32406 Apply Mathematics and Statistics in a Range of Everyday Situations Assessment 2026 | NZQA

32406 Assignment Brief

Purpose

Learners credited with this unit standard are able to formulate mathematical and statistical approaches to solving problems in a range of everyday situations, use mathematics and statistics to meet the numeracy demands of a range of everyday situations, and explain mathematical and statistical responses to situations.

Outcomes And Performance Criteria

Outcome 1 

Formulate mathematical and statistical approaches to solving problems in a range of everyday situations.

Performance criteria

• Select an appropriate operation, representation, variable, and/or method to solve the problem(s).

Outcome 2

Use mathematics and statistics to meet the numeracy demands of a range of everyday situations.

Performance criteria

2.1 Apply mathematical and statistical procedures correctly in the situations.

Outcome 3

Explain mathematical and statistical responses to situations.

Performance criteria

3.1 Use evidence to explain the selection of the method and/or calculation.

Guidance Information

1. This unit standard belongs to a package of standards that forms the literacy and numeracy co-requisite to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) in English language. Together with unit standard 32403 Demonstrate understanding of ideas and information in written text and unit standard 32405 Write texts to communicate ideas and information, this package of standards assesses the foundational literacy and numeracy skills that enable learners to engage in further learning, life, and work.

2. For the purposes of this unit standard, foundational numeracy refers to the ability to access, use, interpret, and communicate mathematical and statistical information and ideas. These abilities enable learners to access further learning opportunities, develop important life skills, and engage in employment and in their communities. This includes an understanding of how to participate in Aotearoa New Zealand as a diverse, bicultural nation and across the wider Pacific region.

3. This unit standard corresponds to the numeracy outcomes found in the knowledge and practices of the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Area of the New Zealand Curriculum.  It should be read together with at least one of the relevant frameworks below:

• The New Zealand Curriculum – Phase 3 (Year 8) and Phase 4 (Year 9) of the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Area (equivalent to upper Level 4, lower Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum (2007)
• Curriculum Progress Tools, which comprise the Learning Progressions Framework (LPF) and Progress and Consistency Tool (PaCT)
• Mathematics: The scale descriptors in the range 750 to 850
• The Learning Progressions for Adult Numeracy (LPAN) – upper Step 5
• The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) – upper Level 2, lower Level 3.

4. Relevant mathematical and statistical processes of investigating, representing and connecting situations, and generalising, explaining and justifying findings are fundamental to the teaching of foundational numeracy and underpin the way students gain understanding of the knowledge and practices being taught.

5. Learners will be assessed against this unit standard through an external Common Assessment Activity that is set and marked by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

6. Learners must demonstrate competency in the three numeracy outcomes through assessment tasks that sample foundational numeracy from the Mathematics and Statistics strands: Number, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability.

7. The quantity and variety of situations used for assessment must give confidence that the learner can adequately meet the mathematical and statistical demands reflected in the three outcomes. All outcomes do not necessarily need to be achieved in the same situation.

8. Use of appropriate technology is expected. Rulers and a standard (non-scientific, non-graphing, and non-communicating) calculator, or any calculator on the NZQA Approved Calculator List, may be used for the Numeracy assessment.

9. Definition

An everyday situation is a situation that is relevant to the learner’s everyday life, learning, participatory citizenship, or work.