Helping More Students Succeed in Grade 12 Math
Department of Education (to March 26, 2013)
October 19, 2004 1:20 PM
Grade 12 math students will get more help preparing for
provincial math exams this year, Education Minister Jamie Muir
said today, Oct. 19, following an analysis of Grade 12 math
results of the 2003-04 school year.
"Although more than 80 per cent of students passed Grade 12 math
courses last year, we're not satisfied with the results of
provincial math exams," said Mr. Muir. "In addition to the many
initiatives already being implemented through our Math Strategy
as part of our Learning for Life plan, we're introducing
additional supports for students writing the exam this year, and
also to better ensure students leave the public school system
with the skills they need in math."
The provincial math exams were conducted for the first time last
year. The exams are based on the Math 12 and Advanced Math 12
curriculum which has four units: quadratics, exponentials,
geometry and probability. Last year, teachers could omit
questions based on items they were not able to cover in class. An
analysis by the department shows the majority of omitted
questions were in geometry and probability.
The department also worked with school boards to collect pass
rates for both math courses and the January and June provincial
exams. Success rates for the courses continue to be high, at 85
and 79 per cent. About 60 per cent of students passed the
Advanced Math 12 exam and about 37 per cent passed the Math 12
exam.
"The analysis shows a gap between the curriculum we developed
with the other Atlantic provinces and the curriculum teachers are
able to deliver to their students," said Mr. Muir. "While we
stand behind our curriculum and our exam, we need to learn more
about why elements of the curriculum were omitted."
As an interim initiative to help students, the 2005 provincial
math exams will be adjusted to reflect the content most teachers
covered in class last year. Teachers will not have the option of
omitting questions on topics they aren't able to cover in class.
The department will also prepare and distribute study guides to
students, to help them prepare for the exams in January 2005. The
packages will include examples of questions and answers and study
tips.
"We're going to continue to work closely with school boards and
teachers to deliver a quality math curriculum and with students
to help them improve their math performance," said Mr. Muir.
The department also plans to review the Grade 12 math program to
identify areas where students are struggling.
"The information we collect will give us the evidence we need to
make changes that will help more students succeed in Grade 12
math," said Mr. Muir. "The review will include talking to Grade
12 students and teachers, looking at the time being spent on
teaching and learning math and making sure teachers and students
have the resources they need."
The department expects to complete the review early in 2005.
This year a sample of the Grade 12 provincial math exams will be
marked centrally by teachers at the Department of Education. The
results will be reported in the 2005-06 Minister's Report to
Parents.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Grade 12 math students will get more help preparing for
provincial math exams this year.
The announcement comes on the heels of an analysis of Grade
12 math results from last year.
Education Minister Jamie Muir says more than 80 per cent of
students passed Grade 12 math courses last year. But he's not
satisfied with the results of provincial math exams.
The analysis shows some gaps between what is on the
curriculum and what was actually being taught in classrooms.
Students will be given new study guides to help them prepare
for the January provincial exams. And, this year, the exams will
be changed to reflect what the analysis shows teachers are able
to cover.
-30-
Contact: Tara Walsh
Department of Education
902-424-8307
E-mail: walsht@gov.ns.ca
amc October 19, 2004 1:17 P.M.
Grade 12 math students will get more help preparing for
provincial math exams this year, Education Minister Jamie Muir
said today, Oct. 19, following an analysis of Grade 12 math
results of the 2003-04 school year.
"Although more than 80 per cent of students passed Grade 12 math
courses last year, we're not satisfied with the results of
provincial math exams," said Mr. Muir. "In addition to the many
initiatives already being implemented through our Math Strategy
as part of our Learning for Life plan, we're introducing
additional supports for students writing the exam this year, and
also to better ensure students leave the public school system
with the skills they need in math."
The provincial math exams were conducted for the first time last
year. The exams are based on the Math 12 and Advanced Math 12
curriculum which has four units: quadratics, exponentials,
geometry and probability. Last year, teachers could omit
questions based on items they were not able to cover in class. An
analysis by the department shows the majority of omitted
questions were in geometry and probability.
The department also worked with school boards to collect pass
rates for both math courses and the January and June provincial
exams. Success rates for the courses continue to be high, at 85
and 79 per cent. About 60 per cent of students passed the
Advanced Math 12 exam and about 37 per cent passed the Math 12
exam.
"The analysis shows a gap between the curriculum we developed
with the other Atlantic provinces and the curriculum teachers are
able to deliver to their students," said Mr. Muir. "While we
stand behind our curriculum and our exam, we need to learn more
about why elements of the curriculum were omitted."
As an interim initiative to help students, the 2005 provincial
math exams will be adjusted to reflect the content most teachers
covered in class last year. Teachers will not have the option of
omitting questions on topics they aren't able to cover in class.
The department will also prepare and distribute study guides to
students, to help them prepare for the exams in January 2005. The
packages will include examples of questions and answers and study
tips.
"We're going to continue to work closely with school boards and
teachers to deliver a quality math curriculum and with students
to help them improve their math performance," said Mr. Muir.
The department also plans to review the Grade 12 math program to
identify areas where students are struggling.
"The information we collect will give us the evidence we need to
make changes that will help more students succeed in Grade 12
math," said Mr. Muir. "The review will include talking to Grade
12 students and teachers, looking at the time being spent on
teaching and learning math and making sure teachers and students
have the resources they need."
The department expects to complete the review early in 2005.
This year a sample of the Grade 12 provincial math exams will be
marked centrally by teachers at the Department of Education. The
results will be reported in the 2005-06 Minister's Report to
Parents.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Grade 12 math students will get more help preparing for
provincial math exams this year.
The announcement comes on the heels of an analysis of Grade
12 math results from last year.
Education Minister Jamie Muir says more than 80 per cent of
students passed Grade 12 math courses last year. But he's not
satisfied with the results of provincial math exams.
The analysis shows some gaps between what is on the
curriculum and what was actually being taught in classrooms.
Students will be given new study guides to help them prepare
for the January provincial exams. And, this year, the exams will
be changed to reflect what the analysis shows teachers are able
to cover.
-30-
Contact: Tara Walsh
Department of Education
902-424-8307
E-mail: walsht@gov.ns.ca
amc October 19, 2004 1:17 P.M.