Charles Darr

Kaihautū Rangahau | Chief Researcher

Charles is Chief Researcher with a special interest in assessment. He leads projects that inform best practice in assessment, and has extensive experience in assessment design and development. 

Charles is currently working in a conceptual leadership role as part of NZCER’s contribution to the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement – Wānangatia Te Putanga Tauira. This sample-based project involves the ongoing monitoring of achievement for students in Year 4 and Year 8 across the breadth of the New Zealand curriculum in English-medium schools. Charles is responsible for the conceptualisation and technical design of NMSSA’s assessment instruments and approaches. 

In 2018, Charles was appointed as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on the review of NCEA and the Ministerial Advisory Group Curriculum, Progress and Achievement.

Charles presents and writes on assessment issues. He is regularly called on by government and private agencies to provide advice and guidance on assessment design.

Charles has worked at NZCER since 2003. Before that, he spent ten years as a teacher, working mainly in intermediate schools.

Qualifications: B.Sc., Dip.Tchng, M.Ed. (Dist)

Charles's research interests include:

  • mathematics education
  • test development
  • assessment issues
  • new technologies on reporting and diagnostic functions of testing.

Publications

Considering the assessment landscape in 2024 Journal article 2024
Beyond quick answers: Encouraging a problem-solving mindset in assessments Journal article 2023
Could the design of assessment standards be adapted to better reflect curriculum intentions? Journal article 2022
Thinking about assessment from an end-to-end perspective Journal article 2022
New Zealand Curriculum Refresh: Progressions Approach Research publication 2021
Determining How Learning is Progressing – Options for Calibrating Teacher Judgements Research publication 2021
An Examination of the Curriculum-Levelling Construct Research publication 2020
Developing insights about student learning: Lessons from the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement Journal article 2020
Opportunities to reframe moderation practices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Journal article 2020
Opportunities to reframe moderation practices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Journal article 2020
Approaching classroom assessment after the NCEA review Journal article 2019
A return to assessment for learning: Back to the future Journal article 2018
The National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement: Wānangatia te Putanga Tauira Journal article 2017
Computer-administered vs paper-and-pencil tests: Is there a difference? Journal article 2014
Checking the STAR norms Journal article 2013
English-language learners and validity Journal article 2013
Errors in test results: The “quick guide” part 2 Journal article 2012
Errors in test results: The "quick guide" part 1 Journal article 2011
Can test results help us make Overall Teacher Judgements? Journal article 2011
Going beyond achievement: Spreading our assessment net wider Journal article 2010