Assessment Task Information & Guide
In 3rd Year, Junior Cycle students are expected to complete their Assessment Task (AT) in maths.
On this page, we will detail what this task is, how to approach it and how it will be assessed.
Additionally, members gain access to examples of completed Assessment Tasks.
Note: Any statement in quotation marks below is taken from the official guidelines.
2023/24: Current 3rd Years are not required to complete the Assessment task. Details here.
In what way am I assessed in maths?
In total, Junior Cycle Maths students are officially assessed in four different ways:
- Classroom Based Assessment 1 (CBA 1) (2nd Year)
- Classroom Based Assessment 2 (CBA 2) (3rd Year)
- Assessment Task (AT) (3rd Year)
- Final Examination (3rd Year)
Only the last two count towards the actual final grade of each student – 10% for the assessment task and 90% for the final examination.
What is the Assessment Task?
The assessment task is “directly related to the nature and focus of the second Classroom-Based Assessment”, i.e. CBA 2.
It involves a written task that “takes approximately a double class period or two single class periods (i.e. a minimum of 80 minutes) to complete”.
How should I prepare for the Assessment task?
As this task is based around your submitted CBA 2, it is important that you ensure that you understand everything that you stated in that CBA. (Not just what it says, but why you said it.)
In total, you may be asked about some “or all” of the following in regards to your CBA 2:
- evaluation of the design
- the selection of variables
- validity of the measurement methods
- the organisation of data
- the analysis and interpretation of summaries of the data
- the limitations of the investigation
It is therefore a good idea to bring your CBA 2 with you to school in preparation for the Assessment Task.
Who grades my Assessment Task?
Unlike both CBAs, the Assessment Task is instead graded by the State Examinations Commission themselves (the very same commission that grades your final exam!)
Are there any other important things that I should know?
Yes!
Here are a collection of other points from the official guidelines that we feel are important consider:
- “[The CBAs] are assessed at a Common Level.”
- “It is encouraged, but not required, that students collaborate with classmates…”
- “Each student must contribute to the work of the group.”
- “Students should clearly identify which collection method is appropriate for their investigation.”
- “Students should display an awareness of the importance of avoiding bias…”
- “Multiple approaches can be taken to displaying and describing data…”
- “They may use a variety of graphical displays such as stem and leaf plots, histograms, bar charts, etc.”
- “They should also summarise the data collected numerically using measures of centrality and spread such as mean, median or mode and range.”
- “They should recognise that all findings from the analysis of samples must be interpreted with uncertainty…”
- “Students must work individually to compile the report of their investigation…”
- “If a typed or hand-written report is the format of their choice, the total length of a written report would typically be in the 650-800 words range (excluding reference list and research notes), but this should not be regarded as a rigid requirement.”
Do you have any sample Assessment Tasks that I can look through?
Yes! Members gain access to all of our sample Assessment Tasks on the next few pages that you can use to help you prepare for your own Assessment Task.
