Grading should be consistent in all math contests

by Larry White
Number Sense and Mathematics Contest Director

Grading Number Sense is not always an easy task. Whether something is right or wrong is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. Several things need to be kept in one’s mind as a number sense coach/ grader.

First, all coaches/graders need to understand that there are three types of competitions available to them and their students: invitational competitions sponsored by host schools, Texas Math and Science Coaches Association competitions, and UIL competitions.

It is important to remember that TMSCA sanctions two contests, the high school state meet and the middle school state meet, both currently held in San Antonio.

UIL contests are district meets, regional meets, and state meet. All other meets are invitational meets. In many cases, the invitational meets use TMSCA practice tests or UIL practice tests. However, since the competitions are hosted by local schools and done by invitation, then the local schools hosting the meet have the right to set whatever grading rules they choose to use. It is important that the local school provide grading procedures to their graders and the contestants.

Likewise, TMSCA has the right to set its rules which are normally aligned fairly close to the UIL rules for their two state meets.

And, of course, UIL has its grading rules in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules for its contests. Many times coaches contact UIL or TMSCA for a rule interpretation for a local invitational contest. UIL and/or TMSCA have no control over what rules the local school chooses to set. Likewise, UIL has no control over the grading procedures that TMSCA chooses for its meets.

Second, competitions are usually set to provide practice for the UIL district, regional and state meets. If various competitions use different rules at different competitions, students will have a greater chance of being confused as to what rules apply. We must be careful to avoid hurting students’ success because of too many varying rules. However, each invitational meet has the right to do what they wish. Caution may be the key word and coaches need to be sure to keep their students informed as to which rules apply.

Third, we must recognize that we are here for students to succeed. We should avoid doing anything that destroys the desire for students to compete and progress forward toward success. Some invitational meets have set up certain rules that disqualify a student’s test. Instead of grading a paper, a big "DQ" is written on the paper, and the student tends to feel like they did something bad.

My personal thoughts about this is to not use the DQ but grade the paper and record a - 9 if the grade is negative.

Also, it would be a great thing if the grader wrote something on the top of the paper such as, "working on the test is prohibited, see Rule #XXX." I know this will take a little extra time, but I think our students are worth it.

Number Sense: Part 2 - UIL GRADING RULES According to the C&CR the rules are spelled out and apply to district, regional, and state meets. Using any other rules at UIL competitions is forbidden. If any of the rules are unclear, the local contest director may want to contact the UIL or the state contest director for clarification. The following clarifications might be of some help concerning certain confusing issues:

Scoring problems. Problems containing erasures, mark-overs, mark-outs, any extraneous marks will be counted incorrect. The rule does not allow for disqualification. Symbols. Answers require only the writing of numerals. Writing symbols or leaving off symbols are not graded. Commas are not a required part of the answer, hence are not graded, even if it they are put in the wrong place. It is strongly recommended that students not spend time putting in commas. Also, if the comma is written in such a way that it may look like a decimal or a number, the local contest director can make the determination that it is an illegible number or a decimal. Thus the problem can be counted incorrect.

Special Notes:

* Sometimes the rules we have for the classroom are different than the ones in the C&CR, such as the comma. However, the UIL contests must be graded by all graders using the same rules, hence the C&CR. If coaches feel some rules need tweaking, they need to contact UIL and make the recommendations for change.

* The use of the "wild card" team puts a great deal of emphasis on all graders to grade according to the C&CR rules. If graders at district or regional competitions decide to alter the rules according to their district or region the "wild card" concept loses its validity.

It is crucial site contest directors and their graders become very familiar with the rules as stated in the C&CR and seek clarification when a situation war-rants rule clarification.

Future articles concerning Number Sense and/or Mathematics tests will address how to handle bad problems and/or incorrect answers at UIL competitions, and, ethics, before, during, and after UIL competitions. If coaches, graders, or contest directors wish to share comments or suggestions, I would be happy to hear from you. You can e-mail me at texasmath@aol.com.

I hope you all have a great year. See you at one of the SACs or somewhere down the line.

Graphing Calculators/Approved Calculator List Survey
* Would you like students to be allowed to use graphing calculators on the Mathematics Contest?

_____ YES _____ NO

If YES, which ones would you like to be on the approved calculator list?

_____ All _____TI83 _____ TI92 _____ others

If NO, please list a few of the major reasons why you would not.

As you may or may not know, the current UIL Math/Science Approved Calculator List is nearly obsolete. The HP32SII, one of the most popular calculators, will not be made by HP any more. With this in mind, respond to the following: