ELOM-R (v1) Technical Manual 3: Mathematics Assessment

This manual explains how the ELOM-R Mathematics Assessment measures foundational numeracy abilities required for confident engagement in early mathematical learning in Grade 1. These include number sense, early operations, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition – all of which are strongly predictive of later mathematics achievement.

The manual presents input into the comprehensive psychometric analyses demonstrating scale reliability, measurement equivalence, and absence of bias across eight South African languages for. This means the assessment reliably measures the same underlying skills regardless of a child’s language background or home learning environment.

It also includes national norms and performance standards that indicate whether groups of children are On Track for Grade 1, providing a powerful basis for monitoring programme effectiveness and targeting early numeracy support where it is most needed.

What’s Inside

• Core numeracy constructs assessed and their importance for future learning.
• Language-equitable item adaptation ensuring fairness across linguistic contexts.
• Psychometric validation results demonstrating reliability and absence of bias.
• Readiness norms and performance bands to support programme-level planning and monitoring.
• Guidance for interpreting outcomes to direct early numeracy strengthening in practice.

Why It Matters
Early numeracy is a strong predictor of later academic performance.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL MANUAL HERE

Title: ELOM-R (v1) Technical Manual 3: Mathematics Assessment

Author(s): Developed on behalf of DataDrive2030 by Matthew Kleineibst (Psychology Department University of Cape Town and Ax Consult), Jürgen Becker (Industrial Psychology Department, University of the Western Cape and Ax Consult) and Andrew Dawes (Psychology Department, University of Cape Town and DataDrive2030)

Published: June 2025