Essential Assessment & Mathematics Victorian Curriculum 2.0
The Victorian Government has recently changed the F-10 Mathematics curriculum to raise Australian learning outcomes to meet higher international standards. This new version of the curriculum (2.0) is mandated for use from Term 1, 2025.
Many Victorian teachers have already begun preparing for the adjustment by learning about the new curriculum, developing new aligned units of work and pre-assessing students in Mathematics using the 2.0 curriculum.
In this article:
- EA and the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 Mathematics
- Attainment Levels in Victorian Curriculum 2.0 vs Victorian Curriculum 1.0
- Information for parents
EA Numeracy Content & the Victorian Curriculum 2.0
We are committed to supporting Victorian teachers by ensuring they are fully equipped to teach and assess the new curriculum using Essential Assessment. As a result, we have been releasing both new and newly-aligned Numeracy content from Term 1, 2024.
What's already available?
So far, we have released online strand and most topic-based assessments for Years F-10.
In addition, Years F-8 My Numeracy online activities have also been made available.
What's coming next?
Years 3-8 worksheets will be steadily released throughout Term 3 and 4, with Years F-2 to follow.
Some topic-based assessments are still to come for Space, Statistics and Probability. These will be available in Term 4.
Attainment Levels in Victorian Curriculum 2.0 vs Victorian Curriculum 1.0
We’re hearing feedback that in some cases, attainment levels obtained in EA Victorian Curriculum 2.0 Numeracy assessments are lower than levels achieved in tests from version 1.0. We wish to reassure you that, in these cases, the lower levels are not the result of platform error, nor are they a reflection of the teacher or the learner. Instead, they highlight the differences between the two curriculum versions.
It is important to reassure both students and their families that their student’s actual attainment has not changed - but the curriculum targets have. As a result, a child’s overall mathematics attainment level in 2024 may be lower than in 2023 due to these raised targets. Clear communication will be needed to ensure teacher, student and parent expectations of performance are adjusted in line with the curriculum changes, and aligned.
A focus on learning growth will be crucial as we navigate this period of curriculum transition.
As a result of comprehensive data analysis following the Semester 1 2024 reporting period, we have recently refined our internal grading mechanism for VC 2.0 assessments. The impact of this adjustment is expected to be minimal, but may mean an uplift or increase in achievement levels for some students when sitting 2.0 assessments on EA in Semester 2 and beyond.
Information for parents
We have a separate article here that can be shared with parents regarding the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and Essential Assessment.
If you have further queries about the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 on Essential Assessment, contact our Support team at info@essentialassessment.com.au