When you create a math item in Mastery Connect, you can select one of the available mathematical scoring methods. The equivLiteral scoring method checks that the answer entered by a student is exactly the same as the correct answer entered by the item author.
Use equivLiteral when a precise form of the mathematical expression is required. For example, if the correct answer is 6, the student response must be 6. Any other answer such as 5+1 will be scored as incorrect. Refer to additional examples below.
The equivLiteral scoring method supports additional options that let you override default scoring rules and requirements.
Notes:
- The equivLiteral scoring method works with decimals, fractions, variables, and percentages.
- The equivLiteral scoring method works with trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential expressions.
- You can combine the equivLiteral scoring method with other scoring methods.
Create Math Item
Create or edit a math item. Learn more about creating a math Formula item, image cloze math formula item, or cloze math formula item.
Enter a question stem in the Compose question field [1]. You can also enter a formula template [2].
Select Method
In the Set correct answer(s) section, click the Method drop-down menu, and select the equivLiteral option [1].
Note: To view the Method drop-down menu, you may need to click the response Expand icon [2].
Enter Correct Answer
Enter a point value for the item in the Point(s) field [1].
Enter a correct answer into the Value field [2].
A student response is scored as correct only if it is entered exactly as it appears in the Value field. Even if the student response is mathematically equivalent to the correct answer in the Value field, the item will be scored as incorrect. For example, if the correct answer entered into the Value field is 4, a student response is correct if it is 4. If a student response is 2+2 or 8/2 or any other expression that is mathematically equivalent to 4 but in another form, it is scored as incorrect.
By default, parentheses that are not mathematically required are ignored. For example, if the correct answer is set to 4, a student response of (4) is scored as correct.
By default, zeros before a decimal point are allowed even if they are not specified in the correct answer. For example, if the correct answer is set to 4, a student response of 0.4 is scored as correct.
Select Additional Options
You can use the following additional options with the equivLiteral method:
- Ignore order [1]: Ignores the order of expressions. For example, if the correct answer is x+1, you can enable the Ignore order option to also score 1+x as correct.
- Ignore trailing zeros [2]: Ignores zeros after decimal separators in student responses. For example, if correct answer is 4, a student response of 4.00 is scored as correct when this option is enabled.
- Ignore coefficient of 1 [3]: Ignores a coefficient of 1 before an integer. For example, if the correct answer is x+2+b, a student response of 1x+2+b is scored as correct when this option is enabled.
- Allow interval [4]: Allows students to enter answers using interval notation. For example, the student can enter: [1, 4).
- Inverse result [5]: Enabling this means that the value specified in the Value field will not be accepted as the correct answer. It is a useful way of excluding very specific answers from validation.
- Compare grouping [6]: Requires responses to contain parentheses even if they are not meaningful mathematically. For example, if the correct answer is 4+2+(x+1), a student response of 4+2+x+1 is scored as incorrect when the Compare grouping option is enabled.
To enable an option, click its checkbox [7].
Allow Separators
To allow number separators in student responses, click the Allow decimal marks checkbox [1].
To specify a decimal separator, click the Decimal separator menu [2], and select the Dot or Comma option.
To specify a type of separator for thousands, click the Thousands separator drop-down menu [3], and select the Dot, Comma, or Space option.
Note: You cannot select the same option for both the Decimal separator and the Thousands separator. For example, you cannot select Dot for both.
Examples
- If the correct answer is 3+4=x, any other response is scored as incorrect, including 4+3=x, x=x, and x-4=3.
- If the correct answer is 4, a student response of 4+0 is scored as incorrect.
- If the correct answer is .5, a student response of 0.5 is scored as correct.
- If the correct answer is .5, a student response of .50 is scored as incorrect, unless the Ignore trailing zeros option is enabled.
- If the correct answer is x+2, a student response of 2+x is scored as incorrect, unless the Ignore order option is enabled.
- If the correct answer is x+5, a student response of 1x+5 is scored as incorrect, unless the Ignore coefficient of 1 option is enabled.
- If the correct answer is 25000, a student response of 25,000 is scored as incorrect, unless the Allow decimal marks option is enabled.
Validate Answers
To preview the item interaction, enter an answer into the sample answer field [1]. Correct answers receive the full number of points [2].
Incorrect answers receive 0 points.
