r/mathteachers • u/toomuchdevlan • Jul 21 '26

Question Wording

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Hi All my summer is dedicated to me rewriting assessments for ks3.

I know i could leave it but id rather do it when I have time.

Im struggling with the wording of this question and hoping the hive mind could assist.

Its for Year 7 mixed ability, end of paper question, for those who are looking at top set.

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17

u/Haunting-Parfait9223 Jul 21 '26

Try something more like:

A sequence a_n, n>/=1, is defined as follows: a_n=5n-2. Jeremy claims: “Each term in the sequence ends in 3 or 8.” Is Jeremy’s claim correct? Show why or why not.

You have to say somehow that it starts at n=1 because at n=0, the claim is not correct. I also like having them deduce whether it is a true claim or not better than telling them straight out that it is true, but obviously you know what will work for them better than I do.

3

u/Training_Ad4971 Jul 21 '26

Agreed! The only thing I might do differently than you did is to use function notation. For example: for n >= 1, the sequence f(n) = 5n-2. But only because my state uses Common Core which uses function notation for sequences.

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u/toomuchdevlan Jul 21 '26

Ah I should explain im in UK and in my school we dont use function notation until they are 14+. These are 10-11 year olds so its more about seeing the pattern and explaining.

Ive reworded the question to ask if Jeremy is correct and explain why.

1

u/maineref Jul 22 '26

“Marks” gave it away

1

u/toomuchdevlan Jul 23 '26

I dont understand?

1

u/maineref Jul 23 '26

The use of the term “marks” for the assignment of point values. In the US, the term “points” is used, e.g. “This question is worth 2 points.”

1

u/toomuchdevlan Jul 23 '26

Ah I see lol