Free math & computer skills tests for kids grade 1-6 (1 Viewer)

[oasfree]

Mathematics education in Australian primary school is just too basic. They have dumbed down the basic skill tests and the NAPLAN so much. Here are some real math tests. My kid who scored well on these mathematics tests recently got top 1% of UNSW mathematics competition and also strolled into an OC class high above the others. So have a go to see how your kids deal with real math tests with questions collected from around the world.

The tests are available online at

Online Assessment Home

It's completely free. Just register accounts for your kids. They do the tests online and get the score immediately. Each month kids get a high quality math test that is progressively more difficult at international level. For real geniuses, try a grade higher.

 

[oasfree]

BTW, I should give people some idea of the difficulty levels. At year 3 and 5 kids take the Australian basic skills tests called NAPLAN. From what I have seen, the math component of the NAPLAN is very easy. A kid who has just reached the top of this math test (top of the top band) would score about 65% in my tests. The kids who get top 1% in UNSW school math competition (High distinction) will get about 92% in my final test of each grade. Obviously, the NAPLAN won't distinguish the top performers and the average high performers because it's too easy for both groups. Therefore if a kid gets to the top band in the NAPLAN math test, and only get 65% in my test, that's perfectly normal. My tests are based on International difficulty levels seen in a number of US states and a little softer than what seen in Singapore or Taiwan.

For those primary school kids that have been spending their precious time at coaching places, my math tests will help them show true colours. If they could not get over 80% mark at the final end of year test in Dec, they honestly haven't got much math in them.

US tests and Singaporean tests are very practical. They test for the ability to use mathematics to solve problems. They also test for deep mathematical sense when they ask kids to distinguish between very close anwers or concepts. Singaporean tests are particularly strong in algabraic ability. US tests are strong in data intepretation and practical use of mathematical knowledge. I found that the ability to deal with my math tests also help kids to score very well in Australian scholarship and NSW selective school math tests.

 

[arjungamer123]

Not to burst any bubbles; but you don't really need to push a kid and assess him/her while he/she is still in Year 3-5.

Sure, they need to get a basic understanding of maths, but they sure as hell don't need to be pushed very hard.

 

[oasfree]

arjungamer123, sure, for those who have not bothered to try hard at all, then it's not worth pushing at all. But for those who have tried hard, or feel that they are really good, they should try to get an idea how good they are. I recently had a look at year 10 school certificate math released papers. I feel sorry for the kids in NSW public schools as most of the questions are really the stuff that advanced year 6 kids in Sydney or normal kids in Singapore and Taiwan are doing. While it's not that important to push kids hard, but it's good to know what level they are up to relative to different cohorts in the country and around the world. Also there is a strong correlation between music and mathematics. Those gifted at music tend to find normal mathematics too easy. These kids should find that they don't need to work very hard in mathematics and still excel. Again, it's good to know. It does not mean they have to be pushed at all. It's nice to keep pace with the leading pack even though there is no need to be the leader of the pack.

 

[Hypermelon]

Yes schools in Asia have better curriculum and course structures compared to schooling in australia.

in primary school when i showed my teacher that i could do long multiplication they were like what the...and the other kids were still struggling through long addition. Primary school maths is too dumbed down in oz. they only taught long multiplication in year 5-6. I give credit to my parents for teaching me outside of school. And for my mums genes (on her side there are more than 6 engineers including herself)

Its really about going ahead of the pack

btw as if any of us have kids that are in primary school

and i must say it feels really good when you get high distincitons. in year 8 i got 2 of them and one was a perfect score. But it wasn't the amc but one of their junior Olympiad programs and some other one
+The amt books are really good resources

 

[oasfree]

Its really about going ahead of the pack

btw as if any of us have kids that are in primary school

Perhaps it's not modern custom, but when I was young, older kids are supposed to care for young siblings. So the older ones teach the younger ones to help them to be in the leading pack. It was family business to care for the younger kids. It's still like that in many Asian families living in Australia. My kid is keeping pace with the top 1% in UNSW school competition (high distinction). I hope she will help her little brother later to continue to excel in the family academic tradition. Also it's good for HS kids to teach. Teaching younger kids is a sure way to make sure you know the basics.

 

[oasfree]

It's been a great year. There are a lot of kids doing extremely well on my site. The ones in NSW who got consistently good results mostly gain entry to OC and selective schools. The tests for 2010 will soon be available for kids comnig back from school holiday.

Have a great new year!