Pre-Admission Testing Sample Questions – Fractions, Decimals and Percents

Competency A: Find and use Information

Task group A1: Read continuous text

Level: 1

At this level, learners: Read brief texts to locate specific details

Performance Descriptors
(Please note that not all might apply)

The learner:
•    Decodes words and makes meaning of sentences in a single text
•    Reads short texts to locate a single piece of information
•    Follows the sequence of events in straightforward chronological texts
•    Follows simple, straightforward instructional texts
•    Identifies the main idea in brief texts
•    Requires support to identify sources and to evaluate and integrate information

Task Descriptors
(Please note that not all might apply)

•    Scope of task is limited
•    Involves one text
•    Is up to one paragraph in length
•    Contains common, familiar vocabulary
•    Has a familiar context
•    Addresses concrete, day-to-day topics
•    Has a highly explicit purpose

Text Types:
Instructional, descriptive, narrative, and brief informational texts

Examples:
•    Notes
•    Simple directions
•    Instructions
•    Brief emails
•    Simple narratives

ESKARGO:

Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario - A1.1

Competency B: Communicate Ideas and Information
Task Group B3: Complete and create documents
Level: 1

At this level, learners: Make straightforward entries to complete very simple documents

Performance Descriptors

To complete documents, the learner:

• Makes a direct match between what is requested and what is entered
• Makes entries using familiar vocabulary

To create documents, the learner:

• Follows conventions to display information in lists, labels, simple forms, signs (e.g. images support the message, text is legible)
• Organizes lists to suit purpose (e.g. chronologically, alphabetically, numerically, sequentially)
• Includes titles where required
• Uses labels and headings to organize content
• Presents text and numbers below one or more headings in lists

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is limited
• Involves one document up to a page in length
• Has a very simple format
• Requires few entries
• Contains clearly labeled entry fields
• Entries require common, familiar vocabulary
• Has a familiar context
• Addresses concrete, day-to-day topics
• Has a highly explicit purpose
• Documents at this level may require entering up to one paragraph of text

Examples:

• Lists
• Labels
• Simple forms
• Cheques
• Signs

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – B3.1

Competency C: Understand and Use Numbers
Task Group C1: Manage money
Level: 2
At this level, learners: Make low-level inferences to calculate costs and expenses that may include rates such as taxes and discounts

Performance Descriptors

The learner:

• Calculates using numbers expressed as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and integers
• Calculates percentages
• Interprets and applies rates (e.g. $/kg, $/l)
• Chooses and performs required operation(s); may make inferences to identify required operation(s)
• Selects appropriate steps to reach solutions
• Represents costs and rates using monetary symbols, decimals, and percentages
• Makes simple estimates
• Interprets, represents, and converts amounts using whole numbers, decimals, percentages, ratios, and simple, common fractions (e.g. ½, ¼)
• Uses strategies to check accuracy (e.g. estimating, using a calculator, repeating a calculation, using the reverse operation)

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is clearly defined
• May include unfamiliar elements (e.g. context, content)
• Requires the use of rates, or requires two or more operations, where operations are easily inferred
• Requires up to a few steps to complete
• May be completed in more than one way
• May involve one document, such as a table
• May require converting between whole numbers, fractions, decimals, ratios, and percentages

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – C1.2

Competency C: Understand and Use Numbers
Task Group C3: Use measures
Level: 2
At this level, learners: Use measures to make one-step calculations

Performance Descriptors
The learner:

• Calculates using numbers expressed as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and integers
• Calculates angles in simple, common shapes
• Makes estimates
• Understands and uses ratio and proportion
• Interprets and represents area and volume using symbols and abbreviations (e.g. m3 )
• Interprets and applies rates (e.g. km/hr, km/l) and ratios (e.g. map scales)
• Converts units of measurement within the same system and between systems
• Understands and uses formulas for finding the perimeter, area, and volume of simple, common shapes
• Chooses and performs required operation(s); may make inferences to identify required operation(s)
• Selects appropriate steps to solutions
• Interprets, represents, and converts measures using whole numbers, decimals, percentages, ratios, and simple, common fractions (e.g. ½, ¼)
• Uses strategies to check accuracy (e.g. estimating, using a calculator, repeating a calculation, using the reverse operation)

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is clearly defined
• May include unfamiliar elements (e.g. context, content)
• Requires the use of rates or common formulas
• Requires one-step calculations, which may be repeated; operations are easily inferred
• May be completed in more than one way
• May involve one document, such as a simple conversion table
• May require converting between whole numbers, decimals, fractions, ratios, and percentages

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – C3.2

Competency C: Understand and Use Numbers
Task Group C4: Manage data
Level: 2
At this level, learners: Make low-level inferences to organize, make summary calculations, and represent data

Performance Descriptors
The learner:

• Calculates using numbers expressed as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and integers
• Understands and uses ratio and proportion
• Makes estimates
• Finds ranges for data sets
• Calculates averages (mean) and percentages
• Identifies medians and modes
• Collects, organizes, and represents data using simple tables and graphs
• Interprets rates (e.g. crime rates) and ratios (e.g. shots–on-net to goals)
• Interprets, represents, and converts values using whole numbers, decimals, percentages, ratios, and simple, common fractions (e.g. ½, ¼)
• Chooses and performs required operation(s); may make inferences to identify required operation(s)
• Selects appropriate steps to solutions
• Recognizes patterns and begins to identify trends in data (e.g. population, crime, demographic, inventory, injury)
• Uses strategies to check accuracy (e.g. estimating, using a calculator, repeating a calculation, using the reverse operation)

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is clearly defined
• May include unfamiliar elements (e.g. context, content)
• Requires the use of rates, or requires two or more operations, where operations are easily inferred
• Requires up to a few steps to complete
• May be completed in more than one way
• May involve one document (e.g. simple table, simple bar graph)
• May require calculating percentages
• May require converting between whole numbers, decimals, fractions, ratios, and percentages

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – C4.2