The semester is coming to a close, and that means grade 10 students in BC are gearing up for their numeracy assessments and literacy assessments. The numeracy assessment is a standardized exam that aims to test a student’s ability to interpret, apply, solve, analyze, and communicate within the world of numbers. Since the assessment is a culmination of everything learned from kindergarten to grade 10, students will need to draw on all the skills they’ve acquired throughout their schooling careers. How can your child make sure they’re prepared for the BC numeracy assessment? Read on to learn some helpful tips and tricks for stress-free studying.
Live in the Real World
The purpose of the BC numeracy assessment is to test grade 10 students based on the practical applications of numbers. What better way to prepare than by going out into the world and interacting with it using the language of math? Go for a drive and figure out how long it will take to travel a certain distance based on the speed limit. Take a trip to the grocery store and practice calculating the unit prices of different food items to determine the best deal. Get creative with it!
Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best ways to prepare for any math test is to simply practice doing math calculations—the grade 10 numeracy assessment is no exception. But how will your student know what to focus on? The assessment puts an emphasis on the practical uses of math and how math can come in handy when trying to solve real-world problems.
Students should know how to determine the area and perimeter of two-dimensional shapes such as rectangles, circles, and triangles. Knowing the formulas for the volume of three-dimensional objects such as rectangular prisms, spheres, and cylinders will prove useful as well. The practical applications of these shapes are endless, so they’re bound to show up on the assessment.
Students should also be confident with calculating and interpreting various rates. Dollars per item when shopping, kilometres per hour when driving, and words per minute when typing are just a few of the ways rates can show up in life and on the assessment. Students can use rates to determine everything from the efficiency of employees at a company to the electricity used by an appliance in a day, and becoming familiar with using rates will improve your child’s rate of success on the BC numeracy assessment.
If you’d like to find some great resources to help your student improve their practical math skills, check out this list of online learning websites.
Play Numeracy Games
The numeracy assessment is rooted in the practical application of number skills, so why not take what is learned in the classroom and apply it to something fun? Board games such as Monopoly and Catan deal with the management of resources, and many of the situations experienced while playing will put your child’s problem-solving skills to the test. The concepts tested in the numeracy assessment are not necessarily tied to a higher level of math, so becoming fluent and comfortable with making meaningful decisions based on basic numerical information is one of the best ways to prepare.
Logic puzzles such as Sudoku and Rubik’s Cubes are great for becoming fluent with problem-solving and observation. Card games like Cribbage help to develop confidence using mental math to quickly process numerical information. Even playing chess is fantastic for growing comfortable with organization, planning, and problem-solving. A solid base in each of these skills will make it easier to analyze the wide variety of questions on the assessment.
The core functions of many video games can also serve to enhance your child’s numeracy skills. Management-style games such as Simcity and Cities: Skylines deal with resource allocation and high-impact decision making, talents that will prove invaluable when tackling the BC numeracy assessment. Building-focused games such as Minecraft will improve your child’s spatial-recognition and geometry skills, both of which will be thoroughly tested on the exam. Who said learning can’t be fun?
Use the Practice Numeracy Assessment
Once your student feels like they have a solid grasp on their practical math skills, they can head over to the Government of BC’s website to try a sample of the grade 10 numeracy assessment. The examples provide an accurate representation of what the real format of the assessment might look like while giving students a handful of problems to work through. The practice exams should be used toward the end of your child’s studying journey, however, since there are only limited resources available.
The format of each question tends to change throughout the exam, so be sure to exercise caution when answering. Some questions require students to choose just one answer while others allow multiple responses with more than one correct combination of answers. For best results, always read each question carefully to ensure full understanding of what is being asked.
Contact Us To Learn More
Exam season can be a stressful time for students. Fortunately, Tutoring…With a Twist* is here to help. We offer tutoring services that will have your child feeling confident in their numeracy skills just in time for the grade 10 assessment. Be sure to get in touch with us if you wish to learn more.
Want to stay up-to-date with more posts like this? Head over to our Facebook page and give us a ‘like’!
*Services provided by With a Twist Education Ltd.
Comments 3
Hi, I would like my son to practice for the grade 10 assessment. Unfortunately, the government site seems to have only one sample question each for numeracy and literacy. Do you happen to know of any resources (like workbooks) that have many of the same type of question.
IXL website is great! It’s only around $12.00 a month. IXL website is organized and user friendly; even some public school teachers use it to help students understand core concepts.
Thanks you for the recommendation!