Are your students ready to learn this topic? Use a topic readiness check to find out
At Mathspace, we know how much smoother a lesson runs when students are ready for what’s ahead. That’s why we’ve launched our new Topic readiness check feature. These short, adaptive diagnostics help you check your students’ prerequisite knowledge before starting a new topic.
Topic readiness checks are available now for all Mathspace teachers and students. They’re easy to assign, quick to complete, and give you the insights you need to make confident decisions about whether to review prior knowledge or dive straight into new content.
What is a Topic readiness check?
The Topic readiness check is an adaptive diagnostic task designed to assess whether students are ready to begin a specific topic. It’s capped at 15 questions and takes most students 15 minutes or less. Every question targets a key prerequisite skill for the topic you’re about to teach.
You’ll get clear, immediate reporting to help answer the question: “Is my class ready for this topic?”
Why use Topic readiness checks?
We built the Topic readiness check in response to teacher feedback. Our original ‘discovery check-in’ diagnostics provided useful insights, but they were often too broad or time-consuming. Topic readiness checks are more focused, more efficient, and more actionable.
Here’s what makes them different:
✅ Time-saving and efficient
Each Topic readiness check takes 15 minutes or less to complete. That’s a quick check-in at the start of a unit, without eating into your teaching time.
🎯 Focused on the topic at hand
The Topic readiness check only includes questions directly linked to the topic’s prerequisite outcomes. No off-topic questions, no filler, just relevant insights into what your students already know, and what they still need to learn.
📈 Adaptive and targeted
The check adapts across multiple year levels to pinpoint where each student is currently at. Every question is carefully selected to assess a specific foundational skill, not just a general level of ability.
🔍 Clear and actionable reporting
As soon as students complete the Topic readiness check, you’ll receive a detailed readiness report. You can see:
- Whether the class is ready to begin
- Which prerequisite outcomes students have mastered
- Where key gaps exist
If the report shows widespread gaps, you might revisit some concepts first. If most students are ready, you can move forward with confidence.
📊 Growth tracking included
The Topic readiness check report is accessible right from the textbook topic page for easy reference. It combines elements of a curriculum mastery report and a task report, showing:
- Proficiency indicators for each prerequisite outcome
- A breakdown of student answers
- A Growth tab to track progress over time, including post-tests or follow-up practice
You’re always one click away from seeing where your students are at, and how they’re improving.
How to get started
It’s simple to use Topic readiness checks in your classroom:
- Open your Mathspace textbook and choose a topic.
- In the task assignment menu, select the Topic readiness check option.
- Once students complete the Topic readiness check, review the readiness report.
You can return to the report at any time to check progress or revisit gaps as needed.
👉 Try it now: Log in to Mathspace, select a topic, and assign a Topic readiness check to see it in action.
Topic readiness checks give you a quick, clear picture of student readiness, helping you plan with confidence and support every learner. We’re excited to bring this feature to your classroom and look forward to hearing how it helps you teach more effectively.
As always, we’re here if you have questions or feedback.