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Use the KeyMaths-3 DA to comprehensively assess students’ maths skills, from early rote counting ability through to factoring polynomials.
The KeyMaths-3 DA features broad content coverage, a flexible administration process, parallel forms and is linked directly to a comprehensive intervention programme.
Use the KeyMaths-3 DA to:
- Measure maths proficiency
- Monitor student progress
- Support instructional development
- Support educational placement decisions
Overview of the KeyMaths-3 Diagnostic Assessment
The KeyMaths-3 Diagnostic Assessment (KeyMaths-3 DA) is a comprehensive, norm-referenced measure of essential mathematical concepts and skills. Like previous versions of the widely used KeyMaths assessments this addition to the KeyMaths family is untimed and individually administered. However, the KeyMaths-3 DA represents a substantial revision in concept and design on previous versions.
- Updated content that extends to factoring and solving algebraic equations
- New subtests
- Updated norms and new interpretive reports
- Link to the KeyMaths-3 Essential Resources companion instructional programme.
The items are grouped into 10 subtests that represent three general maths content areas
- Basic Concepts (conceptual knowledge)
- Operations (computational skills)
- Applications (problem solving)
KeyMaths-3 DA content covers the full spectrum of maths concepts and skills that are typically taught in Kindergarten (first year of formal schooling) through to Year 9 (Year 10 in New Zealand) and can be used with individuals aged 4½ through to 21 years who are functioning at these instructional levels. It is available in two parallel forms, designated as Form A and Form B, each of which contains 372 full-colour test items.
Each area is further divided into subtests, with the content of each subtest spanning primary and early high school maths curricula. The content of the basic concepts subtests represents a carefully selected set of concepts and skills at each year level that form the foundation for mathematics learning and connections across subtests. In addition, the KeyMaths-3 assessment places more emphasis on maths communication, connections, and reasoning than earlier versions. In Australia, the five basic concepts subtests parallel the three content strands proposed in the foundation document for the national mathematics curriculum, Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (National Curriculum Board, 2009). Similarly in New Zealand, the content strands parallel the three mathematics curriculum strands.
The KeyMaths-3 DA also includes two separate written computation subtests (Addition and Subtraction; Multiplication and Division). Operations skills are fundamental for success in mathematics and are often the source of maths learning difficulties. By providing separate measures of operational skills, the KeyMaths-3 DA is able to focus particular attention in this important area.
The two applications subtests assess a student’s ability to apply conceptual knowledge and operational skills to solve maths problems. The Foundations of Problem Solving subtest includes items that require students to identify missing elements in a problem, operations needed to solve a problem, and optimal strategies for solving the problem. The Applied Problem Solving subtest presents maths problems in real-world contexts and includes items that require standard and nonstandard problem-solving strategies.
For more information about the topics covered in the KeyMaths-3 DA, please see product resources section below.
Software requires Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10. Not compatible with Mac OS or Windows 11.
Uses of the KeyMaths-3 DA
Measure math proficiency
The KeyMaths-3 DA provides comprehensive coverage of the concepts and skills that are taught in regular maths instruction ranging from rote to rational counting through to factoring polynomials and solving linear equations.
Measure student progress
The highly reliable scores and the comprehensive content coverage make the KeyMaths-3 DA area and Total Test scores sensitive measures of student progress. By alternating test forms (A and B) the KeyMaths-3 DA can be used to measure progress over time. The report can be used to determine whether the examinee’s performance gains are significant by calculating accurate measure of the examinee’s growth rate, and comparing the examinee’s growth with the average growth for his her age/school year group
Support instructional development
The 10 KeyMaths-3 DA subtests provide accurate information regarding specific concepts and skills within the examinee’s functional range. The examinee’s performance on items in the functional range indicates which concepts and skills the examinee has attained and which the examinee is still developing. Each item in the assessment is linked to an appropriate lesson in the companion KeyMaths-3 ER instructional programme, which enables instruction to be tailored to the examinee’s specific needs.
Support educational placement
The variety of normative scores, including percentiles and year equivalents, can be used to accurately identify the school year level at which the examinee is functioning. The information can be used to guide decisions about educational placement.
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