees the introduction of digital competence assessments for second-year high school students, demonstrating schools' commitment to integrating new skills within educational evaluations. Roberto Ricci, the president of INVALSI, noted, "Questa rilevazione – ha spiegato il presidente dell’Istituto Roberto Ricci – intende definire un punto di riferimento iniziale per la promozione, in futuro, di adeguate azioni di supporto alla promozione delle competenze digitali.” This indicates the initiative's focus on fostering digital literacy as part of students’ competencies.
The window for supplementary assessments is also confirmed, set from May 26 to June 6, 2025, allowing additional opportunities for students to complete their required tests.
Despite the preparative measures taken by educational authorities, the INVALSI tests continue to face skepticism and opposition from certain educators and pedagogues who argue against standardized assessments as accurate reflections of student abilities. The dissenters argue these methods fail to appropriately measure the comprehensive skill set of students.
Overall, the INVALSI tests scheduled for 2025 reflect significant developments within Italy’s educational framework, aligning assessment practices with current educational needs and addressing the growing importance of digital proficiency.
Results from these standardized tests are anticipated to be available between May and June, providing benchmarks for schools to evaluate their performance against national standards. The results aim to facilitate continual improvements within the educational sector.
Through this approach, education stakeholders hope to bring forth enhancements to teaching strategies, ensuring students are not only prepared academically but equipped with the skills necessary for thriving in an increasingly digital world.