First-Time Customer Guide

This page is designed to ensure that those who are unfamiliar with ordering and administering paper-based Drumcondra tests can be confident that they have the required materials ahead of Spring/Autumn testing. A break-down of the necessary materials for each test offered can be found below. For more information on costs associated with testing, please visit our price list page here. More details about test administration can be found on our FAQ here.

New Drumcondra Primary Reading (NDPRT)

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets Form A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5 booklets)
Corresponding Manual
Answer Sheets (3rd-6th class only)*
- Option of machine scorable or hand-scorable (for marking by teachers)
Optional: Scoring Stencils

There are two equivalent forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms for each class level tested to maintain test validity.

Pupils in 1st and 2nd class write directly in the test booklet and therefore booklets for those levels are not reusable. Booklets for 3rd-6th class are reusable, as responses are recorded by each pupil in a separate answer sheet.

*Please note: the answer sheets for the primary reading and primary maths are combined and cannot be purchased independently of one another. If you plan on testing pupils in both reading and maths, the sheets can be separated easily along a serrated edge.

New Drumcondra Primary Maths (NDPMT)

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets Form A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5 booklets)
Corresponding Manual
Answer Sheets (3rd-6th class only)*
- Option of machine scorable or hand-scorable (for marking by teachers)
Optional: Scoring Stencils

There are two equivalent forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms for each class level tested to maintain test validity.

Pupils in 1st and 2nd class write directly in the test booklet and therefore booklets for these levels are not reusable. Booklets for 3rd-6th class are reusable, as responses are recorded by each pupil in a separate answer sheet.

*Please note: The answer sheets for the primary reading and primary maths are combined and cannot be purchased independently of one another. If you plan on testing pupils in both reading and maths, the sheets can be separated easily along a serrated edge.

Drumcondra Primary Spelling Test (DPST)

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets Form A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 25 booklets)
Corresponding Manual

There are two equivalent forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. Please note that unlike other tests, only one form can be administered in a test session due to formatting differences between the two forms. Therefore, it is recommended that schools only purchase one form (A or B) per class level.

Triail Nua Mhatamaitice Dhroim Conrach (TMDB)

Beidh na nithe seo a leanas de dhíth le haghaidh gach leibhéal ranga a dhéanann an triail:

Foirm A/B (Leabhrán na dtrialach)
An lámhleabhar comhfhreagrach
Bileoga na bhfreagraí (Rang a trí – Rang a sé amháin) *
- Tá rogha ann maidir le bileoga na bhfregraí a bheith inscórála ag meaisín nó scóráil de láimh (ionas gur féidir leis na múinteoirí an marcáil a dhéanamh)
Tá stionsail scórála roghnach

Tá dhá fhoirmeacha chomhthreomhara ag gach leibhéal ranga: Foirm A agus Foirm B. Moltar meascán den dá fhoirm ag gach leibhéal ranga, a dtugtar an triail dóibh, a cheannach.

Scríobhann daltaí i rang a haon agus rang a dó i leabhrán na dtrialach agus mar sin, ní féidir iad a úsáid arís. Is féidir leabhráin ó rang a trí go dtí rang a sé a úsáid arís, mar go ndéantar taifead ar fhreagra gach dalta ar bhileog fhreagra dhifrúil.

*Tabhair faoi deara, le do thoil: Úsáidtear bileoga na bhfreagraí le haghaidh an léamh bunscoile agus le haghaidh na matamaitice bunscoile le chéile agus ní féidir iad a cheannach neamhspléach óna chéile. Má tá sé ar intinnn agat triail a thabhairt do na mic léinn sa léamh agus sa mhatamaitic, is féidir na bileoga a scaradh óna chéile ar imeall fhiaclach.

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets Form A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5 booklets)
Corresponding Manual
Answer Sheets (3rd-6th class only)*
- Option of machine scorable or hand-scorable (for marking by teachers)
Optional: Scoring Stencils

There are two parallel forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms for each class level tested.

Pupils in 1st and 2nd class write directly in the test booklet and therefore they are not reusable. Booklets for 3rd-6th class are reusable, as responses are recorded by each pupil in a separate answer sheet.

Triail Ghaeilge Dhroim Conrach le hadhaidh Scoileanna Rialta (TDG-R)

Le haghaidh gach leibhéal ranga ina bhfuil sé ar intinn agat triail a thabhairt dóibh, beidh seo seo a leanas de dhíth uait:

Leabhrán na dtrialach Foirm A/B
An leabhrán comhfhreagrach

Tá dhá fhoirmeacha chomhthreomhara le haghaidh gach leibhéal ranga: Foirm A agus Foirm B. Moltar duit meascán den dá fhoirm, le haghaidh gach leibhéal ranga a thugann tú triail dóibh, a cheannach.

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5 booklets)
Corresponding Manual

There are two parallel forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms for each class level tested.

Triail Ghaeilge Dhroim Conrach le haghaidh Bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaeilge (TGD-G)

Le haghaidh gach leibhéal ranga ina bhfuil sé ar intinn agat triail a thabhairt dóibh, beidh seo seo a leanas de dhíth uait:

Leabhrán na dtrialach Foirm A/B
An leabhrán comhfhreagrach
Tá stionsail scórála roghnach

Deartar na trialacha ag Leibhéal a haon le haghaidh riarachán i dtéarma an earraigh le haghaidh naíonáin shinsearacha. Deartar é chomh maith i dtéarma an fhómhair le haghaidh tús rang a haon má tá scoileanna ag iarraidh measúnú a dhéanamh ar dhaltaí nua.

