The 'Number Proficiency Index': Establishing the Starting Point for Mathematical Instruction in High School

This paper summarises part of a longitudinal study to investigate the possibility of establishing an Index that would indicate the appropriate starting point for instruction for students entering high school and reports on the first group of students to sit the Index tests in 2005, comparing the predictive nature of the tests with other state and national tests through correlations. The Index tests focus on the number construct and it is envisaged that by identifying the student's deficiencies or strengths in this construct it may be possible to devise interventionist strategies or extension activities that would increase the probability of success in later years. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.) [For the complete proceedings, "Shaping the Future of Mathematics Education. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (33rd, Freemantle, Western Australia, Australia, July 3-7, 2010)," see ED520764.]