Key Findings

• Year 5 students were strongest on questions involving data and those that required them to use reasoning to solve. They struggled most with questions asking them to apply their knowledge to solve, and those involving numbers, measurement and geometry, and expressions, equations and relationships.
• Questions with three-digit numbers, simple equations and geometry vocabulary were specific weaknesses for Year 5 students.
• Compared to the international average results, students underperformed most on questions with few words and involved mostly numbers, shapes and symbols only.
• Teachers can focus on practicing the four operations with up to 3-digit whole numbers and without calculators, ensuring all students understand the concept of equality, and explicitly teach mathematical vocabulary.