Results of the Placement Test are shown in the Assessment Report and Yearly Dashboard, indicating each student’s placement in the Happy Numbers curriculum (either below or on grade level). Dots of different colors indicate the student's level (more on this below). If the student has not yet completed the test, you will see TBD, which means that the test result is yet to be determined.
How does Happy Numbers place students based on the results?
Based on a student’s performance on the Placement Test, he or she receives a Quantile measure.
Note! The particular Quantile Score is shown only to premium users. Users without premium access see colored dots indicating whether a student’s assessment performance is on grade level or below grade level.
There are four possible categories that children may fall into based on their score:
Students who are far below grade-level (red dot)
Students who are below grade-level (pink dot)
Students who are on grade-level (light blue dot)
Students who exceed grade-level readiness (dark blue dot)
Students who score a Quantile measure below grade level will be placed in an appropriate individualized pathway in which they are ready to receive instruction. Conversely, if students are placed on grade level, they will begin with the first module of their enrolled grade. Students who scored above grade level will skip any skills they are proficient at and start at the middle of their enrolled grade pathway, with the next grade level content queued up and ready as students complete the on-grade level pathway.
As already mentioned, depending on the Quantile measure received as a result of the Placement Test, the student can be placed at different points in the curriculum. You can see the placement map and Quantile ranges using the link below:
The result in Quantiles can be much higher than the threshold value of the "Exceeds" level. If a student has a significantly higher Quantile measure than his peers, it doesn’t mean that the student should be placed at a higher grade level. The Placement Test consists of questions that only measure readiness for the current grade, so we cannot decide to place a student higher than half a grade above. A high Quantile score only means that the student has answered all the test questions correctly. It doesn't mean that the student is ready to jump ahead more than one grade level of study.
Based on this data, we automatically build individual assignments for every student. They can start learning immediately after the Placement Test!
Why can I see a negative Quantile number?
Quantiles are normalized in such a way that 0 in Quantiles corresponds to the very beginning of 1st grade, and negative values correspond to the level of K and PreK.
Can I see student responses on the test?
Because Happy Numbers uses MetaMetrics to determine Quantile measures, the assessment items must remain confidential. This is to comply with the MetaMetrics privacy policy and maintain the validity of the test.
What should I do if the test results do not seem accurate?
It may occur that the results of the Placement Test don’t accurately reflect a student’s ability. This can occur if a student has a bad day or if the student received help from a parent at home.
In such cases, you might find a discrepancy between a student’s ability and the learning pathway within Happy Numbers. You can always see exactly what assignment every student has on the Manage Curriculum page.
If you notice students struggling with their assignments in Happy Numbers, they might need to retake the Placement Test for more accurate results. In this case, we recommend resetting the test. The reset option is available within a 14-day window. If this option is not available anymore but you want your student to retake the test, don't hesitate to contact us at support@happynumbers.com.
As a teacher, you always have the ability to set a student’s learning pathway regardless of Placement Test results. You can change it on the Manage Curriculum page at any time.