Beyond the test: building an ecosystem for improving learning

Yet, achieving this goes beyond test scores, digital tools, or infrastructure. It calls for a supportive and holistic environment, an evidence-based learning ecosystem where every learner has the opportunity to succeed.
But what does this ecosystem actually look like?
It’s one that empowers the people who shape and drive it - students, educators, and parents - and supports a crucial shift in mindset from focusing solely on performance to prioritising progress across learning touchpoints.

This means creating an evidence-informed environment where teachers have the tools and confidence to act on insights, parents are engaged as partners, and multiple sources of data come together to build a clear, fuller picture of where each student is in their learning journey and what they need next.

Measuring learning vs testing concepts

Internationally and across the region, education systems are increasingly recognising the importance of understanding not just what students know, but how they apply it.
This includes building a broad range of skills, from critical thinking and creativity, to communication, collaboration, and self-regulation. At the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), our own research on the five essential skills for learning underscores this. It aligns with international research such as McKinsey’s report on ‘The Skills Revolution and the Future of Learning and Earning’, which highlights the rising demand for advanced cognitive and social-emotional capabilities in addition to digital skills.

This reflects a measurement mindset that goes beyond right or wrong, pass or fail, and good or bad. This sits at the heart of our Progressive Achievement model at ACER; it underpins assessments like the International Benchmark Tests (IBT) widely used in the region, which is designed to measure student progress over time and support more informed teaching and learning.

Nurturing wellbeing by celebrating individual progress

This approach also supports student wellbeing by shifting the focus solely from outcomes to recognising and valuing each learner’s progress regardless of their starting point. When the purpose of an assessment is to understand a student’s current level and guide their next steps in learning, it reduces pressure and promotes a healthier, more constructive learning environment where progress is celebrated. Moreover, it can be motivating for students to see that their progress is being recognised, and not just their performance.

Building capacity through assessment literacy

For assessments to have an impact, data alone isn’t enough. Assessment literacy - understanding what you are measuring, why you are measuring it, and how to use it - gives educators the confidence to shift from grading performance to supporting growth. This also means helping parents ask the right questions when it comes to student assessment.
ACER’s work globally and across the Middle East has demonstrated the transformative effect of helping educators use data to create a clearer and fuller picture of learning.

Connecting the dots from data to actionable insights

Schools today draw on a wide range of data, from classroom observations to tests, exams, and international assessments. The real value isn’t just in the data itself but in how it is connected and used.
Through data triangulation, educators can combine multiple sources to uncover insights that move beyond surface-level results and guide targeted teaching, school improvement, and system-wide progress.

An opportunity to lead

With bold and forward-thinking reform agendas such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the region is uniquely placed to shape education systems that prepare students for a dynamic future. But meaningful progress means reflecting on key questions about whether we are measuring the right things, equipping teachers with the tools they need, and engaging parents as partners in learning.
Schools can ensure that every learner has the opportunity to succeed, no matter their starting point, by focusing on student progress, building teacher capacity, and creating a connected learning environment.

ACER’s role as a partner in progress

As a global not-for-profit research organisation, ACER has a 95-year legacy of partnering with schools and systems globally and across the Middle East to improve learning through research and evidence-based products, assessments, and professional development. From the International Benchmark Tests (IBT) to the Progressive Achievement approach, our work helps educators turn quality insight into action to strengthen student outcomes.

Join the conversation

Visit the ACER Middle East at Stand B35 to explore how we can support your school’s commitment to improving learning. I will also be speaking on, ‘Measuring learning for effective teaching: why tests regularly fail students’ at GESS Talks Live on 27 May at 14:35. Reach out to us, at uae@acer.org- we would love to connect.