Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) in 2013: Ontario proud of its students!

TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2014 / CNW / - Ontario is the only Canadian jurisdiction where students have met or exceeded the national average in all three subjects assessed by the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) in 2013. The results of Ontario were above the Canadian average in science and reading and statistically similar in mathematics, according to reports released today by the Office of Quality and Responsibility in Education (EQAO) and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC).

QUICK FACTS

• The PCAP is a standardized assessment in reading, math, and science administered every three years to 8-grade students.^e year.
• The results of Ontario students were slightly above the Canadian average in science (the main area of PCAP in 2013). Only Alberta scored higher in this subject. Among Ontario students, 94 % achieved or exceeded the expected level of achievement (level 2, which represents the threshold of proficiency) in science.
• Ontario Student Results in reading were significantly higher than the Canadian average. Ontario's score in this area was the highest of any province by a significant margin.
• Ontario Student Results in mathematics corresponded to the Canadian average. Ontario ranked second in this area, behind Quebec.
• The performance of Ontario students has improved remarkably in reading and has remained constant in science and math since the last administration of PCAP in 2010. PCAP science achievement results cannot yet be compared over time. time, because 2013 was the first year that science was the primary area assessed.
• In Ontario, girls continued to outperform boys in reading. No difference was observed between girls and boys in science or mathematics.
• In all domains, the performance of French-language students in Ontario was lower than the Canadian average for French-language students. When PCAP was last administered in 2010, the performance of French-language students in Ontario was equal to the Canadian average for French-language students in all fields.
• In 2013, the assessment was administered to a random sample of 2,180 students in 125 French-language schools and 3,208 students in 150 English-language schools in Ontario.

Performance of French-language students in Ontario below the Canadian average

“This is the first time that the performance of French-language students in Ontario has been lower than the Canadian average for French-language students in all areas of PCAP. These disturbing results need to be explored further to see if we can better understand them. "

—Bruce rodrigues, Director General, EQAO

TO LEARN MORE

• Highlights of Ontario Student Results: Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP), 2013
  
• Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP), 2013: Ontario Report (EQAO)
  
• Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP), 2013: National Report (CMEC)

About PCAP

The PCAP is a standardized assessment in reading, math, and science administered every three years to 8-grade students.^e year. This is an initiative of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). The participation of Ontario students is coordinated by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) on behalf of the provincial government.

In 2013, the assessment was administered to a random sample of 2,180 students in 125 French-language schools and 3,208 students in 150 English-language schools in Ontario. Because a random sample of students from a random sample of schools participated in the assessment, results at the student, school, and school board level are not available.

About EQAO

EQAO tests measure students' performance in reading, writing and mathematics against the expectations and learning content prescribed in the The Ontario Curriculum. The data obtained ensures the accountability of Ontario's publicly funded education system and provides a measure of its quality. By presenting this important evidence about learning, EQAO acts as a catalyst to increase student success in Ontario.

SOURCE Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)