educational assessments

NUMERACY
Progress in Maths
Tandi Clausen-May, Hannah Vappula, Graham Ruddock, National Foundation for Educational Research
quick guide
Age Range:
Paper: 4–14 years
Digital: 6–14 years
Suitable for:
Teachers, Maths Co-ordinators
and SENCOs
Administration:
Group
Timed:
30–50 minutes
Also Available:
The Welsh version of Progress
in Maths. Please call 0845 602
1937 to order
Progress in Maths (PiM) tests a pupil’s mathematical skills and
concepts, and has become established as the standardised maths
assessment of choice in many schools. The group test highlights pupils’
strengths and weaknesses, helping teachers and SENCOs to address
areas of concern and build upon what pupils already know in order to
increase their understanding.
The structure and content of the test allow for pupils to be tested
annually, often used summatively at the end of the year. Each test has
been developed to be age-appropriate in both presentation and
content. Those for the youngest pupils are administered in small groups
(and may be given individually) and require very young learners to
demonstrate their understanding of number and shape.
Tests for 6 to 11-year-olds cover number, shape and data handling with
algebra being introduced into the series in PiM 10. In the tests for 6 to
8-year-olds, all questions are given orally and throughout the series the
amount of reading has been kept to a minimum.
Suitable for use
in implementing
the Curriculum
for Excellence
Why use PiM?
Progress In Maths Digital mirrors
the well established paper test
with the added benefit of
automatic scoring, supported by
instant diagnostic reporting.
These reports illustrate: pupils’
results by Standard Age Score,
comparison of group and national
scores (by gender and whole
group), analysis of results by
process category (against
national scores) and questions
listed by school-national
difference.
• PiM is available for pupils from age 4 right through to 14 years, providing
a continual assessment across the primary and secondary phases
• You will obtain an overview of a pupil’s mathematical strengths and
weaknesses to inform appropriate target setting
• PiM is an ideal assessment for year-on-year monitoring of progress over
time and identifying the effectiveness of intervention strategies
• For younger pupil’s, PiM 6–8 is administered orally so that reading is not
a factor that may hamper a pupil’s scores
Items from Progress in Maths 9 Digital
• PiM 11 is ideal for use in Y7 to benchmark pupils on entry to secondary
school
. . . and PiM Digital?
• Digital testing allows the automatic delivery of results as soon as tests
are complete, saving hours of marking time and waiting for scores
• Instant diagnostic reports allow you to act immediately on results, and
data can be integrated with other school information
• Pupils are able to manipulate onscreen elements of selected questions
and give their answers in a range of ways that are engaging and
stimulating
• Computer-based assessment often feels more relevant and less
daunting for pupils, and audio support is included for the youngest
pupils (6, 7 and 8)
The Getting the Best from Progress in Maths
Handbook and CD-ROM is still available. Go
online www.gl-assessment.co.uk/pimhandbook
for further details.
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