Information for Parents
InCAS and Your Child
The Department of Education sets certain requirements for assessing your child and reporting to you. These are called statutory arrangements.
They include the use of the Interactive Computerised Assessment System (InCAS) which primary schools have been gradually introducing since 2007.
InCAS is a computer-based assessment, where the first question is selected according to your child’s age. Further questions depend on how your child responds. If the answer is correct the questions will become more difficult and if they answer incorrectly, they become easier.
This means that the InCAS adapts to the ability of your child, helping to identify strengths and areas for improvement so that the teaching and learning the teacher plans meets your child’s needs.
If your child is in Year 4, 5, 6 or 7 they will complete InCAS Reading and General Maths in the autumn term each year. These may be taken in English or Irish. They will produce a Reading Age and a General Maths Age for your child.
For example, your child may be 9 years old but have and InCAS Reading Age of 11 years. This means that their reading ability is the same level that InCAS would expect from an 11 year old child in Northern Ireland.
These outcomes will be shared with you in writing during the autumn term.
What if my child has special educational needs?
Most children with special educational needs will have to complete InCAS. Only those with severe (SLD) or profound and multiple (PMLD) learning difficulties are exempt.
Please note that if your child is in Year 3 they will not take InCAS assessments.