Government of Alberta News Release
For release at 10 a.m.
February 27, 1998
National Assessment Shows Alberta Students Do Well In Math
Alberta's 13- and 16-year-old students continue to do well relative to other Canadian students in a nation-wide mathematics assessment.
Results of the School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP) mathematics assessment show that, among 13-year-olds, 64.7 per cent of Alberta students achieved at level 2 or above, compared to 59.4 per cent of Canadian students overall. In problem solving, results showed 57.8 per cent of Alberta students achieved at level 2 or above, compared to 52.2 per cent nationally.
Among 16-year-olds, 61.4 per cent of Alberta students achieved at level 3 or above in math content, compared to 59.8 per cent nationally. In problem solving, 44.8 per cent of Alberta students achieved at level 3 or above, compared to 39.8 per cent nationally.
Alberta results are consistent with results on provincial and international assessments. However, the SAIP results show that not enough students are achieving at levels expected of them by a pan-Canadian panel of educators; parents; and business, industry and community leaders.
The tests were designed to determine student performance by level. Performance at level 1 is considered low, level 2 is expected of most 13-year-olds, level 3 is expected of most 16-year-olds, and levels 4 and 5 are the highest levels of mathematics students would be expected to be able to achieve.
"I am pleased to see Alberta students have done well compared to their Canadian counterparts," said Education Minister Gary Mar. "However, I continue to be concerned that too many students, here and across Canada, are not meeting national expectations. In Alberta, we look to new learning strategies and a new math curriculum to improve student achievement in the future."
There were no significant differences between Alberta male and female 13-year olds in either math content or problem solving. Among 16-year-olds, boys outperformed girls in some areas.
The results are based on tests written in 1997. These tests began the second round of national testing conducted by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. The first round of assessments included mathematics in 1993, reading and writing in 1994 and science in 1996.
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For more information contact:
Jim Brackenbury - Student Evaluation, Alberta Education - (403) 427-0010
Janet Harding - Communications, Alberta Education - (403) 427-2285
Outside of Edmonton, dial 310-0000 for toll free connection.
Backgrounder
School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP)
Sponsor: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), the national organization for education at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.
Initiated: 1989 - Canada's first-ever attempt at national consensus on educational assessment. There have been SAIP assessments in mathematics (1993), reading and writing (1994), and science (1996). The 1997 mathematics assessment begins the second round of testing.
The 1997 SAIP Mathematics Assessment:
A total of 3719 Alberta students participated in this assessment.
The following charts show the percentage of students aged 13 and
16 who achieved at various levels on the 1997 mathematics test.
Alberta expects its 13-year-old students to achieve at least level
2 or above, and 16-year-olds at level 3 or above. Descriptions
of these levels are attached.
The charts compare Alberta results with national expectations for all Canadian students and with overall Canadian results. The test had two parts: Mathematics Content and Problem Solving.
National Expectations:
An 89-member national panel of educators and non-educators (including
parents and business association representatives) determined the
percentage of students of each age who should achieve at each
level of performance. According to this panel, not enough students
are achieving at levels 2 and above.
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING DIFFERENT LEVELS
Mathematics Content
Percentage of Students
Age of Performance 1997 National
Students Level Alberta Canada Expectations
13 years level 2 or 64.7 59.4 70.0
above
level 3 or 32.1 28.4 50.0
above
level 4 or 1.4 1.2 10.0
above
level 5 0.0 0.0 1.0
16 years level 3 or 61.4 59.8 70.0
above
level 4 or 16.0 14.5 40.0
above
level 5 3.7 3.3 10.0
Problem Solving
Percentage of Students
Age of Performance 1997 National
Students Level Alberta Canada Expectations
13 years level 2 or 57.8 52.2 70.0
above
level 3 or 19.8 15.3 40.0
above
level 4 or 3.1 2.5 8.0
above
level 5 0.4 0.2 1.0
16 years level 3 or 44.8 39.8 60.0
above
level 4 or 14.6 12.8 25.0
above
level 5 2.9 2.3 10.0
Coming Next: Reading and Writing (1998) and Science (1999)
THE 1997 SAIP MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY OF LEVELS
Mathematics Content Mathematics Problem Solving
A student at Level 1 can: A student at Level 1 can:
-add, subtract, divide and multiply, -find single solutions to one-step
using a limited range of natural problems using obvious algorithms and a
numbers limited range of whole numbers
-use concrete materials and diagrams to -use one case to establish a proof
represent simple relations
-determine linear dimensions of
recognizable simple plane figures
-read information from very simple
tables
A student at Level 2 can: A student at Level 2 can:
-use the four basic operations with -make a choice of algorithms to find a
natural numbers solution to a) multi-step problems,
-use patterns and classifications in using a limited range of whole numbers
real-life situations and plot points on or b) one-step problems, using rational
a grid numbers
-calculate dimensions and areas of plane -use more than one particular case to
figures, classify solid forms, and use establish a proof
single geometric transformations -use common vocabulary to present
-extract and represent data using tables solutions
and diagrams
A student at Level 3 can: A student at Level 3 can:
-use the four basic operations with -choose from two algorithms to find
integers solutions to multi-step problems, using
-use monomial algebraic expressions and a limited range of rational numbers
plot points on a Cartesian grid -use necessary and sufficient cases to
-use length, angle measure, area, and establish proof
volume involving various plane -use mathematical vocabulary,
geometric figures and repetitions of imprecisely, to present solutions
the same geometric transformation
-use information from various sources
and calculate arithmetic mean and
simple probabilities
A student at Level 4 can: A student at Level 4 can:
-use the four basic operations with the -adapt one or more algorithms to find
full range of rational numbers solutions to multi-step problems, using
-use and graph polynomial algebraic the full range of rational numbers
expressions and simple functions -construct structured proofs that may
lack some detail
-use the characteristics of solid forms, -use mathematical and common vocabulary
congruence and similarity in polygons, correctly, but solutions may lack
and compositions of plane clarity for the external reader
transformations
-organize data, use measures of central
tendency, and calculate the probability
of a single event
A student at Level 5 can: A student at Level 5 can:
-use the four basic operations with the -create original algorithms to find
full range of real numbers solutions to multi-step problems, using
-use and graph algebraic expressions the full range of real numbers
with two variables and various -construct structured proofs that provide
functions full justification of each step
-use the properties of circles and -use mathematical and common vocabulary
right-angle triangles correctly, and provide clear and precise
-calculate statistical information and solutions
the probability of combined events
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Copyright(c); 1997 Government of Alberta
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