The CLÉ Test is a new assessment that will be introduced from the next school year (2026) for all pupils at the start of the 4th year of primary school. It measures the three basic skills every child must master by the end of the 3rd year in order to continue their schooling with confidence.
Why this test? Even today, some pupils arrive in the 4th year with significant difficulties in reading, writing or arithmetic. The problem is that these difficulties are sometimes spotted too late. The CLÉ Test will help detect them earlier, so pupils can then be given support.
This test is not an exam. There are no marks, no failing, no sanction. Results are presented simply and clearly: “acquired”, “in the process of being acquired”, or “not yet acquired”. It is a snapshot of the pupil's academic level. The aim is not to award marks or rank pupils, but to understand where the needs lie and provide support accordingly.
Thanks to these results, teachers will be able to better adapt their support: revisiting certain concepts for those who need it, going deeper for those who are comfortable, or offering additional material for those who have already mastered the skills and could already move on to new learning.
The CLÉ Test also simplifies life for schools, since it replaces two compulsory assessments that already existed in the 3rd and 5th years but each covered only one subject. There will therefore be a single test, focused on all the fundamentals (arithmetic, reading, writing).
Despite a difficult budgetary context, we decided to release additional resources so that pupils are better supported. Indeed, the measure comes with reinforced resources in classrooms. After the 100 additional posts added in the 6th year, 220 additional posts will arrive from 2026 in the 3rd and 4th years. This could mean additional teachers or speech therapists in the classroom, enabling personalised support for pupils.
The goal is clear: all pupils should master the basics before continuing their education. The CLÉ Test will make it possible to identify difficulties, address them, and thus prevent them from becoming entrenched over time.