Comparing & Ordering Common Fractions Numeracy Assessment: Year 6 supports your students in developing advanced skills in comparing, ordering and reasoning with fractions. This resource has been designed to assess students’ ability to work with both related and unrelated denominators using a variety of efficient and accurate strategies.

Perfect for both formative and summative assessment, this resource works well in whole-class settings, small groups or one-on-one intervention. It includes a detailed and editable Australian Curriculum-aligned rubric to support consistent and clear assessment, along with an answer sheet to simplify marking and provide fast feedback.

Comparing & Ordering Common Fractions Numeracy Assessment: Year 6 features a range of purposeful and scaffolded tasks. Students begin by classifying fractions as greater than, less than or equal to benchmark values such as 0, 1/2 or 1. They then compare pairs of fractions using inequality symbols and justify their comparisons using reasoning and place value understanding.

Following this, students are asked to order sets of fractions from smallest to largest and plot these fractions on number lines with precise spacing and scale. These tasks assess their ability to work with a mix of related and unrelated denominators and test both their conceptual understanding and their ability to apply efficient strategies such as finding common denominators or converting to decimals.

The assessment also includes a real-world problem where students apply fraction comparison and calculation skills in context. This helps teachers assess mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and communication beyond isolated skills, making the assessment both rigorous and authentic.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Compare common fractions with related and unrelated denominators
• ✅ Use comparison symbols to justify relationships between pairs of fractions
• ✅ Classify and reason using benchmark fractions such as 0, 1/2 and 1
• ✅ Order and accurately plot fractions on number lines
• ✅ Solve contextual problems involving comparison and fraction operations

What’s Included:

• Student assessment worksheet with comparison, ordering and reasoning tasks
• Editable Australian Curriculum-aligned teacher rubric
• Answer sheet for accurate and efficient marking

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets
• Pencils and erasers
• Fraction strips, discs or number lines (optional visual aids)
• Grid paper (optional for working out common denominators)

How to Use:

• Begin by revisiting strategies for comparing fractions with related and unrelated denominators.
• Model how to use benchmarks and visual supports for reasoning.
• Guide students through one number line example to discuss scale and spacing.
• Encourage students to explain their reasoning in written form using fraction vocabulary.
• Use the rubric to assess fluency, accuracy and depth of understanding.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use at the end of a fractions unit to assess comparison and ordering skills
• 💡 Implement during guided groups for targeted observation and support
• 💡 Include in portfolios as a sample of reasoning and number line fluency
• 💡 Use in parent-teacher conferences to demonstrate higher-order fraction thinking

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Use hands-on tools like strips or discs to build visual understanding before the assessment
• 💛 Encourage use of benchmark values and number lines when comparing complex fractions
• 💛 Fraction String Line Challenge: Create a classroom line where students justify and place fractions
• 💛 Real-World Applications: Invite students to find and explain fraction comparisons in daily life contexts

Comparing & Ordering Common Fractions Numeracy Assessment: Year 6 is a flexible and powerful assessment tool for capturing student understanding of advanced fraction comparison. It supports deep reasoning, real-world application and confident communication in upper primary maths.