What Is the New York State 4th Grade Math Assessment Test?

What Are Some Important Math Skills My 4th Grader Will Be Learning?

In 4th grade, your child's math curriculum will have three areas of emphasis. One area focuses on your child improving his or her fluency with multi-digit multiplication and division. Before becoming fluent in multiplication and division, it will be important that your child can proficiently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers. Students must also be able to express whole numbers using numerals, number names and expanded form.

Students will work to become more comfortable using fractions, while also learning new fraction-related skills. For instance, your child should be able to reduce fractions, to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers and to convert between mixed numbers, fractions and decimals.

A third area of focus will have your 4th grader learning how geometric shapes can be classified based on their attributes. In this focus area, your 4th grader should be able to identify and know how to draw lines, line segments, rays, angles and points. While it is not a main area of math focus, your child should be able to use and apply standard units of measure.

What Types of Questions Can My Child Expect on this Assessment?

On the New York math assessment for 4th graders there will be questions that will require your child to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Some questions will require basic calculations, while other operations will be in a word problem format. Word problem questions will require your child to determine the appropriate operation to use to solve the problem. Students will also have to use information presented in tables, charts or graphs to solve mathematical problems that involve application of higher level thinking skills. Most of the questions on this test are completion questions that will have your child showing his or her work in response.

What Are Some Test Taking Tips that Can Help My Child?

To score well on this test, it is important that your child reads each question carefully and understands what is being asked. For example, if the question has two parts, then your student needs to be sure he or she provides two answers. Teach your 4th grader to use any available tools (rulers, calculators or counters) to solve the problems. Students should always show all of their work when calculating an answer. On this math assessment it is possible to receive partial credit, even if the final answer is incorrect. Lastly, encourage your child to check his or her work each and every time. This will help your child catch careless mistakes he or she may have made.