The ELOM-R tools: Assessing children’s readiness to learn in Grade 1

The ELOM-R tools assess language and mathematics skills central to children’s readiness to learn when they enter Grade 1. The tools are standardised tests that fairly assess children in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages (South African Sign Language excluded). The skills measured in both ELOM-R tools are aligned with the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for the Reception Year, known as Grade R, of the Foundation Phase. 

There are two tools: the ELOM-R Mathematics (V1) Assessment Tool and the ELOM-R Language (V1) Assessment Tool. The tools may be used individually or together. 

Development of the ELOM-R tools began in 2018. The pilot instruments were tested in 2019 on how children from different socio-economic backgrounds and languages responded to each test item. After a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tool adjustments were made (the tools were then named ELOM 6&7 Mathematics and Language/Literacy Assessments), and data was collected for psychometric analysis, standardisation, and norming in 2023 and 2024.

Published: March 2025

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