Back in 2003, hard-working kids came into my office all day long.
They couldn't pass math tests when stakes are high.
Yet they were getting 100% they got on projects, homework assignments, and sometimes even quizzes with high marks.
They couldn't pass math tests when stakes are high.
Yet they were getting 100% they got on projects, homework assignments, and sometimes even quizzes with high marks.
And it was not just high school kids. Middle school kids and sometimes even grade school kids.
To help these kids to pass math tests with ease and get the scores they deserve, I needed to help see they were making 3 types of mistakes on tests over and over again.
To help these kids to pass math tests with ease and get the scores they deserve, I needed to help see they were making 3 types of mistakes on tests over and over again.
Type #1. mistakes from going too fast
Type #2. mistakes from poor time-management
Type #3. mistakes from weak math foundations
Type #2. mistakes from poor time-management
Type #3. mistakes from weak math foundations
If you have a kid who can't seem to pass exams when stakes are high, or if you are a kid who panics on a test or always ran out of time, let me save you some headaches and give you the recipe that ultimately got me the title of "Math Whisperer."
Type #1: mistakes from going too fast
This is the 'silly mistake' - the hardest one to catch and fix. When we are not aware that all mistakes cost points, we trivialize this type of mistake off. Points lost add up quickly and can often bring the test score down by 1-ltr grade.
This is the 'silly mistake' - the hardest one to catch and fix. When we are not aware that all mistakes cost points, we trivialize this type of mistake off. Points lost add up quickly and can often bring the test score down by 1-ltr grade.
Type #2: Making mistakes from poor time-management
Getting stuck and running out of time to even look at the test in its entirety is a common rookie mistake.
Some tests have easy questions near the end of tests.
Why?
Getting stuck and running out of time to even look at the test in its entirety is a common rookie mistake.
Some tests have easy questions near the end of tests.
Why?
The teacher is testing to see if a kid has the proper time-management skill for taking tests.
The smart thing to do is:
First, scan all the test questions first and cross out the ones you simply don't know how to do. These are time sinkers.
The smart thing to do is:
First, scan all the test questions first and cross out the ones you simply don't know how to do. These are time sinkers.
Next, circle the one you know how to do and do them with care to avoid making 'silly mistakes.
Lastly, focus all your attention on the ones that you can reason through given enough time.
This is how you optimize your time on a test.
Lastly, focus all your attention on the ones that you can reason through given enough time.
This is how you optimize your time on a test.
Type #3: Making mistakes from weak math foundations
Finally, the questions you don't know how to do are a gold mine for points you can score for the next test.
Between 2003 & 2020, I developed 'ultra learning' for math -
Finally, the questions you don't know how to do are a gold mine for points you can score for the next test.
Between 2003 & 2020, I developed 'ultra learning' for math -
got all 12 yrs of k-12 math simplified down to 10+ months and taught hundreds of kids.
Kids learned that math is built like a pyramid.
All they have to do for this third category of mistakes is to trace the concepts they didn't know to a set of easier concepts before it.
Kids learned that math is built like a pyramid.
All they have to do for this third category of mistakes is to trace the concepts they didn't know to a set of easier concepts before it.
By taking some effort to go after this category of mistakes when the test is returned to you, you'll see grades rapidly jump up.
What I learned from coaching hundreds of kids was test-taking is about pattern recognition.
What I learned from coaching hundreds of kids was test-taking is about pattern recognition.
TL;DR
If you pay attention to the **types** of mistakes, test-taking is a skill easy to learn.
Master this skill will help any kid to perform under pressure with ease and get a score that they are proud of.
If you pay attention to the **types** of mistakes, test-taking is a skill easy to learn.
Master this skill will help any kid to perform under pressure with ease and get a score that they are proud of.
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