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As public school trustees on Tuesday debated standardized test results showing more than 40 per cent of Grade 9 students failed their math exams last year, officials also confirmed that acceptable standards were much lower than 50 per cent.

According to data released last week, only 59.4 per cent of students with the Calgary Board of Education achieved acceptable standards in the Grade 9 math provincial achievement test for the 2017-18 school year, meaning more than 40 per cent failed.

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But information came to light Tuesday that acceptable standards for Grade 9 math provincewide was a minimum score of 42 per cent. And for Grade 6 math provincewide, acceptable standards were achieved with a score as low as 41 per cent.

The province says it sets the cut-off scores below 50 per cent to ensure more students achieve acceptable standards on tests that are more difficult.

But parent groups call the data on cut scores shocking, and say it remains hidden so the system does not have to be as accountable and that families think students are doing better than they actually are.