What term describes teaching in classes of similar ability for a subject?

What term describes teaching in classes of similar ability for a subject?

• A. Setting
• B. IQ Tests
• C. Official Curriculum
• D. Social class

Answer: (A)

Grouping students by ability for a single subject is called setting. It places learners into classes within that subject who share similar levels of ability or prior achievement, so the teaching can be pitched to that level. This approach aims to match the pace, explanations, and tasks to students’ current understanding, making it easier to learn and stay engaged. It’s a subject-specific form of ability grouping, and is different from broader streaming (placing whole year groups by ability) or mixed-ability teaching. IQ tests are assessments of ability, not a way of organizing classes. The official curriculum is about the content to be taught, not how students are grouped. Social class refers to a social category that can influence access or outcomes, but it’s not the method used to structure teaching groups.

Grouping students by ability for a single subject is called setting. It places learners into classes within that subject who share similar levels of ability or prior achievement, so the teaching can be pitched to that level. This approach aims to match the pace, explanations, and tasks to students’ current understanding, making it easier to learn and stay engaged. It’s a subject-specific form of ability grouping, and is different from broader streaming (placing whole year groups by ability) or mixed-ability teaching.

IQ tests are assessments of ability, not a way of organizing classes. The official curriculum is about the content to be taught, not how students are grouped. Social class refers to a social category that can influence access or outcomes, but it’s not the method used to structure teaching groups.