All kinds of real mathematical answers are marked by Arithmetika

• Coordinates in the form (a,b)
• Surds in the form √b or a√b
• Algebraic expressions
• Equations
• Inequations (inequalities)
• Time e.g. 3.15pm, 1515, 11:34:55
• Ratios e.g. 5:3, 1:10000, , 5:3:1
• Rates e.g. 100km/h,
• Fractions e.g. 7⅝, ⅔
• Two solution answers e.g. 3 and -3, 4 or 5
• Directed number e.g. ⁺5, ^-17
• Yes/No
• True/False, T/F, t/f
• Multiple Choice
• Decimals
• Answers with a remainder e.g. 7 r 1

Illustration

Some of the types of answers marked

Marking protocols

If you have put the wrong kind of answer altogether, Arithmetika tells you before doing the marking.

• Multiple Choice questions, If Arithmetika expects A, B, C or D (or a, b, c, d) and you have typed something else you are given the chance to change your answer
• If words are given when a number is expected, Arithmetika lets you change it before marking you

Several answers

Sometimes there are several correct solutions; Arithmetika looks for them all

• Algebra answers: 3(y+4) is correct. So is 3(4+y)
• True, False, t, f, T, F are all accepted where appropriate

Accuracy

Rounding - lose one mark if not exactly right, but close

Units

Wrong units or missing altogether - lose one mark

 

Question 'Templates'

Arithmetika tasks are constructed from many thousands of Question Templates (QTs). Each template can take a wide variety of forms suited to the task. For example, the simple addition operation QT can be set to generate the addition of two integers under ten, numbers with up to 9 decimal places, negative numbers, numbers with up to 9 significant figures etc:

• 5 + 10
• 0.03 + 1001
• -99 + -101
• 25000 + 213000
• 12345.6789 + 12345.6789

and so on. Each instance of a QT in each task is tailored to suit the teacher's purpose.