In April 2007, the education ministry conducted a nationwide achievement test for school children — the first such test in 43 years — spending ¥7.7 billion. The results were partially made public in late October. There are plans to hold a similar test in 2008 and 2009. There are many reasons, however, for the ministry to rethink this decision.
About 2.25 million elementary-school sixth graders and middle-school third-year students took the test, which focused on Japanese and math. The test's ostensible purpose given by the ministry is to help improve teaching methods for individual students.
But when results were given, schools and students only received sheets showing whether questions were answered correctly or incorrectly. Without original answer sheets teachers and students cannot ascertain how and why students made errors in answering questions. Thus, the test is almost of no value to the improvement of teaching methods.