Saskatchewan's move to a provincial standard for school tests is drawing mixed reviews.

Currently, common tests for reading, writing and mathematics are used only in certain grades and not every year.

Soon, however, standard tests will be used for almost all students, in most subject areas, and will be conducted every year.

Some school officials welcome the move, saying it will help them focus.

Robert Lessard, an official with Saskatchewan's francophone school division, the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises, told CBC News Tuesday the changes will improve the quality of education.

"At the CÉF, we're looking forward to this initiative," Lessard said. "We believe that it'll help us guide our practices in the classroom. It will also help us determine what the professional development strategy should be."

The application of a standard test, however, is raising concerns by some about whether it will be fair to all students.

Some parents suggest there is more to evaluating and education and that may not be reflected in a standard test.

"It has a lot to do with home life for the kids," Regina parent Jennifer Zagrodney said Tuesday. "To know exactly what their home situations are is going to help them through the school and I don't think standardized testing will do that."

Provincial education officials say Saskatchewan is the last province in Canada to have a common testing system.

Greg Miller, a spokesman for the ministry, said school divisions found the existing testing system was out of date.

Miller said the new format will help pinpoint where students are succeeding and where they need help.

The plan is to have the new system in place for 2016.

With files from CBC's Sabeen Ahmad