The Cambridge International checkpoint exams, for English, Mathematics, and Science are administered each school year to P6 and M3 students in the Bermuda Public School System.
Dr. Simmons, the Director of Academics stated, “The checkpoint exam is a diagnostic assessment; it is not to be treated or interpreted as a standardized test. This means that the sole purpose of the examination is to clearly identify each student’s strengths as well as their weaknesses. The results are to be used by teachers to adapt their instruction to help students achieve a better understanding of what was taught, and to improve their performance in the future.”
He continued, “This diagnostic exam, which is marked overseas, is scored on a scale of 0 to 6. Individually we expect students to score from 3 to 6; however, we do recognize that as a comprehensive school system our students have a range of abilities and exceptionalities. Given this, we know that some of our students will score lower than a 3 and some will score above a 3. This will be reflected in the national average for the Bermuda Public School System (BPSS).”
Checkpoint National Average Results for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019
P6 cohorts for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019
2017/2018 English 3.3
2018/2019 English 2.7
2017/2018 Math 2.4
2018/2019 Math 1.9
2017/2018 Science 3.4
2018/2019 Science 2.3
The results for P6 students for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 are results for two different groups of students.
For 2017/2018, the P6 students’ results for English and Science exceeded the system target of 3.0 and they were .06 off the target for Mathematics.
The P6 students who took this diagnostic assessment last year in 2018/2019 were .03 off the target for English, and below the target for Science and Mathematics.
Middle 3 Scores
National Average Target: 3.0
2017/2018 English 2.7
2018/2019 English 3.5
2017/2018 Math 2.1
2018/2019 Math 3.1
2017/2018 Science 2.9
2018/2019 Science 4.1
The M3 students writing in 2017/2018 are a different cohort than the M3 students writing in 2018/2019.
The M3 cohort who wrote the checkpoint diagnostic assessment in 2017/2018 was 0.3 below the target for English and 0.1 below the target for Science. They were .09 off the target for Mathematics.
The M3 cohort who wrote the checkpoint diagnostic assessments in 2018/2019 exceeded the targets set for English, Reading, Math, and Science.
Commissioner Richards stated, “The checkpoint diagnostic assessment clearly indicates the strengths and areas of improvement for the System. A meeting was held with school leaders in September 2019 to review data and to share strategies for improving results. Math is an area that requires dedicated attention and intervention. School leaders will address the improvement needs for mathematics in their instructional leadership practices and in their school improvement plans. Further, in accordance with Plan 2022 Strategy 1.5.2. we have restructured the school improvement plan. It now requires each school leader to focus specifically on targeting improvements for reading, writing, and mathematics.
Director Simmons added, “In addition, teachers are expected to hold individual tutorial interventions for mathematics and to use Dream Box as an intervention. Also, the Department of Education is in consultation with Mr. Adam Unwin-Berrey, the Regional Curriculum Leader for Mathematics in the Midlands and Northern England, and his team from the Academies Enterprise Trust, to build on the work he has started with primary schools around mathematics.”