The Ministry is migrating nzmaths content to Tāhurangi.           
Relevant and up-to-date teaching resources are being moved to Tāhūrangi (tahurangi.education.govt.nz). 
When all identified resources have been successfully moved, this website will close. We expect this to be in June 2024. 
e-ako maths, e-ako Pāngarau, and e-ako PLD 360 will continue to be available. 

For more information visit https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/updates-to-nzmaths

These written assessments were designed by Grigor Lomas and Peter Hughes as a faster to implement written alternative to the NDP Diagnostic Interview (NumPA). The test is intended to be used by students from about Years 7 to 12. The only restriction is a sufficient literacy level to be able to read the questions. The test estimates preferred strategy and knowledge stage a student uses to solve problems. 

The test consists of four parts; A, B, C, and D. Each student should be assessed using ONE of these parts. The table below shows how the parts relate to the stages of the Number Framework and the levels of the NZC.

    Part A Part B Part C Part D  
NZC level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Framework stage Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Stage 7 Stage 8  
Strategy Counting Additive Advanced Additive Multiplicative Proportional  
Description Student uses counting to solve problems Student uses simple adding and place value Student uses several adding strategies and derives mult. Student uses mult factors, multiples, tables Student works with fractions, decimals easily NCEA L1 A Number testing becomes more about justifying. NCEA L1 M and E

Students are given the appropriate part depending on the stage/level against which they are being assessed, and a copy of the recording sheet. There is no time limit for the test, but it usually takes students about 10 minutes to complete one part. NO calculators are to be used.

Each test has two sections; strategy and knowledge. compare the answers to the appropriate answer sheet, giving each section a tick if the MAJORITY of answers in that section are correct, and a cross if not. No need for individual question marking.

If a student has two crosses, they are at least one stage/level below that assessed. If they have one tick and one cross they are at that level, and if they have two ticks, they are at least one level higher than that assessed. If students have two ticks or two crosses they can be reassessed using the higher or lower part if required.

Test 1 (PDF, 148KB)      Answer sheet 1 (PDF, 41KB)      Marking sheet 1 (PDF, 49KB)
Test 2 (PDF, 170KB) Answer sheet 2 (PDF, 41KB) Marking sheet 2 (PDF, 48KB)
Test 3 (PDF, 216KB) Answer sheet 3 (PDF, 41KB) Marking sheet 3 (PDF, 60KB)
Test 4 (PDF, 216KB) Answer sheet 4 (PDF, 41KB) Marking sheet 4 (PDF, 49KB)