What makes a bad maths question

So I'm applying for a teaching position at my uni, and one thing we are asked to write a brief summary of is what makes a bad maths question. Now I've got some ideas myself, but was wondering if anyone could give me there input so I can get a more general idea, as obviously opinions will differ on this.

My ideas: It's ambiguous in it's wording. It doesn't require the mathematician to think or stretch them in any particular way.

No answer

OP

Original post by TenOfThem

No answer

How did I miss that one! aha. Thanks for contributing any others, this is actually surprisingly hard to answer. I imagine it's easier for maths teachers though? You have to set questions etc.

Reply 3

linkdapink

15

Use of confusing language. Think of for example: "take away" or "work out this sum" when you mean CALCULATION etc...

Reply 4

ghostwalker

17

Inappropriate questions for the age group.

See here

Edit:

And here

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 5

username807367

8

A question with a 'real-life situation' that the student would have had no reason to come across.

My maths teacher was telling us about a paper she was marking for year 10 where one of the questions asked them to work out how many rolls of wallpaper you would need to cover a wall but there was no leeway in the mark scheme for students who had never seen anyone hanging wallpaper before and didn't realise the strips go vertically. She had to give about half of them no marks because they worked it out with horizontal strips.

Reply 6

Music99

OP

4

Original post by ghostwalker

Inappropriate questions for the age group.

See here

Edit:

And here

Those are actually crazy!

Reply 7

ghostwalker

17

Original post by Music99

Those are actually crazy!

Indeed. But a real life example!

Reply 8

Music99

OP

4

Original post by ghostwalker

Indeed. But a real life example!

Only in Singapore XD.

Reply 9

Bobifier

13

I have had tests in the past where at the beginning they have stood at the front and said "Actually, this question is impossible, don't try to do it." That seems like bad form.

Reply 10

CodeJack

19

Original post by ghostwalker

Inappropriate questions for the age group.

See here

Edit:

And here

haha, you can't say he wasn't creative..

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 11

Music99

OP

4

Original post by CodeJack

hahahaha, you can't say he wasn't creative..

I have to admit I did laugh :P.

Reply 12

Indeterminate

3

Original post by Music99

So I'm applying for a teaching position at my uni, and one thing we are asked to write a brief summary of is what makes a bad maths question. Now I've got some ideas myself, but was wondering if anyone could give me there input so I can get a more general idea, as obviously opinions will differ on this.

My ideas: It's ambiguous in it's wording. It doesn't require the mathematician to think or stretch them in any particular way.

At A-level, I remember questions where they'd ask you to use unnecessary substitutions to evaluate integrals (i.e where it was possible to integrate directly)

Those are bad questions!

Reply 13

Lord of the Flies

19

Original post by TenOfThem

No answer

And what if the answer is that there is no answer?

Reply 14

TenOfThem

18

Original post by Lord of the Flies

And what if the answer is that there is no answer?

Then there is an answer

Reply 15

WhiteGroupMaths

9

A badly worded problem (rather commonplace in permutation/combination ones) where the demands of a working process can be interpreted in more than one manner.

And as Indeterminate has pointed out earlier, redundant suggestions of substitutions in integrals which can be cracked open directly are just plain sickening. Why make something difficult when it is actually so easy to solve? Sheesh.

Peace.

What makes a bad maths question

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