What’s the score in Nova Scotia? Students’ test marks don’t seem to add up correctly

Nova Scotia may be responsible for students’ poor math scores because of the way it adds up standardized test results, an Atlantic Canada think tank says.

“This is about bad reporting,” said Bobby O’Keefe of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS).

“When you can’t identify the problem, then you can’t identify what the solution is.”

AIMS points out inconsistencies between the province’s and the school boards’ average scores for Grade 12 math exam results. For instance, AIMS said the Halifax Regional School Board numbers showed students scored an average mark of 49.6% on the math exam, whereas the province reported it was 43%.

Province wide, school board numbers showed students scored an average 47.8% on the test. The province reported it was 39%.