Performance Level Descriptors

New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK)
Performance Level Descriptors
Mathematics
Grade 6

06/10/08

Partially Proficient

Sixth grade students performing at the partially proficient level in mathematics demonstrate limited evidence of and/or an inability to communicate conceptual understanding of procedural and analytical skills. Partially proficient students inconsistently apply mathematical skills and knowledge to theoretical and real world situations. These students struggle to integrate skills across the four mathematical content standards.

Partially proficient students may demonstrate some understanding of but inconsistently apply appropriate standard numerical operations. These students may determine the reasonableness of an answer.
Partially proficient students have difficulty understanding and applying geometric concepts including properties, measurement, and special relationships.
Partially proficient students may inconsistently use simple algebraic concepts and processes.
They inconsistently read, construct, and interpret data and graphs, determine probabilities of events, and may misapply the concepts and methods of discrete mathematics.

Proficient

Sixth grade students performing at the proficient level in mathematics demonstrate evidence of and communicate conceptual understanding of procedural and analytical skills. Proficient students apply mathematical skills and knowledge to theoretical and real world situations. In addition, these students integrate skills across the four mathematical content standards.

Proficient students understand and apply appropriate standard numerical operations: an understanding for problem solving in practical situations. These students can determine the reasonableness of an answer.
Proficient students understand and apply geometric concepts including properties, measurement, and special relationships.
Proficient students use simple algebraic concepts and processes.
Proficient students read, construct, and interpret data and graphs, determine probabilities of events, and apply the concepts and methods of discrete mathematics.

Advanced Proficient

Sixth grade students performing at the advanced proficient level in mathematics consistently demonstrate the qualities for proficient performance. In addition, these students demonstrate the use of abstract thinking and mathematical fluency to provide explanations that are consistently clear and thorough. Advanced proficient students support logical, efficient methods in solving problems. These students consistently make accurate inferences and predictions. Advanced proficient students may support responses with appropriate mathematical explanation. These students successfully analyze and draw appropriate inferences from data. They demonstrate the ability to transfer mathematical concepts to other applications and successfully form conjectures.