Alignment of Literacy and Numeracy Measures

This report presents analysis of the empirical relationship between four measures of literacy and numeracy in use in New Zealand. The first of these are the proficiency levels used in the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) survey. The second measure is the Learning Progressions for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (learning progressions) as measured by the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (Assessment Tool). The Assessment Tool is primarily used in the tertiary sector and is underpinned by a measurement scale that is related to the steps of the learning progressions. The Assessment Tool scale served as a lynchpin for aligning the other two measures: the literacy and numeracy requirements for the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA); and the New Zealand Curriculum National Standards (National Standards) at year 8 for reading and mathematics. Results from the Assessment Tool were also used to investigate the distributions of reading and numeracy competencies for students attaining NCEA Levels 1 and 2.