Teacher information  Click on the Teacher Guide link at the top (left) of each resource to locate information about the: curriculum classifications for the resource (Click on the link for more information about how resources are classified)  description of the resource (tasks and assessment focus) keywords (word descriptors of the resource) English Maths Science and equipment required task administration answers or student response guide teaching and learning information trial testing information diagnostic and formative information suggestions for next learning steps related key competencies related National standard/s (that the resource can provide evidence for) use of self, peer, or group assessment related resources (e.g., links to curriculum resource books) relevant research. The diagram below demonstrates how the summary of information from trialling is presented for the teacher. Trial testing information All resources have been trialled in New Zealand schools by: Approximately 200 sample students from a range of different school deciles, locations, and gender mixes (mostly pen-and-paper resources), or researchers working face-to-face with a group or class of students. Marking (awarding marks for answers) Do not give marks if you are using the resource for formative assessment. Feedback that helps students improve their learning is more useful than marks that indicate a right or wrong answer. A number of resources may provide suggested marks for scoring.   Use these if you are making up a "test" of a number of resources to: compare the overall performance of students give an indication of achievement over a range of related skills or concepts. Difficulty level This is a qualitative statement showing the percentage of students at a given year level who correctly answered the question during larger-scale nationwide trial testing. The five statements and corresponding difficulty levels are: Statement Percentage difficulty very easy 80% and above easy 60% to 79.9% moderate 40% to 59.9% difficult 20% to 39.9% very difficult 19.9% and below   Interpretation of difficulty level for a question worth more than 1 mark If a question has been allocated more than 1 mark, the difficulty level shown for each mark within the question includes students who gained credit at that mark and higher marks. The example below shows the difficulty levels for a question that has been allocated 3 marks.   Mark scored Difficulty level Explanation 3 marks very difficult The difficulty level refers to the percentage of students who scored 3 out of 3 marks. 2 marks moderate The difficulty level refers to the percentage of students who scored either 2 or 3 marks. 1 mark easy The difficulty level refers to the percentage of students who scored either 1, 2, or 3 marks.   Teaching and learning This is about learning concepts related to the assessment focus. It can also include prior knowledge that students need to engage with the assessment task, key competency links, and links to the National Standards. Diagnostic and formative information  This may be: an analysis of trial students' correct responses an analysis of trial students' strategies an analysis of trial students' responses and misconceptions a summary from research projects other information that helps teachers provide feedback to students. Diagnostic information can be used to: identify possible difficulties students may encounter inform next steps for teaching identify possible points for feedback. Almost all ARB resources have diagnostic information. Next steps  Next steps are 'suggested' next steps, and are largely based on the diagnostic information from students responses in the trial (both 'correct' and 'incorrect') and ideas about the teaching and learning of the assessment focus. Other resources These are similar ARB resources, and other resources that relate to the particular learning concept being assessed, such as ARB classroom investigations or articles, the New Zealand Curriculum exemplars, NEMP reports, Figure it Out, Numeracy booklets (NDP), NZMaths website, ARB maths concept maps, Making Better Sense, Building Science Concepts, Connected series, Science IS (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/science/science_is/), Choices, and Applications.   ARB Home    Please Note: ARB material may be reproduced for school-based assessment purposes, not for sale or other purposes.   The ARBs   Assessment information   Support materials   Help   Contact us   Site map

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