(1) An eighth-grade student at the novice level in mathematics is beginning to attain the prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental to each benchmark in mathematics. He/she:

(a) demonstrates limited and incomplete use of mathematical processes;

(b) communicates mathematical ideas, but they are often limited and incomplete;

(c) sometimes uses numbers, operations, patterns, relations, and functions accurately;

(d) makes only immediate, concrete, mathematical connections;

(e) seldom uses algebraic concepts to solve problems; and

(f) makes simple and inconsistent predictions and decisions, often inaccurately, based on data, and seldom recognizes complex measurement, geometric relationships, or properties.