General Information
Test Item Specifications
Students will add and subtract fractions or decimals using graphic representations, place value, or the commutative or associative properties.
Items may include graphic representations of models.
Items may include decimals through the thousandths place or in the context of money.
Items may assess the commutative and/or associative properties.
Denominators of fractions in the stimulus must be less than or equal to 12.
Items may include mixed numbers and/or fractions.
Items may include fractions represented as parts of sets (e.g., 1/2 dozen + 1/2 dozen).
Regrouping in subtraction problems or finding a mixed number may be included.
Items will not include more than three addends.
Students may be required to apply concepts from MA.5.A.6.1, but this benchmark will not be assessed in isolation.
Graphic representations will be used in most items.
Response to GR items may not be fractions.
Responses may contain fractions that are not simplified or in lowest terms. When a fraction must be simplified, the stem must indicate that the answer must be simplified or expressed in lowest terms.
Sample Test Items (2)
| Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
| Sample Item 1 | Mrs. Bradford served part of a pie for dessert. The shaded parts of the pictures below show how much of the pie was in the pie plate before and after dessert.
|
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
| Sample Item 2 | Both Alex and Stephanie have some coins in their pockets. The shaded areas in the diagrams below represent the value of the coins they have.
|
N/A | GR: Gridded-Response |
Related Resources
Educational Game
| Name | Description |
| Change Maker | This interactive applet gives students practice in making change in U.S. dollars and in four other currencies. Students are presented with a purchase amount and the amount paid, and they must enter the quantity of each denomination that make up the correct change. Students are rewarded for correct answers and are shown the correct change if they err. There are four levels of difficulty, ranging from amounts less than a dollar to amounts over $100. |
Image/Photograph
| Name | Description |
| Clipart ETC Fractions | Illustrations that can be used for teaching and demonstrating fractions. Fractional representations are modeled in wedges of circles ("pieces of pie") and parts of polygons. There are also clipart images of numerical fractions, both proper and improper, from halves to twelfths. Fraction charts and fraction strips found in this collection can be used as manipulatives and are ready to print for classroom use. |
Lesson Plan
| Name | Description |
| Using Models to Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators | This lesson is specific to subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. It requires students to already have a working knowledge of subtracting fractions with common denominators and equivalent fractions. |
Teaching Idea
| Name | Description |
| Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators | Kahn Academy video - How to add fractions with unlike denominators. |
Tutorials
| Name | Description |
| Adding Fractions | In this web-based tutorial, students learn procedures for adding fractions with like and unlike denominators. The tutorial includes visual representations of the problems using pizzas, animations of the algorithm, and links to related lessons, worksheets, and practice problems. |
| Subtracting Fractions | In this web-based tutorial, students learn procedures for subtracting fractions. The tutorial includes visual representations of the problems using pizzas, animations of the algorithm, and links to related lessons, worksheets, and practice problems. |
Virtual Manipulative
| Name | Description |
| Fraction Game | This virtual manipulative allows individual students to work with fraction relationships. (There is also a link to a two-player version.) |
Student Resources
Educational Game
| Name | Description |
| Change Maker: | This interactive applet gives students practice in making change in U.S. dollars and in four other currencies. Students are presented with a purchase amount and the amount paid, and they must enter the quantity of each denomination that make up the correct change. Students are rewarded for correct answers and are shown the correct change if they err. There are four levels of difficulty, ranging from amounts less than a dollar to amounts over $100. |
Virtual Manipulative
| Name | Description |
| Fraction Game: | This virtual manipulative allows individual students to work with fraction relationships. (There is also a link to a two-player version.) |
Parent Resources
Image/Photograph
| Name | Description |
| Clipart ETC Fractions: | Illustrations that can be used for teaching and demonstrating fractions. Fractional representations are modeled in wedges of circles ("pieces of pie") and parts of polygons. There are also clipart images of numerical fractions, both proper and improper, from halves to twelfths. Fraction charts and fraction strips found in this collection can be used as manipulatives and are ready to print for classroom use. |
Tutorial
| Name | Description |
| Subtracting Fractions: | In this web-based tutorial, students learn procedures for subtracting fractions. The tutorial includes visual representations of the problems using pizzas, animations of the algorithm, and links to related lessons, worksheets, and practice problems. |