Performance assessment in mathematics through instruction tests "Math-58/5 º EGB"

Abstract

The subject of Mathematics usually offers a low rate of academic output. The Spanish reform (1982) of the primary education established certain basic levels of obligatory reference. But, was the reform able to improve the rate of success in the subject of Mathematics? This investigation undergone (cfr. ARNAL1,9 88 a), allowed us to work out an objective instrument of evaluation (Mathematics-58/5O E. G. B. ). This instrument was applied to a representative sample of 4. 083 pupils in their 5th year (N=92. 870) living in Barcelona and its province. The results proved that only a 6% obtained a level of acceptance fixed beforehand in the marking; It was made clear that the teachers marked between 5 and 7 in more than the 50 % of the pupils and that there existed significative differences between the arithmetic mean of the variables studied. It was clear from the results of this investigation that the contect of the class and the oficial curriculum differed. The satisfactory results were found in those items related to operations with numbers and measures. In june 19. 060 students in their 5th year failed Mathematics (20,52070); the 11 % of the population didn't achieve in september the level required -ctsuficient 1evel))-. It's including some aspects about the Mathematics area for think about them.