Professional Skills numeracy test

[withaspongeandarustyspanner]

I'm starting my teacher training in September, and still have to pass my numeracy test.

I struggle with maths (panic, actually) and I could do with a good book to get me through it. Every time I think I've found one, I find a bad review and I don't know which one to get.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Keep doing the online tests and use the "Guide me" and "show me" features. I consider myself relatively good at maths and the first time I did a mock paper I got seriously worried. I did them every night for a month and I went over the basics to refresh my memory. Passed both first time. Keep practicing and stay as calm as you can in the exam. Good luck.

I disagree. You can be like me, better at algebra and problem solving but hopeless at arithmetic

Like you say, it's a hard enough job without having a pop at people wanting to do it. Just doesn't feel very supportive. Maybe Growth Mindset is a load of rubbish and will be yesterday's news soon, but the principle is the same. Should I not bother trying to teach just because I've got a weak area? Or should I admit that I haven't grasped something, show resilience and ask for help? I know which kind of approach I prefer.

I also recommend the book by Mark Patmore. When practicing the mental arithmetic questions get someone to read the question and time you.

Withasponge, I do that all the time with stuff requiring computer/tech knowledge. Often from children.

@HopeClearwater the numeracy skills test isn't based on primary school maths. It's based on the type of maths they assume you'd have to do in teacher-admin. I've never used any of it in my career so far! Yet to see a single box and whisker diagram in the wild.

I'm really worried about the maths tests, I haven't done maths since I did a maths module on my degree. I got a pathetically low fail on the first practice test that I did.

I am still beyond terrified. I will keep trying. Have you done a test yet, user?

No, not yet - I'm going at the end of June. Just keep doing the practice ones and make a list of what you got wrong and then get a book (I have one by Vali Nassar) and work through it again, and again and again.
None of the questions are that hard once you really, really read them through.
I find it helpful to ignore the woman reading out the question and start jotting down the important figures on the mental maths part straight away. Writing down the calculation(s) to be done on the later sections helped too I think.
Well it would if I actually got the answers right!

You find many more would-be teachers admitting to weaknesses in maths than in English. Why is that? I think it is short-changing our children.

It's a reflection on the education system when we were at school. You reap what you sow.

Peter Godden from Teachmemaths is brilliant, it's not cheap but, it's worth it. Like most people I had no issues with the actual maths just the speed of the MA. Hopefully by now you will have passed, if not good luck!.

I did! I passed. Thanks to all those who gave encouragement and support.

Well done. I'm doing them on Wednesday.

Congratulations!

Thanks both. Good luck user. I found that the practice tests had been much more difficult than the real thing. And my top tip - when you're on the questions you can use the calculator for, use the flag button and you can come back to check the answers. There were a few that I got soninvolves in, that I was worried I would have enough time to finish the rest (I had loads of time in reality), but it meant I could move on and revisit. Also, this was helpful in the literacy test - especially for the comprehension questions.

I was exactly the same as you OP. I was in ahuge panic and felt pyhsically sick at the thought of the skills test.

I subscribed to Numeracy Ready and watched GA Numerical on Youtube and passed first time. I can highly recommend both. Numeracy Ready was about £20 for 3 months I think and it well worth the money.

...and passed them both!

Well done User brilliant news.

My daughter passed her literacy Skills Test in April & finally passed her Numeracy skills test yesterday (4th time of trying!!!!) It wasn't the academics of the test, but the time time element!

She is absolutely delighted as it was the only thing standing in her way of going to University!

Excellent, well done to your daughter.
The time element was frustrating.