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Questions tagged [testing]

For questions about giving students written tests, typically in a classroom setting.

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1st time math teacher 1st test feedback appreciated

I'm not a math teacher but I've stepped into the role to assist a small private school who lost their math teacher during the holidays (I'm a mechanical engineer by trade). The course is Algebra 1 (...
Dan S's user avatar
  • 19
0 votes
2 answers
160 views

As a tutor, should I make students who did badly on timed, closed book past paper tests, do the exact same test again?

As a maths tutor, when I set tests (past papers in particular), if a student does poorly (~50/60% or below), obviously some topics need to be retaught. But should I make them do the exact same test - ...
Adam Rubinson's user avatar
12 votes
12 answers
7k views

How should I grade true-or-false questions if the student's writing is unclear?

See the attached image: I am having a difficult time grading this paper as I am not sure if the student intentionally wrote the answers in such a way that each answer looks like both "T" (...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 4,295
4 votes
0 answers
143 views

Quiz in locked mode without managed Chromebooks?

Google Forms enables locked mode (where students cannot move to other tabs or apps without submitting the form) only if students use certain laptops called Chromebooks. I'm looking for any platform to ...
V. Bard's user avatar
  • 41
9 votes
2 answers
488 views

Should we assess ability to use specific problem solving methods, or general ability to solve problems?

This is my first semester being an instructor of record for a college algebra course. One of the sections we cover is "methods of solving quadratic equations", where we discuss factoring and ...
Brain Gainz's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
519 views

Create a math quiz with LaTex by randomly choosing questions from a bank

I am looking for a simple solution to the following problem: I would like to create a math quiz with n questions via LaTex (printable, in pdf) where question 1 is chosen randomly from question bank #1,...
andrea's user avatar
  • 61
1 vote
1 answer
450 views

Should students get another chance at a math question because of English troubles?

The question is John has locked a 4 digit combination lock with each of the numbers 0-9. He knows the numbers 1,4,6, appears exactly once, but he does not remember the position of the numbers and he ...
Selwyn Liu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
242 views

Should a student have another chance at a math test question when they have a english problem? [closed]

A student has a english problem, should he get another chance and have another chance?
Selwyn Liu's user avatar
33 votes
6 answers
3k views

What are the best practices for giving online tests?

Many of us our coming off our first semester of required-online classes; and at some of our institutions we are preparing for what is most likely a required-online semester in the fall. (That is: The ...
Daniel R. Collins's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
90 views

Online testing platform

What are good and free online testing platforms for mathematics? Is there any who can easily display math formulas? Any allowing LaTeX code? Apparently the only way to insert formulas in Google Forms ...
Marco Disce's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
650 views

How to conduct online testing for Calculus?

Due to COVID-19, I have been planning to transition to online teaching (which, of course, includes online testing as well). The LMS that we use is Blackboard which is integrated with Proctorio. ...
rose's user avatar
  • 183
2 votes
1 answer
186 views

Measuring ones mathematics ability regularly - how to avoid getting better at the tests

This question might not suit the site, if so I apologise. I'd like to regularly test my maths skills, essentially finding out if I'm getting better or worse at a maths in general and then plot the ...
user6916458's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
768 views

Revision Lecture, what are the aims?

I will give a 2-hour long revision lecture on a Mathematics area. The aim of this lecture is to help the students prepare for the exam test. The course was rather long, covering 5 chapters and a ...
Tester's user avatar
  • 39
2 votes
3 answers
214 views

How to give a good Geometry test? [closed]

Generally, in a Geometry test, you'd need to test proofs (Prove that triangle XYZ and ABC are congruent). On the other hand, proofs depends depends on theorems which depend on postulates, which are ...
educator's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
196 views

Are there standard questions for testing how an instructor grades calculus?

My institution is now in the process of "standardizing" our calculus classes. One issue we have is the variation among instructors in grading problems. I am interested if there are ways to objectively ...
Matt Brenneman's user avatar
32 votes
13 answers
13k views

What is the mathematical value of children learning and being tested on Roman numerals?

My 11 year old child recently took an important numeracy test. One of the questions required her to know that M = 1000 in Roman numerals. This made me very angry: I could not see how this relatively ...
Bob Tway's user avatar
  • 1,317
6 votes
1 answer
330 views

Test of level of a student for secondary school

I am looking for a test, paper based, execution time less than one hour, for an initial assessment of the math knowledge level of a secondary school student. I need to evaluate, very approximately, ...
pasaba por aqui's user avatar
11 votes
6 answers
7k views

Software for randomizing multiple choice tests

I would like to give multiple choice tests with randomized questions and order of the answers that is unique for each test, to be printed and given on paper sheets. Is there a software that would do ...
Marco Disce's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
147 views

Recommended setting for studying

My 13 year old son is scheduled to take Algebra I next year, and this amounts to skipping one year of math. To prepare for that he has been leaning the material that he is skipping over the summer. I ...
Ted Ersek's user avatar
  • 241
12 votes
2 answers
266 views

How do you incorporate the results from a final exam into evidence of learning in a valid and justifiable way (i.e. grade determination)?

