Frequently Asked Questions About the Grade 9 Math Test

Frequently Asked Questions about the EQAO Grade 9 Mathematics Test

How do EQAO's assessments benefit parents?

EQAO's assessments give parents valuable information about the strengths and areas for improvement in their child's learning. Parents and educators can use this data, along with information on the student's performance in the classroom, to determine the steps that need to be taken to ensure the student's success. In this way, parents can support teachers and schools in planning for their child's success in learning.

What is the Grade 9 assessment based on?

It is based directly on the Grade 9 expectations in the The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Mathematics (revised 2005).

What is the purpose of the Grade 9 assessment?

Its purpose is to determine whether or not students have met the mathematics expectations in The Ontario Curriculum. The feedback from the assessment is for use by educators and parents to plan for improvement in student achievement.

What role does the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics play in ongoing classroom assessment?

The results provide a snapshot of student achievement that adds to the more comprehensive information teachers collect throughout the year from classroom assessments. Teachers have the option of marking all or part of the assessment and including the mark in the student's grade for the course.

What value does province-wide testing add to my child's education?

Assessment is a natural and necessary part of learning. Students, teachers and parents need feedback on how well students are doing. EQAO's province-wide assessments are based directly on the provincial curriculum. As a result, they reinforce as well as assess the knowledge and skills students have been acquiring all year. Additionally, this assessment provides educators and parents with valuable information to use in planning for student success.

Does province-wide testing interfere with teaching Grade 9 mathematics?

EQAO's assessments are based directly on the provincial curriculum. They reinforce the knowledge and skills that students have been taught. Many teachers use the assessments as a review prior to final examinations or mark some components as part of a student's mark. As well, the assessment results give students, teachers and parents feedback on how well students are doing. In this way, assessments aid teaching.

Will teachers begin teaching to the assessment?

The content of EQAO's assessments changes every year. As the assessment covers a range of expectations in the curriculum, the best way to prepare students for it is to address all of the expectations in the mathematics curriculum throughout the semester or year.

How does EQAO ensure that its assessments do not discriminate against certain groups?

All EQAO assessment materials are field tested with students. All items are reviewed by educators and experts to ensure that they are fair, appropriate and free of bias.

How does EQAO know if the assessment is too easy or too difficult?

The assessment is designed to be challenging and engaging for all students. It is developed by classroom teachers, and the items are reviewed by committees of educators to make sure that they are grade- and age-appropriate. They are also tested extensively with students.

Are all students expected to participate in the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics?

The Education Quality and Accountability Office Act states that all students in publicly funded schools in the tested grades are required to participate. The principal can recommend that a student be exempted from the assessment only if, even with all possible accommodations, the student would be unable to participate productively. Before exempting any student, the principal must have the parents' written consent. Students enrolled in locally developed Grade 9 programs are not required to participate.

Do the Grade 9 assessment results count toward students' regular grades?

Teachers have the option of marking all or part of the assessment and including the mark in the student's grade for the course.

How does EQAO report the results of the Grade 9 assessment?

EQAO reports on student achievement at the individual, school, board and provincial levels.

Each student will receive an Individual Student Report that provides information about the student's overall achievement. This information will assist students, parents and teachers in developing individual plans for successful learning.

Schools and boards will receive a report that provides aggregated achievement results and aggregated contextual data from the questionnaires.

How do boards and schools use the results?

The reports provide detailed information about the results of the assessments. Students, parents and teachers can use the information to improve student learning.

The reports provide information that educators can use to ensure that classroom programs and instructional strategies are designed effectively. They can also be used in researching student achievement.

What is EQAO's policy on ranking schools?

EQAO is opposed to the ranking of schools or school boards. Rankings tell us nothing about why scores are high or low. They invite simplistic and misleading comparisons that ignore the particular circumstances affecting achievement in each school. Ranking tends to distract people from addressing the critical issue of how to improve learning for all students.

Can parents see a student's work?

In order to maintain the security of the assessment, EQAO does not return students' work on the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics to schools. Sample assessment items are available on EQAO's Web site.

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