Definition of Numeracy
                 Numeracy is NOT LIMITED to 
                 Numeracy is NOT LIMITED to 
                the ability to use numbers, to add, 
                the ability to use numbers, to add, 
                  subtract, multiply and divide. 
                  subtract, multiply and divide. 
   e
   i
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   s
   d
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   w                 (Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, DES 2011)
   w
   w
        ©PDST 2014
                  Definition of Numeracy
              Numeracy encompasses the ability to 
              Numeracy encompasses the ability to 
              use mathematical understanding and 
              use mathematical understanding and 
              skills to :
              skills to :
              •
              • solve problems
                solve problems
              •
              • meet the demands of day-to-day 
                meet the demands of day-to-day 
    e
    i           living in complex social settings.
    .           living in complex social settings.
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    d
    p
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    w                    (Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, DES 2011)
    w
    w
          ©PDST 2014
                Definition of Numeracy
            Numeracy  involves being able to:
            Numeracy  involves being able to:
            •
            • Think and communicate quantitatively
              Think and communicate quantitatively
            •
            • Make sense of data
              Make sense of data
            •
            • Have a spatial awareness
              Have a spatial awareness
            •
            • Understand patterns and sequences
   e          Understand patterns and sequences
   i
   .        •
   t        • Recognise situations where mathematical 
   s          Recognise situations where mathematical 
              reasoning can be applied to solve problems. 
   d          reasoning can be applied to solve problems. 
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   .               
   w               
   w                   (Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, DES 2011)
   w
         ©PDST 2014
          SEC Chief Examiners’ Reports - Leaving Certificate
                              Chemistry OL 2013
         ‘Analysis demonstrated by candidates in text-based responses ranged from 
         good to poor but the average performance in applications involving 
         calculations or handling numerical data was weaker.’
                           Engineering (2011)
          ‘Successful candidates gave structure to their answering 
            by, where appropriate, tabulating their answers, using 
            bullet points to highlight and give emphasis, producing 
            neat and accurate graphs, and using sketches and 
   e        diagrams to illustrate their answers’
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   t
   s                           German (2010)
   d      ‘A minority of candidates still have difficulty with number and letter 
   p
   .        recognition in German, particularly numbers with a decimal point and 
   w        the letters ‘e’ and ‘i’ ‘
   w
   w
         ©PDST 2014
       Geography 2012 OL
        Geography 2012 OL
            ‘Poor and incorrect labelling of axes on the graph work was noted 
             ‘Poor and incorrect labelling of axes on the graph work was noted 
         both in the Geographical Investigation Report and in the written 
          both in the Geographical Investigation Report and in the written 
         examination paper and identified as an area of weakness’
          examination paper and identified as an area of weakness’
       Construction Studies 2013 HL
             ‘The responses of such candidates tended to be brief and perfunctory 
         and did not provide sufficient analysis to achieve high marks. Again, the 
         higher order skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation proved 
         challenging for the majority of candidates who attempted this question, 
   e     resulting in a low average mark.’
   i
   .
   t    Business 2013 Ordinary Level
   s     Business 2013 Ordinary Level
   d   ‘the graphical demands of some questions continue to pose challenges for some 
   p    ‘the graphical demands of some questions continue to pose challenges for some 
   .   Ordinary level candidates’. 
   w    Ordinary level candidates’. 
   w
   w
       ©PDST 2014