How do you incorporate the results from a final exam into evidence of learning in a valid and justifiable way (i.e. grade determination)? This question is open to all education levels. What is your ...
Marian Minar's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
184 views

Paper on Replicating Test Questions

I recall reading a paper a few years ago (though I think it was in physics) on a class where they decided to repeat a midterm test question on the final exam and students performed noticeably worse on ...
user6822's user avatar
18 votes
5 answers
5k views

Evidence showing that returning tests helps students

My kids (12, 14) attend a school in the US in which the mathematics department has a policy of not returning tests to the kids. I have very strong feelings about this (I think it is an obviously bad ...
copper.hat's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
356 views

How to measure the understandability of a proof?

Is there a way to measure the understandability of a proof? From a search in the internet I have only found methods for measuring the understandability of software or tests for measuring the ...
Stephan Kulla's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
268 views

Are there automatic solution checkers?

Suppose I would like to make a maths test that one can do by computer and that can be automatically checked by computer. Question: Is there some automatic theorem prover that can check the proofs ...
curious's user avatar
  • 61
25 votes
8 answers
2k views

What are the historical reasons for the hostility against standardized testing in the US?

NB. Some answers appear to be for a question I did not ask, namely, "Why is standardized testing bad?" Indeed, these answers tend to underscore the premise of my actual question, which can ...
user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

elementary level assessment tools

I'm looking for an assessment tool to ability group 4th and 5th grade students, in particular setting a "top" group. This group would receive more enrichment, less practice on concepts and a faster ...
Marjorie 's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
3k views

Test Correction Analysis

In hopes of helping my students practice and deepen their understanding of math knowledge, I wanted to bring up the topic of a test correction analysis - I didn't find much on this topic when I ...
Gerardo's user avatar
  • 455
22 votes
2 answers
957 views

Handing out $2 calculators for tests?

In a store last weekend, I saw a simple solar-powered calculator for $2. It had four functions plus a square root key. I'm considering the possibility of buying 50 such calculators and handing them ...
user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
1k views

Tutor: How to deal with meddling parent?

I am currently tutoring a student for the Integrated Algebra regents, and he's really doing great. It's his father that bothers me. He does do some math (he's an accountant or actuary of some sort),...
Tutor's user avatar
  • 941
22 votes
2 answers
770 views

Exam philosophy

I'm curious if anyone knows of any books, studies, or other resources on the philosophy of creating and grading mathematics exams. After working as a graduate TA for 4 years and dealing with a wide ...
icurays1's user avatar
  • 485
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

Should tests given after the drop date be made less difficult in order to help the remaining students raise their grades? [closed]

It is that time of the semester again (after the final drop date) and my colleagues and I are once again having the discussion on whether or not the two remaining tests should be made so they are less ...
Todd Thomas's user avatar
  • 1,218
17 votes
5 answers
4k views

How much memorization should be required in a first-semester calculus course?

To me, first-semester calculus is a "big ideas" course, whereas second-semester calculus is about a certain bag of tricks. How much memorization is it appropriate to require in the first semester? If ...
user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
294 views

What to do if an exam takes longer than intended?

This question is inspired by How can I estimate the length of an exam. It is not always possible to accurately predict how long an exam will take. As such, What should one do if an exams looks to be ...
Gamma Function's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
447 views

How can I encourage my students to team work?

I have a motto, "My class is not an Olympic swimming pool! It is a museum full of the masterwork paintings! Relax and enjoy all of this mathematical beauty which I am drawing on the blackboard!" By ...
user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
2k views

What are effective alternatives to a written math exam to evaluate knowledge?

Some students do not do well under pressure or testing situations and cannot demonstrate their knowledge of a math subject with a written exam. On the other hand, I think that students that do not ...
Felix Y.'s user avatar
  • 1,430
41 votes
6 answers
16k views

How can I estimate the length of an exam?

Background: I am fairly new at teaching, and in every subject I have taught, I have had difficulty estimating the length and difficulty of an exam. I need to write an exam for a university senior-...
Brian Rushton's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
463 views

Multiple Solutions Methods vs. Encouraging a Particular Approach

It happens frequently in math that problems have multiple possible solutions. This might become troublesome, e.g. when students use some other approach, hence, not learning the current topic. One ...
dtldarek's user avatar
  • 8,997
42 votes
11 answers
11k views

Formula sheets and books during tests and exams

Some teachers make memorizing formulas, definitions and others things obligatory, and forbid "aids" in any form during tests and exams. Other allow for writing down more complicated expressions, ...
dtldarek's user avatar
  • 8,997
19 votes
3 answers
669 views

Implementing oral exams

In the USA most mathematics undergraduate classes seem to base the final grade on the following items Homework / quizzes Midterms / exams. I believe that there can be a lot of value in oral exams, ...
Thomas's user avatar
  • 1,794