What are your students thinking?

The new year is a great time to do MDTP diagnostic testing and get feedback on your students’ mathematical progress.  You can use information from the detailed results reports to see how far your students have come, and where they still have gaps and misconceptions.  This information can streamline your instruction helping you design more effective and efficient lessons and units.

Our office is always available to help you get the most out of diagnostic and placement testing and all materials and services are free.  Contact us anytime at mdtp@ucla.edu


  • Order paper testing materials here.   
  • Sign-up for online diagnostic testing here.
  • Sign-up for high school placement testing here.

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New Math Workshop

Student Thinking Tools – The Double Number Line and Algebra Tiles.  Saturday Morning, October 19, 2019, UCLA Math Sciences Building.

The double number line and algebra tiles can be powerful tools to support student thinking in a wide variety of applications including percent, scaling, proportion, solving equations, area and perimeter, factoring, multiplying and dividing polynomials, combining like terms, the distributive property.

We will explore these two student thinking tools, their uses (and abuses).  $12 parking.

Sign up here

Fall 2019 News

CCCSS Fall test recommendations by course here.  Test descriptions here

New releases: 

  • Algebra 1/Integrated Math 1 Readiness Test (AMR45A19 – supersedes the High School Readiness Test)
  • Geometry Readiness Test (GR45A19)
  • Second Year Algebra Readiness Test (SR45A19) are now CCCSS aligned.

Field tests: Preparedness for 6th Grade Mathematics (6M35D19 – supersedes the Middle School Field Test) and Mathematical Analysis Readiness (MR45D19) are CCCSS aligned. Thank you for participating in field testing, essential to high quality assessments. Place order here

The online testing platform seems to have worked out the kinks and is running reliably.  Yay!!!

Starting August 1, tests may not be scored through Illuminate.  Results may still be uploaded.

Fall 2019 Workshops

UCLA Workshops

MDTP Online Platform Training Workshop.  Saturday, August 17, 2019, 9:00-Noon, UCLA Math Science Building.  How to navigate the online platform.  How to analyze your results and set instructional goals.  Exploration of math activities that support and improve student thinking and get students communicating mathematically.  $12 parking. Sign up here (Waitlist only)

3 Part Series: Improving Teaching and Learning in the Math Classroom. Saturday, September 14, September 28, And October 12 – typically from 9 to 12, UCLA Math Sciences Building. We will dig into student thinking: strengths, gaps and misconceptions. You will bring in and analyze student work from the classroom, reflect on progress towards your mathematical goals, and plan new activities and routines to be implemented in the classroom for the next workshop.  Each day of the workshop builds on the previous, so it is important to commit to all three days. $12 parking, per day. Sign up here

Student Thinking Tools – The Double Number Line and Algebra Tiles.  Saturday Morning, October 19, 2019, UCLA Math Sciences Building. We will explore these two student thinking tools, their best uses (and abuses).  More info to follow. $12 parking. Sign up here

Fall 2019 Newsletter

Quick Links

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—  MDTP-UCLA website   — —  California MDTP website 

Dear Math Educator,

The CSU/UC Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) is a statewide project funded to provide materials and services to support math instruction in California (see CA Ed Code).  Materials include multiple-choice diagnostic tests, multiple choice high school 9th grade enrollment assessments, and a suite of written response items, all suitable for secondary math courses.  

Near the start of the school year, teachers use the MDTP diagnostic results reports to determine the strengths, weaknesses, and misconceptions of their students; to set instructional goals; to customize instruction for greater impact.  Math departments use the results to identify productive areas for collaborative professional development and to guide supplemental math programs.  Schools use placement tests to ensure students are taking the appropriate course.

We encourage you to forward this post to your math colleagues and to contact us to schedule a school site visit to introduce and support the effective use of MDTP materials. Our offices open year-round.  All MDTP materials and services are provided free of charge.  We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Mary and  Nora

Mary Sirody
Site Director
msirody@math.ucla.edu
310-825-0798
Nora Perez
Office Manager
mdtp@ucla.edu
310-825-9477

Math workshop series

Improving Teaching and Learning in the Math Classroom

What math do your students know? What are their misunderstandings and gaps? What math do you want them to learn? How can you bridge the gap?

In these workshops, we will dig into student thinking, their gaps and misconceptions.  We will use that information to set achievable, relevant math goals.  We will explore and implement engaging math routines and activities that support students to fill in gaps, correct misconceptions, and build on prior knowledge.

Each day of the workshop, we will bring in and analyze student work from the classroom, reflect on progress towards our mathematical goals, and plan new activities and routines to be implemented in the classroom for the next workshop.

The activities and routines will engage students at all levels, integrate into and support regular course work and support both the math learning and teaching practices.  

The three Saturday sessions will be held in the UCLA Math Sciences Building on September 14, September 28, And October 12 – typically from 9 to 12.

Enrollment is limited.  Each day of the workshop builds on the previous day, so it is important to commit to all three days.

*** Register for Saturday Mornings at UCLA ***

A certificate of completion will be awarded to teachers attending all sessions. A light breakfast and snack will be provided.

This opportunity is provided at no cost to participants

Online Platform Training

This three hour workshop will introduce you to MDTP diagnostic tests and the free, online testing platform.  We will learn how to navigate the online platform; set up classes; add enrollment; and assign and administer tests.  We will discuss how to use the online platform to analyze your results and set actionable instructional goals. We will explore math routines and activities that support, improve and consolidate student thinking and get students communicating mathematically.

Saturday, August 17, 2019, from 9:00-12:00.     

UCLA Mathematical Sciences Building.

Sign-up here

This session is offered at no charge to participants. Breakfast will be served.

Upcoming Workshop: It’s a Treasure Hunt

You’ve given the MDTP test, what do you do next?

MDTP diagnostic results reports hold a wealth of information about your students and classes and important mathematics. This workshop, for both new and experienced users, will help you get the most of those results. Together we will take the time to unearth all the nuggets of information in your results. We will learn how to set realistic instructional goals, and participate in and design some effective instructional activities to help realize those goals.

Prior to the workshop, you will administer an MDTP test to at least one of your classes*. After the workshop, you will know more about your students, effective math instruction, and have tools and activities to improve your instruction and their learning.

This workshop is offered at no charge to participants. Light breakfast will be served.

Saturday,May 4, 2019, from 9:00-12:00.
UCLA Mathematical Sciences Building.
Sign-up here

Time Sensitive: Student Privacy Protection

Student names from prior school years, will be deleted from MDTP records on December 31.

In order to protect student privacy and comply with privacy regulations, on December 31, 2018, MDTP will remove student names from data collected prior to June 2018.  You will still be able to access all of this data, but in the results report, student names will be replaced with their ID numbers.

If you would like to retain a record of your testing results with student names, you may export this data to an Excel spreadsheet from the Individual Results tab of the testing report.  But, do it before December 31!

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