What is SKI-L?

The psychological test “Schüler Kognitionsinventar – Luxemburg (SKI-L)” within cycle 4 is offered each year as part of the guidance procedure from primary to secondary education – Procédure Passage Fondamental Secondaire (PFS). It mesures logical, numerical, and spatial thinking, as well as memory. In addition to the cognitive test, a self-assessment part of the SKI-L, consideres the pupil’s subjective perception on school and studying.

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Why is the SKI-L organised?

Through the SKI-L test, additional information is gathered. In combination with school performance (results shown in the bilan) and the results of the Épreuves Communes, it can be useful within the decision-making process regarding school guidance.

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Historical background

In the past, a single entrance examination decided on school guidance after the 6th grade of primary education. Ever since, the guidance procedure evolved and now includes different elements, namely a portfolio with the pupil’s productions gathered over two years, the results of school assessments, the results of the national Épreuves Communes and, on the parents’ demand, the results of the psychological tests.

Psychological testing has also evolved over the last 25 years. The current version has been adapted in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, more precisely with the Luxembourg Centre of Educational Testing (LUCET). The main aim is to provide additional language free information to the school results.

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Content of the test

The SKI-L – Schülerkognitionsinventar Luxemburg consists of two main parts :

1. the psychological tests that assess the student’s cognitive potential on 4 dimensions
2. a self-assessment on the pupil’s self-perception on 6 psychological dimensions related to school and learning.

Psychological tests focus on assessing dimensions relevant to learning in a school context and provide feedback on the student’s potential, as well as recommendations on how to activate and nurture that potential.

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Test make-up session

If your child was unable to take part in the in-class testing session, there are two possibilities.

Contact the psychologist and/or class teacher to arrange a make-up session in a parallel class within the same school.

If this is not possible, please register your child for a make-up session organised at a regional level (late January/early February).

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Communication of results

Once pupils have taken part in the SKI-L tests, individual results reports are drawn up. The class psychologist communicates the results to parents and pupils after the Easter holidays (during the 5th individual exchange of the orientation procedure in cycle 4.2).

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Support by psycho-socio-educational professionals

Regarding stress and emotion management, specific workshops are offered by CePAS– Centre psycho-social et d’accompagnement scolaires during the summer holidays to help young people find their own balance and self-confidence in preparation for year 7: registration requests via info@cepas.public.lu.

At secondary school level, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (MENJE) offers specialised services to support and help young people and their parents in matters of well-being during adolescence, specific needs and school and career guidance.

• SePAS – Service psycho-social et d’accompagnement scolaires 
• SSE – Service socio-éducatif
• COI – Cellule d’orientation et d’intégration scolaires
• ESEB – Service pour élèves à besoins spécifiques

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Further information on school guidance

In Luxembourg, a diversified public offering of high schools and international schools is available to more than 50,000 students. “Froen zum Lycée” is a podcast from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth that answers your questions about public secondary education! The podcasts are in French or Luxembourgish.

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Data protection

The LUCET (University of Luxembourg) is responsible for developing the SKI-L test and for statistical analyses of the data. The psychologists commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (MENJE) are responsible for administering the test in schools as well as for advising and guiding the students when transitioning from primary to secondary education.
In accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation, data protection is guaranteed by two procedures: pseudonymisation for the orientation process conducted by psychologists, and anonymisation for empirical research conducted by the LUCET. 

During the orientation process, all students are assigned a numeric or alphanumeric code for each test. This code is assigned to the students by the psychologists, and the pre-labelled test materials are distributed accordingly, ensuring that students are identified only by their code throughout the assessment and feedback process. The completed materials are processed, and feedback reports are generated based solely on these codes. The psychologists, who are the only individuals with access to the document linking student names to their assigned codes, distribute the feedback reports to the respective students. The LUCET receives and processes only coded materials and therefore cannot identify individual students. While the LUCET may know which codes are associated with a particular psychologist, it does not have access to any information that could link a code to a specific student. Psychologists are bound by confidentiality and are not allowed to share personal information without consent (see SLP ethics code: https://www.slp.lu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ethical_code.pdf ). 

The LUCET processes and stores data solely in anonymised form for research and quality assurance purposes and is not able to identify or disclose information relating to individual students. Anonymised data are used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the tests (e.g., reliability, validity, and fairness) and to ensure their continued quality. Researchers may also conduct secondary analyses, meaning that previously collected anonymised data are used to investigate additional research questions, such as patterns of cognitive ability in diverse student populations. All analyses are conducted exclusively on anonymised data, and student privacy remains fully protected. 

  

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Contacts