The study investigated the effects of ability grouping at primary level in a private school. Ability grouping is the practice of placing students of similar academic ability level within the same group for instruction. The researcher tried to find out which approach of grouping would work best for the students at primary level-mixed ability approach or ability grouping. It was a descriptive research both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The sample consisted of 57 students of low ability group, 55 students of high ability group and 7 teachers teaching both these groups. The data was collected by using academic records of students, developing rating scales and conducting informal interviews with the teachers. The findings revealed that after grouping there was no significant improvement in the academic performance of both the groups but there was a vast disparity in classroom behavior and hence mixed ability grouping was better suited at primary level.
Ability grouping, mixed grouping
