The Odd Couple: The Australian NAPLAN and Singaporean PSLE

The use of high-stakes assessment to measure students' mathematical performance has become commonplace in schools all over the world. Such assessment instruments provide national or international comparisons of student (and potentially teacher performance). Each form of assessment is specialised in nature and is characteristic of the culture and intent of the governing bodies. The purpose of this paper is to highlight differences and similarities between two national high-stakes assessments and the possible implications to students' sense making.