The 0Maths blog

Specific Reccurring Errors

As we are collecting typed answers, incorrect (ie amended) answers are a potentially rich source of data for learning interventions.

We screen amended answers for the following errors, which are flagged if an error is made 2 or more times within 30 days:

1. ⇝↭
   Wrong rote learning eg, a pupil often answers 54 for 7 × 8. If the same wrong answer occurs repeatedly, it is likely coming from memory. First learning dominates, so spending time on related questions can be helpful (ie 56 ÷ ? = 8)
2. ↑
   1 more than correct answer. in the case of addition this is likely because the pupil is counting on from the first given number, rather than the number after.
3. ↓
   1 less than correct answer In the case of subtraction, the pupil is likely counting back from the digit before the digit they started from.
4. D
   Possible dyslexia A combination of the previous two - the pupil's answers for simple arithmetic are often one more or one less than the correct answer. This is often seen in dyslexic pupils though is not normally a part of dyslexia screening. (ie this is an indicator, not a diagnosis.)
5. 10↑
   10↓
   10 more or less than correct answer - likely a carry digit error if not seen alongside 1 more / 1 less.
6. ↹
   Transposed digits - This could be a place value understanding issue, another sign of dyslexia, or simply a typo.
7. -?
   Subtracting highest from lowest for each place Given a sum like 67-28 a pupil answers 41 (60-20=40✓ and then 8-7=1╳). They have learned that for a subtraction problem they should take the lowest number from the highest, and so they apply this method to each place value.
8. +?
   Place value error: more than 10 in each place Given a sum like 101+109, a pupil answers 2010 (hundreds:1+1=2 , tens:0+0=0 , units:1+9=10 = 2 0 10). They have learned to add each digit but have squeezed a 10 into one digit's space instead of carrying.
9. 0-0
   Vision issue - Often adds when seeing the obelus (division sign, ÷), for instance.

The colour of the indicator relates to the curriculum strand it was discovered in. Clicking the icon tells you which question type (and which specfic questions(s)) the error was found in.

This is a beta feature. We'd welcome your feedback to make it more useful.