In 2004, the Department of Education and Science (DES) announced plans to make standardised testing a requirement for all children at key points during compulsory education. Following this initial annoucement, all children in Year 1/2 and Year 4/5 of primary education in Ireland began to take standardised tests in reading (English) and mathematics in 2007. The tests take place either at the end of Year 1 or at the start of Year 2, and either at the end of Year 4 or at the beginning of Year 5. See section 6.2. for further information.