Using Mathematics

The overall summative level that teachers assign for Using Mathematics should be based on a holistic assessment of a pupil’s performance. This involves considering all evidence available for the Requirements alongside Knowledge and Understanding of Number, Measures, Shape and Space, and Handling Data.

A pupil awarded a particular level will have fully demonstrated how they meet the Requirements at that level.

In mid-February, once every three years, schools must submit samples of pupil work to CCEA that represent the levels which the school intends to award to its Year 4 and Year 7 pupils for Using Mathematics. The pupil work that schools submit to us as part of the external moderation process should reflect the school’s shared understanding of the standards agreed through ongoing internal standardisation.

Each school submission for Using Mathematics should include a total of three pieces of pupil work at each level the school intends to report in Year 4 and Year 7. The pieces must be made up of:

• no more than one response per level to a CCEA Assessment Task; and
• samples that demonstrate breadth across the Requirements and the four aspects of Knowledge and Understanding (Number, Measures, Shape and Space, and Handling Data).

For example, the submission for a school intending to report Levels 2, 3 and 4 should include a total of nine pieces of work: three pieces at each of the three levels to be reported.

Please note that:

• evidence of Level 1 is not required; and
• the pieces of pupil work can come from any year group in the school – they do not have to be the work of only Year 4 and Year 7 pupils.

Schools will need to include the forms listed below with their moderation submission for Using Mathematics:

• one Declaration of Internal Standardisation (EMA1 or EMA1 (IM) for Irish medium);
• one cover sheet (EMA6M (P) or EMA6M (P/IM) for Irish medium) for each level included within the school submission; and
• one school summary sheet (EMA7P or EMA7P (IM) for Irish medium).

This only applies to those schools whose understanding of the standards has not been verified at moderation. Schools can normally access follow-up support from CCEA moderators during June and September.