Assessing student skills and curriculum performance
Last updated on January 24, 2024
Checking on student progress
A checkpoint in the student journey. Assessments follow students through their entire education experience. They provide a window into what students learned, how well they learned it, and where they struggled. Parents or caregivers and educators can use assessment results to offer support.
An effective way to support student success. Assessments measure learning skills linked to curriculum and performance standards. When all students write assessments, the results help the Ministry of Education and Child Care, school districts and schools keep track of how well our education system is doing and identify learning areas that may need improvement.
Support is available. Accommodations for taking assessments is similar to student support that's already available. Please contact your school for more information.
Assessments align with curriculum
Continuous evaluation and improvement keep assessments relevant to student needs. B.C.’s provincial assessments are rigorous and based on learning standards to evaluate student achievement, core learning competencies, and literacy and numeracy skills.
Results data is used to support student success and determine how to improve the system for future students.
Assessments that show parents and teachers how students are doing in literacy and numeracy. Participation is mandatory. Results are not part of final grades.
Grade 10 literacy and numeracy
Assessments that's part of graduation requirements. Content is focused on demonstrating and applying literacy and numeracy skills. Participation is mandatory.
An assessment of a student's skills in literacy. This assessment is also a graduation requirement. Participation is mandatory.
National and international assessment results are used to compare student achievement between provinces and countries.
Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)
A national assessment of Grade 8 students from across Canada that takes place every three years. It measures reading, math and science skills. Schools are randomly chosen. Participation is mandatory. Scores are not part of final grades.
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
An international assessment of 15-year-old students that measures reading, math and science skills that takes place every three years. Schools are randomly chosen. Participation is mandatory. Scores are not part of final grades.
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
An international assessment of Grade 4 students that measures reading skills and takes place every five years. Schools are randomly chosen. Participation is mandatory. Scores are not part of final grades.