Attained Curriculum in Japanese Elementary School Arithmetic and Junior High School Mathematics: An Alignment Analysis of the National Assessment of Academic Ability

This study aims to analyze the alignment of the attained curriculum in Japanese elementary school arithmetic and junior high school mathematics, based on the results of the National Assessment of Academic Ability. To achieve this, data from the assessment were used to compare mean correct response rates across groups defined by the degree of implementation of each instructional practice, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). These rates were considered both overall and by specific domains and evaluative perspectives. The analysis of alignment revealed several instructional practices that showed tendencies of alignment with attained learning outcomes. In elementary school arithmetic, alignment was observed in practices that encouraged students to write notes in ways that made the processes of problem solving and reasoning visible. In junior high school mathematics, alignment was evident in lessons that emphasized connections between mathematical concepts and real-life phenomena, as well as in instructional approaches that ensured students understood the rationale behind formulas and rules. These findings suggest that instructional practices explicitly fostering students’ comprehension of problem-solving processes, contextual relevance, and conceptual justification tend to show greater alignment with attained learning outcomes. However, as this study did not control for confounding variables, the observed associations should be interpreted as exploratory rather than causal. The study contributes to curriculum research by identifying associations between specific pedagogical practices and attained learning outcomes, thereby offering insights into effective instructional design in mathematics education.