Assessment and Evaluation

Provincial Assessment Program

The primary role of the Provincial Assessment Program is to enhance teaching and improve student learning by  

  • informing instructional planning and helping to determine the need for changes or student specific interventions.
  • providing feedback to students, teachers and parents about student learning.
  • delivering system-wide information that assists in identifying trends and making decisions about resources and support.

Assessment and Test Schedule – 2023/24

Grade 12 Provincial Tests will be administered in the 2023/24 school year, following the process and structure of the last administration in January 2020. A new Grade 10 Provincial Evaluation is being piloted in Fall 2023. The pilot evaluation will provide the department with feedback that will be used to ensure the success of future Grade 10 Evaluations. The existing assessments in Early Years (Grades 3/4) and Middle Years (Grades 7/8) will continue.

The following assessments and tests will be administered in the 2023/24 school year:

Assessment, Evaluation and Test Schedule – 2023/24
Assessment / Evaluation Administration Timelines
Early Years Assessment
  • Grade 3 Assessment – Reading, Lecture and Numeracy
  • Grade 4 Assessment – French Immersion Lecture

October 23 to December 1, 2023

Middle Years Assessment
  • Grade 7 – Mathematics
  • Grade 8 – Reading, Comprehension and Expository Writing

January 22 to March 1, 2024

Grade 10 Pilot Evaluation
  • Mathematics
  • Reading and Responding

November 20 to 24, 2023 (refer to the fact sheet for more information)

Grade 12 Provincial Tests
  • English Language Arts 40S

    Note: Optional for Français and  French Immersion Programs

Semester 1: January 9 to  12, 2024

Semester 2: May 27 to 30, 2024

  • Français langue première, 40S

    Note: Students’ preparatory activities start on the Wednesday prior to administration beginning.

Semester 1: January 10, 2024 (during Français class); and, January 15 to 16, 2024

Semester 2: May 29, 2024 (during Français class); and June 3 to 4, 2024

  • Français langue seconde, — immersion 40S Standards Test

    Note: Students’ Preparatory Activities start on the Wednesday prior to administration beginning.

Semester 1: January 10, 2024
(during Français class), January 15 to 16, 2024

Semester 2: May 29, 2024
(during Français class), June 3 to 4, 2024

  • Applied Mathematics

 

Semester 1: January 23, 2024

Semester 2: June 13, 2024

  • Essential Mathematics

 

Semester 1: January 24, 2024

Semester 2: June 12, 2024

  • Pre-Calculus Mathematics

Semester 1: January 25, 2024

Semester 2: June 11, 2024


Provincial assessment programming falls into the following categories:

Kindergarten: Early Development Instrument (EDI)

  • Classroom-based (assessment for and as learning) formative assessment of students in five domains of early child development as follows: physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication skills and general knowledge.
  • The reporting of results provides a baseline measure of children's development at school entry.

Grade 3 Assessment in Reading, Lecture and Numeracy and Grade 4 Assessment in French Immersion Lecture

  • Classroom-based, (assessment for and as learning) formative assessment of students in reading and numeracy.
  • The reporting of results is to inform parents of their child’s strengths and needs, and to guide instructional planning in the classroom. At the school, divisional and provincial levels, the gathering of data is used to examine trends and to make informed decisions to improve student learning.

Middle Years Assessment of Key Competencies in Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Expository Writing

  • Classroom-based (assessment for and as learning), formative assessment of grade 7 students in student engagement, number skills and number sense, as well as of grade 8 students in expository writing and reading comprehension.
  • The report is based on the most recent, stable evidence of student achievement gathered and is used to inform parents, guide instructional planning and provide data to inform decision making at the school, divisional and provincial levels thus improving student learning.

Grade 10 Evaluation in Mathematics, Reading and Responding – Pilot, November 2023

  • Inform instruction and programming at the student, classroom, and school levels.
  • Support students in understanding their individual learning and progress towards learning outcomes, up to and including Grade 9.
  • Provide an annual snapshot of student learning, early in their Grade 10 year, to inform provincial programming, policy, and resource decisions on an ongoing basis.

Fact Sheet for the Grade 10 Pilot Evaluation in Mathematics, Reading, and Responding (Adobe Icon 219 KB)

Grade 12 Provincial Tests in Language Arts (40S) and Mathematics (40S)

  • Curriculum-based assessments developed by teachers in collaboration with the department
  • Administered at the end of each semester
  • Marked locally by teachers according to marking guidelines and training offered by the department
  • Tests count for 20 per cent of students’ final grades for Language Arts, Applied Mathematics, Pre-Calculus Mathematics, or Essential Mathematics

Participation in national and international assessments

The latest Canadian report from the PISA program is available on the Council of Ministers of Education website.

View samples of PISA Reading Items (Adobe Icon 64 KB) and their corresponding marking keys (Adobe Icon 29 KB).

The latest Canadian report from the PCAP program is available on the Council of Ministers of Education website.