{"id":1721,"date":"2020-07-14T14:19:59","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T14:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testbasede.wpengine.com\/?page_id=1721"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T14:04:37","slug":"identifying-starting-points","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.testbase.co.uk\/key-to-good-assessment\/identifying-starting-points\/","title":{"rendered":"2. Identify starting points"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_section][vc_row el_class=&#8221;breadcrumbs&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.testbase.co.uk\/key-to-good-assessment\/\">The key to good assessment<\/a> \/ Identifying starting points[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]\n<h1>2. Identifying starting points<\/h1>\n<h3>The importance of diagnostic assessment<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]\n<h1>2. Identifying starting points<\/h1>\n<h3>The importance of diagnostic assessment<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Download your free guide now&#8221; style=&#8221;flat&#8221; shape=&#8221;round&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; button_block=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;btn-cta btn-cta-blue&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Ftestbase.uk%2Fp%2F4QDY-4QL%2Fkey-good-assessment&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-6&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>Summative assessment<\/strong> is used to make a judgement about learning and many schools are considering baseline assessments for the start of the year. However, they usually provide little information about pupils\u2019 knowledge and understanding; just a mark or level.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, <strong>diagnostic assessment<\/strong> helps a teacher <strong>work out what a pupil thinks<\/strong>. It can be used to <strong>check on children\u2019s prior knowledge and ideas<\/strong> before beginning a new topic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The key to good assessment<\/strong> is to use the evidence to inform what should happen next.<\/p>\n<p>For example, assessment might help identify individuals or groups who require pre-teaching or intervention. It might draw attention to whether they hold particular misconceptions that could be barriers to learning and progression. These <strong>help identify starting points in teaching<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1821&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1600347183541{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;border-left-color: #fac046 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #fac046 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #fac046 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #fac046 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;4&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-4 vc_col-sm-offset-3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1819&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1601035750086{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;border-left-color: #ebebeb !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ebebeb !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ebebeb !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ebebeb !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-8&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1601035488436{margin-bottom: 17.6px !important;}&#8221;]\n<h2>Misconceptions as a starting point<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New concepts are more easily learned when they can be connected to existing ideas and beliefs. However, misconceptions (or alternative conceptions) can create a barrier to understanding. As such, creating a classroom culture where misconceptions are revealed and addressed is important. Children should not be afraid of making mistakes as they provide further opportunities to learn and help deepen understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, many children learn early on that a shortcut to multiplying by ten is to \u2018add a zero\u2019. However, what happens to a child\u2019s understanding when they try to apply this rule when asked to multiply fractions or decimals by ten?<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-4&#8243;][vc_column_text]Identifying mistakes is helpful when deciding what to do as part of teaching. Understanding how these ideas have been formed will help teachers develop strategies for avoiding and addressing these misconceptions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Common misconceptions can easily be identified in several ways, by:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Discussing with colleagues<\/li>\n<li>Reflecting on personal experience; something that comes through having taught this a number of times<\/li>\n<li>Using subject knowledge; knowing the processes that sit behind what we want to achieve<\/li>\n<li>Researching pupil performance; the commentary that accompanies some past SATs papers can be a useful indicator of common misconceptions for particular test questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-8 vc_col-sm-offset-2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1723&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1601035439073{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1599073894784{border-top-width: 3px !important;background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;border-top-color: #ebebeb !important;border-top-style: solid !important;}&#8221;][vc_row equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">How does Testbase support you?<\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1601038088188{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-7&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Primary Maths Progression Map<\/strong><br \/>\nFundamental statements from the test framework are organised into categories to help <strong>illustrate progression<\/strong> in key areas across the curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>Embedded within the map are sets of <strong>assessment questions<\/strong> for priority areas for years 1 to 6. Each question exemplifies what children should know and understand for success in a particular objective and can be used to probe understanding <strong>through rich classroom discussions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>These sets can be used to:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>exemplify<\/strong> progression over time for your pupils<\/li>\n<li><strong>highlight<\/strong> gaps in prior learning<\/li>\n<li><strong>identify<\/strong> starting points in teaching<\/li>\n<li><strong>refresh<\/strong> previous knowledge before starting the next stage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Problem solving elements are embedded within each document.<\/p>\n<p>The map helps teachers to see how their teaching fits into the <strong>\u201cbigger picture\u201d<\/strong> by highlighting and exemplifying content that has been taught in previous years and how skills and knowledge will be built upon in following years. It supports non-maths specialists to identify how to support less able pupils and stretch those who need additional challenges.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1601038634190{background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-offset-1 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-offset-3 vc_col-xs-6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1858&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;4&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1600354615650{margin-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8 vc_col-sm-offset-1&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1600351151661{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;quote quote-yellow&#8221;]\n<p class=\"quote-text\">\u201cIt is a very effective resource as a school. It allows us to recap on prior learning, resources are updated and in line with the national curriculum and Ofsted framework.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"quote-author\">Georgina Addo, Year 3 teacher<br \/>\nSt Luke\u2019s Primary school<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu=&#8221;2972&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Order today&#8221; style=&#8221;flat&#8221; shape=&#8221;round&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; button_block=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;btn-cta btn-cta-blue&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fforms.doublestruck.co.uk%2F%3Fbrand%3DTB&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Log in&#8221; style=&#8221;flat&#8221; shape=&#8221;round&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; button_block=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;btn-cta btn-cta-blue&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapp.doublestruck.eu%2F%3Fbr%3DTB&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_section][vc_row el_class=&#8221;breadcrumbs&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]The key to good assessment \/ Identifying starting points[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text] 2. 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