Recognising Numbers Numeracy Assessment: Year 1 supports your students in building strong number sense by assessing their ability to read, write and interpret numbers up to at least 120. With a focus on number forms and place value language, this resource provides a meaningful way to observe how students recognise and represent numbers in digit, word and expanded formats.

This assessment is ideal for both formative and summative use. It can be implemented as part of your whole-class teaching, during small group intervention sessions, or in individual assessment interviews. It’s also perfect for gathering evidence before parent-teacher interviews or semester reporting. A detailed and editable Australian Curriculum-aligned rubric is included to help you track student achievement clearly and consistently, alongside an answer sheet to streamline marking.

Recognising Numbers Numeracy Assessment: Year 1 explores multiple aspects of number understanding. Students are asked to complete a table matching digit, word and expanded forms of numbers, building connections across different representations. They also respond to place value clues to record numbers accurately, reinforcing their comprehension of language like "2 tens and 3 ones" or "100 plus 10 plus 5." The final section asks students to interpret MAB representations, identify the total number and explain their reasoning—a great way to assess number sense, place value fluency and vocabulary use all in one task.

This resource provides flexibility for differentiated instruction and extension. Students are encouraged to verbalise their reasoning, which helps build confidence and supports the development of oral language alongside mathematical thinking. Teachers can easily adapt the tasks to include numbers beyond 120 for students ready to be challenged further.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Read and write numbers up to at least 120 in digit, word and expanded forms
• ✅ Match and translate between different number representations
• ✅ Use place value language to describe and record numbers
• ✅ Interpret base-10 models (MABs) and explain reasoning
• ✅ Build confidence in oral and written number communication

What’s Included:

• Student assessment worksheet covering multiple number recognition tasks
• Editable Australian Curriculum-aligned teacher rubric
• Answer sheet for accurate and efficient marking

Materials Needed:

• Printed assessment worksheets
• Pencils and erasers
• MAB blocks or base-10 visuals (optional for support)
• Digit cards or number word prompts (optional warm-up resources)

How to Use:

• Start with a warm-up revising number forms and base-10 vocabulary using flashcards or visuals.
• Review how numbers can be written in digit, word and expanded form with your class.
• Guide students to complete the matching table, identifying connections between formats.
• Introduce place value prompts (e.g. “2 tens and 3 ones”) and model one example.
• Support students as they record the number represented in digit form.
• Provide MAB representations and prompt students to identify the total and explain their reasoning.
• Use the rubric to assess understanding, fluency and use of place value language.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use at the end of your place value or number recognition unit
• 💡 Implement as a checkpoint before report writing or parent-teacher interviews
• 💡 Include in student portfolios to showcase growth in number representation
• 💡 Pair with oral interviews to gain deeper insights into reasoning and language use
• 💡 Use with small groups for targeted revision and support

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Encourage students to verbalise their thinking as they work through each section
• 💛 Use MAB blocks during the assessment to support visual and hands-on learners
• 💛 Model how to identify number forms aloud to strengthen oral-maths connections
• 💛 Design a Mystery Number: Invite students to create their own place value clues for a partner to solve
• 💛 Beyond 120: Offer extended tasks for confident learners with numbers above 120 or using more complex combinations
• 💛 Revisit the assessment mid-term and end-of-term to track growing fluency and vocabulary

Recognising Numbers Numeracy Assessment: Year 1 is a purposeful and flexible tool for exploring how students understand and represent numbers. It offers a meaningful snapshot of place value thinking and supports confident, curriculum-aligned assessment in the early years classroom.