A September diagnostic that students do not fear
A low-stakes mathematics diagnostic disguised as puzzles, mapping five prerequisite threads without a single grade.
How to use it
Run it as stations; students self-mark against the wall key; you photograph the summary grid, not the papers.
Adaptations and limits
Shorten to three stations for groups new to the school.
Why it works
Ungraded diagnostics yield more honest error samples than graded entry tests.
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Staff room
★ 4,7 · recommended by 27 teachers
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Ana Ferreiro Deputy head · British school, Madrid
We used it as-is in the department meeting and then in class: the adaptation levels save the hard part, which is differentiating without rebuilding everything.
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Marcus Webb IB Coordinator · International school, Lisbon Community
With Year 11 it works better splitting the session in two: first half guided, second with the material in students' hands. Suggestion: add a 5-minute plenary.
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Lucía Prat Secondary tutor Community
I shared it with my class through the classroom link, no sign-ups and no branding: it looks clean on the board and every student opened it on their tablet first try.
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Received — thank you.
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