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Table of Math Skills by Grade Group


Here is a table summarizing the key math skills that students may be expected to develop in each of 4 pre-college grade groupings. It is based on United States national content guidelines. For more detail, see the Mathematics Standards and Benchmarks.

This table is provided by the Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL), and is used here with their permission.

Primary
(K-2)

Upper
Elementary
(3-5)

Middle
School
(6-8)

High School
(9-12)

Problem-
Solving		represents problems with physical objects or picturestrial and error;
process of elimination 		proportional thinking proofs;
algorithms
Numberswhole numbers decimals, fractions, odd & even numbers, mixed numbers;
place value		rational & irrational numbers;
exponents;
scientific notation; ratios, proportions, percents		real-number system;
inequalities
Computation
adds & subtracts whole numbersadds, subtracts, multiplies, & divides whole numbers, and decimals;
uses calculator		adds, subtracts, multiplies, & divides mixed numbers & fractions;
estimation techniques 		adds and subtracts algebraic expressions;
performs basic operations involving roots and exponents
Measurementlength, width, height, weight, time, temperature area, mass, volume, circumference, perimeter, capacityrate;
standard & metric systems;
scale drawings;
indirect measurements;
surface area 		velocity;
acceleration;
precision, accuracy, & tolerance in measurements
Geometrycircles, squares, triangles angles, similarity, symmetry, congruenceslope; 3- dimensions;
parallel, perpendicular;
Pythagorean theorem;
motion geometry;
geometric models 		Pythagorean relationships;
vectors;
transformations of geometric shapes
Data Analysis simple graphs organizes simple data sets;
constructs & reads simple graphs & charts		central tendency (mean, median, mode);
dispersion of data		data matrices
Probability & Statistics likelihood of events predictions;
data sampling		estimates probabilities random variables; statistical measures;
determines probabilities;
normal curve
Algebra & Functionsrecognizes basic patternsconstructs patternsvariables;
coordinates;
solves simple systems of equations 		functions;
algebraic modeling;
systems of equations & inequalities;
basic trigonometric methods

Primary
(K-2)

Upper
Elementary
(3-5)

Middle
School
(6-8)

High School
(9-12)

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