Provincial Assessments
PEI teachers contribute to the creation of Provincial Common Assessments that are based on curriculum used in Island schools. Assessment results tell us how well Island students are doing from year to year. The information helps improve teaching, select resources, direct professional learning, and develop new programs.
What do provincial assessments measure?
Provincial assessments measure literacy and math skills, the foundational skills for future learning.
- The literacy assessment measures how well your child is able to:
- read and understand what is being read
- express and organize ideas in writing using age-appropriate spelling and punctuation skills
- follow instructions
- The mathematics assessment measures your child’s knowledge and skills in numeracy and math at specific grade levels.
When will my child be assessed?
Your child will be assessed in reading, writing, and mathematics at key stages of learning. If your child has special educational needs he or she may be excluded from these assessments.
- The Primary Literacy Assessment (PLA) and Primary Mathematics Assessment (PMA) occur at the end of Grade 3 - before your child begins to spend more time with learning content in Grade 4. For the 2019-2020 school year, Grade 3 students will participate in an end-of-year writing assessment that will be used to determine the effectiveness of the Primary Writing Project. A revised Primary Literacy Assessment will be introduced for the 2020-2021 school year. The PMA will be administered as in previous years.
- The Elementary Literacy Assessment (ELA) and Elementary Mathematics Assessment (EMA) occur at the end of Grade 6 - before the transition to intermediate school. The French Immersion ELA occurs at the end of Grade 5.
- The Intermediate Mathematics Assessment (IMA) occurs at the end of Grade 9 - before the transition to high school. The IMA results are worth 10 per cent of the overall mark on your child’s report card.
- The Secondary Mathematics Assessment (SMA) occurs at the end of semester (January and June) for Grade 11 students enrolled in Math 521A, Math 521B, and Math 521M. The SMA is worth 25 per cent of the student’s overall mark for the course and replaces the final exam.
How can I help my child prepare for the assessment?
The best way to help prepare is to ensure that your child arrives at school well rested and ready to participate. While there is no need for special study for the literacy assessment, you can encourage your child to review what was learned throughout the year to prepare for the math assessment.
When will I know my child's assessment results?
You will receive a report of your child’s assessment in October. This is a snapshot of how well your child is doing compared to the provincial standard. Your child’s teacher will be able to address how your child’s performance on the assessment compares to the teacher’s observation in the classroom.
Will I be able to review the overall results of the assessment?
Overall results are available for each English public school, including French Immersion. When looking at school results, it is important to consider the total number of students who participated in the assessment, the size of the student population and trends over a period of time.
Results for schools in La Commission scolaire de langue française are not made available because statistics are too unstable for schools with small student populations.
What if my child follows an adapted program?
Your child will be provided the same supports during the assessment as long as they do not compromise the validity of the assessment. Students who do not follow the prescribed curriculum may be considered for exemption.
Who can I contact for more information?
Contact your child's teacher directly, or
Achievement and Accountability
Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
Holman Centre
250 Water St., Suite 101
Summerside, PE C1N 1B6
Tel: (902) 438-4887
Fax: (902) 438-4889
Email: lrunderhill@gov.pe.ca