For each class level that you plan on testing, you will need the following:

Test Booklets A/B (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5 booklets)
Corresponding Manual
Optional: Scoring Stencils

There are two parallel forms for each class level: Form A and Form B. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms for each class level tested.

The Level 1 tests are designed both for administration in the spring term for Senior Infants and in the autumn term for the start of 1st class if schools would like to assess incoming pupils.

Drumcondra Test of Early Literacy (DTEL)

To administer the Drumcondra Test of Early Literacy, you will need the following:

DTEL Screening Test Booklets (Pictures & Words 1) (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
DTEL Manual
DTEL Diagnostic Scoring Booklets (Pictures & Words 2)* (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
DTEL Diagnostic Display Book (Pictures & Words 2)*

The DTELs are suitable for Spring testing for Senior Infants or at the beginning of 1st class. Schools would conduct the Pictures & Words 1 test with small groups of students. Administering Pictures & Words 1 to groups of no larger than 10 pupils is preferable.

After reviewing the results of the first test, it is recommended that schools conduct a second test (Pictures & Words 2) individually with students who did not reach a certain scoring threshold for diagnostic purposes.

*Please note: Because the Pictures & Words 2 tests are only administered to some students following their results in the first test, it is generally advised to only order 25% of test materials for the Pictures & Words 2 compared to the initial quantity of the Pictures & Words 1 booklets. Example: School A placed an order for 4x DTEL Pictures & Words 1 test booklets (5 test booklets per pack) and 1x Manual. Subsequently, they might only order 1 pack of test booklets and 1 Diagnostic Display Booklet for Pictures & Words 2 should they decide to conduct it.

Drumcondra Test of Early Numeracy

To administer the Drumcondra Test of Early Numeracy, you will need the following:

DTEN Screening Test Booklets (Numbers & Shapes 1) (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
DTEN Manual
DTEN Diagnostic Scoring Booklets (Numbers & Shapes 2)* (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
DTEN Diagnostic Display Book (Numbers & Shapes 2)*

The DTENs are suitable for Spring testing for Senior Infants or at the beginning of 1st class. Schools would conduct the Numbers & Shapes 1 test with small groups of students. Administering Numbers & Shapes 1 to groups of no larger than 10 pupils is preferable.

After reviewing the results of the first test, it is recommended that schools conduct a second test (Numbers & Shapes 2) individually with students who did not reach a certain scoring threshold for diagnostic purposes.

*Please note: Because the Numbers & Shapes 2 tests are only administered to some students following their results in the first test, it is generally advised to only order 25% of test materials for the Numbers & Shapes 2 compared to the initial quantity of the Numbers & Shapes 1 booklets. Example: School A placed an order for 4x DTEN Numbers & Shapes 1 test booklets (5 test booklets per pack) and 1x Manual. Subsequently, they might only order 1 pack of test booklets and 1 Diagnostic Display Booklet for Numbers & Shapes 2 should they decide to conduct it.

Drumcondra Reasoning Test (DRT)

To administer the Drumcondra Reasoning Test, you will need the following:

DRT Test booklets (one booklet per student)
DRT Answer Sheet*
DRT Manual

The Drumcondra Reasoning Test is designed for pupils entering post-primary education; often, schools will administer it as an entrance exam for incoming students to assess the general level of ability.

*Please note: DRT answer sheets are machine-scorable, and they can be sent to the ERC for scoring. The cost of this service is included in the price of the answer sheet itself.

Post-Primary Maths Test

To administer the Drumcondra Post-Primary Maths Test, you will need the following:

PPMT Test booklets (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
PPMT Manual
Answer Sheets*

Unlike many other Drumcondra tests, the PPMT includes two test forms that differ in difficulty. Form A is designed for pupils who are likely to take the Junior Certificate Mathematics examination at Ordinary or Foundation levels. On the other hand, Form B would better suit students who are likely to take the Mathematics exam at Higher level.

*Please note: the answer sheets for the post-primary reading and post-primary maths are combined and cannot be purchased independently of one another.

Post-Primary Reading Test

To administer the Drumcondra Post-Primary Reading Test, you will need the following:

PPRT Test booklets (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)
PPRT Manual
Answer Sheets*

Unlike many other Drumcondra tests, the PPRT includes two test forms that differ in difficulty. Form A is designed for pupils who are likely to take the Junior Certificate English examination at Ordinary or Foundation levels. On the other hand, Form B would better suit students who are likely to take the English exam at Higher level.

*Please note: the answer sheets for the post-primary reading and post-primary maths are combined and cannot be purchased independently of one another.

Post-Primary Assessment and Diagnosis – English (PPAD-E)

To administer the PPAD-E, you will need the following:

PPAD-E test booklets (Blue/Yellow) (one booklet per student; sold in packs of 5)*
Manual 1 – Administration Guidance
Manual 2 – Marking Guidance
Scoring and Reporting Tool License**
Optional: Scoring Stencils

The PPAD-E is designed for pupils entering post-primary education and is administered in the Autumn of first year. Unlike the other Drumcondra tests, they are not ordered through DOTS. You can place an order on our specific PPAD-E order form here.

*Please Note: There are two equivalent forms of the PPAD-E: Blue and Yellow. It is recommended to purchase a combination of both forms to maintain the validity of the test results.

**Please Note: The PPAD-E Scoring and Reporting Tool is a downloadable application with which schools interpret and temporarily store the results of the PPAD-E. The purchase of the tool provides access for one school year; at the end of the access period, all student results must be downloaded, or they will be wiped.