Here are some of the hardest questions 3rd-graders had to answer on New York's statewide math test

Business Insider ^ | 08/11/2015 | Peter Jacobs

[SeekAndFind]

The New York State Education Department released a sampling of questions from statewide math and reading tests this week, showing the kind of problems elementary- and middle-school students have to grapple with.

As The New York Times notes, New York is generally considered to have some of the hardest tests in the country. Only 36% of students passed the math exams in 2014; reading scores were even lower.

Along with some of the questions that appeared on each test, NYSED included the percentage of students statewide who answered the question correctly. Scores of individual schools will be released later this week.

We've pulled out a few problems that more than half of third-grade students got wrong:

[MeganC]

I wonder how many New York State teachers would pass that exam?

[I want the USA back]

If I got them all right they’re not difficult.

[Michael.SF.]

I want to know why Pedro, Carlos and Tina were all late for school.

[Lurking Libertarian]

If I got them all right they’re not difficult.

Are you in the third grade?

[sparklite2]

Heh.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Are you in the third grade?

No, but it was the hardest four years of my life.

[donna]

Wait, if one box is HEAVIER than the cans, then you can’t just divide by the number of cans to get the weight of one.

Am I not correct?

[DrewsDad]

Meh, go for the MATHCOUNTS problems instead:

2014 Mathcounts Tests

[ConservativeInPA]

I looked at the sample exam questions. My conclusion is simple. If they expect 3rd graders to solve these problems then their expectations of 3rd graders are wrong. Making things overly difficult or complex does not improve education. The ability to multiply and divide in 3rd grade is appropriate. The ability to reason and solve problems happens at a later age for most children. I should also note that a little thing called algebra solves these math problems. Few 3rd graders are able to handle algebra as it requires abstract thought which doesn't develop until children are older.

Educators have lost focus In the race to make our children mathematical wonders. They should let 3rd graders learn their multiplication tables and have some childhood fun instead of losing focus on fundamentals. In other words, educators haste leads to a lack of the fundamental building blocks to achieve in the future.

[forgotten man]

The test is obviously racist. Look at the names in the examples. I don’t see no nobody wid names like Tyrone, Javeriouss, Tamkika, Propecia or LaQuann.

[CGASMIA68]

you ask this and are how old???

[Vermont Lt]

Wow. While I had no problem with the test, the questions were pretty tough for someone with two years of mathematics instruction.

[jpsb]

True but only the 6 would make the box heavers then the cans. All other choices made the cans heaver (or as heavy) then the box.

[Vermont Lt]

You multiply the cans. If the combined weight of the cans is equal to, or greater than the weight of the box, the answer is wrong.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

question 31 answer is wrong: 480-450=30.

TC

[jpsb]

pinging the math teacher

[dfwgator]

Problem solved.......

If Javeriouss has to kill six Crips to join the Bloods and he’s only killed three, how many more Crips does he have to kill to become an official member of the Bloods?

[jpsb]

90 x 6 = 540
60 x 8 = 480
540-480=60

[jpsb]

Ahh dyslexia strikes again 540 not 450