Analysing students' graphicacy from a national test

The present study explores a task containing graphical artefacts from the Swedish national test (Nationella provet - NP) for a sub-sample of grade 9 students' solutions. The sub-sample comprising of 115 students' solutions to the task is closely analysed, using an analytical construct founded on "identification" as well as the "critical-analytical" approach to problem solving. Based on this construct it is observed that a sizable number of students' solutions follow a visual strategy with strong reliance on everyday forms of expression. Given the nature and purpose of NP we posit that students use the methods and tools that reflect general school practice. The analysis used in this study is perceived as problematising the assessment of competency from high stake tests, and the educational setting in general.