Supporting Clarity and Consistency: NSW Level Expectations & A-E Grading

Understanding progression through the year

Syllabus-level growth is expected to occur steadily over time, with 0.5 curriculum-level gain equating to six months of progress. Students begin the school year at the curriculum level they completed the year prior.

For example:

• A Year 5 student in January is expected to begin at Level 4.
• By July, halfway through the year, the expectation moves to Level 4.5.
• By December, students are expected to have progressed to Level 5, marking one full level of growth over the year.

Here’s how expected curriculum progression maps across the calendar year:

A-E grading

Essential Assessment generates an overall A-E grade for each student per strand. This is visible in View Class Results.

A-E grading is in accordance with the average progression point (Average NSW), in relation to the time of year. These generate on the left-hand side.

NSW Subscribers: Using Overall Results to Assign an A–E Grade

Assigning A–E grades is a school-based decision. Educators can use the Overall Results provided in Essential Assessment—available in the following Help Guide: How can I see the Semester Average Result for Mathematics for Reporting? —alongside the tables of information to inform a triangulated, evidence-based judgement.

This process enables teachers to combine assessment data, classroom observations, work samples, and professional judgement to accurately determine each student’s A–E grade.

The following tables demonstrate how A-E grading is calculated in relation to the progression point, based on the time of year.

Semester ONE:

Semester TWO: