What is an advantage of streaming?

• A. It creates a more diverse peer group
• B. It always leads to higher test scores
• C. Students receive work appropriate to abilities and can work with same-ability peers
• D. It eliminates mismatch between teacher and student expectations

Answer: (C)

Streaming groups students by ability to tailor instruction to their readiness. The standout benefit is that students receive work appropriate to their abilities and can work with same-ability peers, which makes tasks feel challenging but manageable and supports smoother collaboration within the group. This alignment helps teachers adjust pace, provide targeted feedback, and keep students engaged because the material matches what they can handle at that moment. It’s not guaranteed that streaming will raise test scores in every context, and it doesn’t automatically eliminate mismatches between teacher and student expectations; it can even create new tensions if groups are seen as fixed. Additionally, streaming often reduces opportunities to work with a diverse range of peers, so increased diversity is not an inherent outcome.