21st Quick Step: How to write a test? Part 1 of 2 Ask for design of the test!

Time to get some intel.

Be sure to check out the three-part series on Input-Output-Machines written last week, LIFE, MATH, YOU - it will have you thinking and approaching math very differently.

How to write a test? Part 1 of 2 Asking for the design of the test!

Past articles that help with this:
Recommended > Writing your test. Teacher marking your test.
Optional below (though recommend for next week) >
1) What’s the purpose of a test?,
2) How to study for a test so you reach your potential?,
3) It’s three days before your test … here’s what you do

Students who know what their test will look like, before they write it, have an advantage as they can visualize the test and know what to expect. They’re doing Inputs in advance, that will help their Inputs on Test Day.

Today I’ll tell you how to get that edge: If you’re into sports think of this as scouting, if you have a job-interview it’s called ‘being better prepared’ or if you’re a detective or a spy … it’s called intel (short form for intelligence collected in advance).

Here’s the 7 Questions to ask your teacher,

and you need to know the answers before you write your test!

1.      Level of difficulty of math questions?

a.      Easy, Moderate and/or Challenging: Can you show me in the notes or homework an example of each Easy, Moderate and Challenging?
b.      Are the challenging ones, a) Similar to what’s been taught or b) Different*?

c.      Are questions separated by KCAT or Levels 1, 2, 3, 4?

d.      KCAT stands for Knowledge (K), Communication (C), Application (A) and Thinking (T). K are the easiest, A are Application (Word Qs), T is for Thinking (the Challenging/L4 Qs – toughest questions). *Thinking Qs are different than anything taught or done on homework.

e.      Level 1, 2, 3, 4 design: Level 1 easiest question, Level 4 is the toughest. Teachers that separate a test by Levels will usually tell students to only do any two consecutive Levels (e.g. Level 1 & 2, or 2 & 3 or 3 & 4). This means if you do Level 2 & 3 questions for example, the highest mark you can get on the test will be a Level 3 (~ 75%).

Important because:
1) If test is categorized by KCAT, you automatically know the easiest (K) and the toughest question (Thinking),
2) And similarly, if test designed by Levels, L1 is the easiest and L4 is the toughest. 3) The advantage with either of these is both help you to see in an instant where to focus your time and energy – e.g. a 60s student wouldn’t want to spend time on the toughest questions (but more on this in Part 2 of 2).

Can you show me in the notes or homework an example of each Easy, Moderate and Challenging questions?

2.      Types of questions

a.      Multiple choice? Single answer (fill in the blanks)? Definitions? Long answer (showing full solution)?

Important because:
1) Multiple choice and Single answer questions are usually worth one mark and there are no part marks given.
2) Multiple choice questions require a different test strategy than any other types of questions. Why? Well, you know one of the four or five answers given is correct and you can use that to your advantage to do the question quicker.

3.      Is what each question is worth shown for each question?

Important because:
1) What a question is worth usually tells you three things: i) Number of steps teacher expects and/or, ii) How difficult and/or iii) How long it will take to do it which means how much time to spend on it,
2) If marks not shown, that’s a big disadvantage for you, as you could spend three minutes on a 1-mark question.

4.      Part marks given?

a.      Can I only write the answer, and if correct I’ll get full marks? Or do you want me to explain and show my steps?
b.      Will I get part marks if answer wrong, but steps shown? Do you give part marks?
c.      Are you a hard marker? Meaning if I make a Slip-Up Error will you take off a lot of marks? Message to Math Teachers: Why does he have to mark so hard?

5.      Final test mark?

Will a single mark be given as one percent for full test (e.g. 40/50, 80%)? Or will it be split into four marks for KCAT? Or one mark that’s a Leveled mark (e.g. Level 3 mark on a test translates to a 75%)

Important because:
1) KCAT** tends to be best as it’s quicker for you know your strengths and weaknesses in the four categories,
2) This tends to be better than the traditional tests your parent would have done (those tests had marks for each question, one final mark and percent),

3) With one Leveled mark for a test (e.g. level 3+) it’s tougher to discern how you did on each question, as no marks are assigned to any question.
** 4) What’s useful to you if your tests are designed by KCAT, is that your textbook probably mirrors that too (so you’ll get reps there), and you’ll know your highest mark should be on Knowledge.

6.      Other questions

a.      How much time do you give to check my work? Or what percent of test time is assigned to checking work?
b.      How do I know how much time to spend on a question?

c.      If I ask for a hint, will you give me the hint and deduct a mark?
Note: Yes, some teacher’s do this.
d.      What are your expectations around form (e.g. equal signs lined up, Word Questions (Let Statements), Labelling graphs? : Note: This is the Communication (C) part of KCAT

e.      Anything else I should know?

7.      Final question:

Can you give or show me a copy of a past student’s math test you’ve marked?Important because: This is the quickest way to get most of the answers to the 6 questions above.

Many teachers will give you the answers to these questions as tests have been designed before the course starts. However, I find that most teachers won’t divulge this information in advance for one simple reason. They’re never asked!

So go get your intel to visualize what lies ahead on the test. And next week, Part 2 of 2, I’ll talk about How to write a better test.

EH

What’s EH? My initials for Edison Hopkinson, eh!
What’s ‘eh’?
‘eh’ is a part of Canadian culture - it’s a quick way to know if someone’s Candian … they’ll finish their sentences or questions with, eh.