Counting & Comparing Collections Numeracy Assessment: Foundation supports your students in developing strong early number sense by assessing their ability to count, compare and reason about quantities. This resource has been purposefully designed to evaluate student understanding of counting and comparing collections of objects up to at least 20 in a structured and supportive way.

This resource is well suited for both formative and summative assessment and can be used during small group instruction, intervention sessions or as part of an individual portfolio. It also serves as a valuable checkpoint before reporting or parent-teacher interviews. The assessment is aligned with the Australian Curriculum and includes a detailed and editable rubric for tracking student achievement. An answer sheet is also provided to support fast and accurate marking.

Counting & Comparing Collections Numeracy Assessment: Foundation provides a variety of tasks that engage students in counting, identifying the correct numeral, comparing groups and reasoning about quantity. Students are encouraged not only to determine which group has more or fewer items, but also to use mathematical language to justify their answers. This builds early skills in number reasoning and strengthens their ability to communicate mathematical ideas.

The activities included progress in complexity, helping you observe how students approach different kinds of counting and comparison problems. From identifying which collection has the most, to quantifying multiple groups and determining least or greatest, the assessment captures a well-rounded snapshot of foundational skills in number sense. It’s a great tool to revisit at different stages of the term to track growth or inform next-step instruction.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Count collections of up to at least 20 objects with accuracy
• ✅ Recognise and record correct numerals for counted groups
• ✅ Compare two or more collections and identify which has more or fewer
• ✅ Use comparative vocabulary such as “more,” “less,” “most” and “least”
• ✅ Justify reasoning when making number comparisons

What’s Included:

• Student assessment worksheets with a range of counting and comparison tasks
• Editable teacher rubric aligned to the Australian Curriculum
• Answer sheet to support fast and efficient marking

Materials Needed:

• Printed assessment worksheets
• Pencils or markers
• Counting manipulatives (optional for support)
• Laminated number lines or tens frames (optional scaffolds)

How to Use:

• Begin with a warm-up activity revising number recognition and comparative language.
• Model each task type using classroom objects or visual aids to build student confidence.
• Guide students through the first task—counting and selecting the correct numeral.
• Have students compare two collections and circle or tick the one with more items.
• Extend by asking students to explain their choice aloud or in writing using comparative terms.
• Use the rubric to record observations on counting accuracy, comparison strategies and use of number vocabulary.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use in targeted intervention groups to reinforce counting and comparison
• 💡 Include as a progress checkpoint in learning portfolios
• 💡 Incorporate into a unit review on counting, number recognition or early reasoning
• 💡 Use to inform differentiation planning based on student performance
• 💡 Support language development by pairing students for discussion of comparison answers

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Reinforce comparison vocabulary throughout maths blocks to build fluency
• 💛 Provide physical counting materials to support students with developing number strategies
• 💛 Encourage students to explain their reasoning verbally or with simple sentence frames
• 💛 Create Your Own Collection: Invite students to draw their own object groups and swap with a peer for comparison
• 💛 Counting Beyond 20: Offer extension sheets with higher numbers for confident students to explore
• 💛 Repeat the assessment later in the term to measure growth in reasoning and number fluency

Counting & Comparing Collections Numeracy Assessment: Foundation offers a developmentally appropriate and flexible tool for assessing key early maths concepts. It captures student understanding of counting, comparing and justifying quantities, helping you build a clear picture of their mathematical thinking.