The Problem with Mental Arithmetic

One of the great problems with mental arithmetic tests (as with most kinds of formalised assessment) is that the results can be warped, due to the fact that many children will do less well within a test setting than when faced with a more commonplace classroom experience.

However there is a way to overcome this problem – and the solution is fairly straightforward.

Obviously one key point is to make the testing programme one that relates to knowledge that we really do want the children to have. This involves having detailed feedback so that it can readily be seen where each child is regularly making the same mistake.

In this way, the fretting and concern that children might have when it comes to a mental arithmetic test is set aside, and the analysis of the results of the tests becomes a valuable educational resource in itself.

It was from this thinking that we devised our Mental Arithmetic Programme for Year 2 to Year 7.

The resources within the programme are available as photocopiable books, as PDF ebooks, as an audio CD or a combination of the PDF ebook and audio CD.

With the audio versions, questions are read to the children, they are then given the correct 5, 10 or 15 second intervals to answer the questions.

Each format contains 30 sets of teacher’s questions and answers as well as 30 photocopiable pupil sheets with prompts. The repetitive questions in each book steadily get harder over the course of a year.

Full details are available from www.topical-resources.co.uk/numeracy (just scroll down the page).