Why did nearly half of Alberta's Grade 6 students fail the math PAT?

The decline is attributed to a new math curriculum that introduced key concepts too early, creating knowledge gaps for students.

What were the math test score trends for Calgary students?

Calgary public and Catholic school students also saw math scores decline, though they remained above the provincial average.

Are Alberta's math curriculum changes affecting other grades?

While the Grade 6 results are tied to the new elementary curriculum, Grade 9 math scores are also down, with officials citing factors like larger class sizes and tight resources.

Home / Education / Alberta Math Scores Plummet: Half of Grade 6 Students Fail

Alberta Math Scores Plummet: Half of Grade 6 Students Fail

22 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Nearly half of Alberta's Grade 6 students failed the 2024 math PAT.
Acceptable scores dropped from 72% in 2019 to 53% in 2024.
Key math concepts were moved to earlier grades under the new curriculum.

Provincial Achievement Test results reveal a concerning trend in Alberta, with nearly half of Grade 6 students failing the 2024 math exam. This outcome follows the province's three-year rollout of a new elementary math curriculum.

Official figures show that only 53 per cent of students met the acceptable standard, a stark decrease from the 72 per cent who achieved it in 2019. Educators express concern that critical math concepts were introduced in earlier grades under the new curriculum, leaving a knowledge gap for current students.

School districts are developing strategies to address these foundational gaps, including re-teaching earlier concepts and providing additional teacher support. While math scores have declined, improvements have been noted in reading proficiency across several districts.

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