Dyscalculia Symptoms and Test

By Lisa Harp

Educational Therapist
Founder of The Harp Institute and Learning Link Technologies
http://www.harpinstitute.com
http://www.learning-aids.com

© Learning Link Technologies

You may freely distribute this work as long as is not altered.

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

 Dyscalculia Symptoms

Does the student:

• understand math concepts but makes mistakes on easier

computation?
• have a difficult time understanding order of operations and basic
sequencing?
• mix up and confuse math symbols like +, -, x, = ?
• have a poor sense of direction, easily getting lost or confused?
• become anxious or nervous when asked to do math or algebra?
• transpose numbers, such as write 89 for 98?
• confuse 9’s for 6’s and 6’s for 9’s?
• have a difficult time understanding the concept of telling time and the
passage of time?
• refuse to write down math steps but tries to do them mentally, which
causes mistakes?
• have a difficult time counting backwards?
• prefer to doodle on sides of papers or draw/create instead of do math
assignments?
• have a difficult time with sequencing and patterns?
• have a difficult time lining up math problems or produces sloppy
pages?
• lose his/her place on multi-step math problems such as long division?
• have problems memorizing math facts, formulas, or steps?
• struggle with fractions and algebra concepts?
• have difficulty in understanding and setting up basic word problems?
• have a difficult time understanding oral directions?

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

 • have organizational problems?
• have a difficult time estimating and gauging distances?
• have a difficult time putting puzzles together?
• have a difficult time switching from one math skill to the next – adding
and then going to subtracting?
• fatigues after doing a few math problems

Answering yes to 20% or more of these question may indicate the presence of
dyscalculia. Higher percentages could indicate a more acute problem.

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

 Dyscalculia Test

1. Fill in the missing numbers.

3, 6, 9 ___, 15, 18, ___,24, 27, ___, 33, 36, ___

2. Circle the number in columns 2-5 that match the number in column 1:

6 9 8 6 5
8 3 5 9 8
9 6 9 0 5
3 5 8 3 2

3.Count backward from 20 and then forward to 50.

4. Circle the figure in the second column that matches the first column :

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

5. Draw the next two figures in the pattern:

_____
_____

6. Copy the following problem to the right making sure the columns are
lined up:

123987
35520
2352782
569
4789346
+ 12
_____________

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

7. Do the following word problem. Show the number sentence.

Max, Sam, and Anna were collecting rocks. Max found 5 rocks. Sam
found 6 rocks. Anna found 3 rocks. How many rocks did Sam and Max
find all together?

_____________________________________________

8. What does sum mean?

9. How many hours are in a day?

10. How long would it take you to brush your teeth?

a. three hours b. three minutes c. three seconds

11. 12 + 2 – 3 + 2 =

12. Count out loud by 4’s.

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

13. How long would a new pencil be?

a. 12 feet b. 12 inches c 12 meters

14. Copy the following numbers on the lines below.

6 12 9 6 9 21

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

15. Add 3 to each number:

7____ 6____ 9____ 5____ 4____

16. Now subtract 2 from each answer from above.

____ ____ ____ ____ ____

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

17. Circle all the 6’s:

9 6 6 9 6 6 9 9 6 9 6 9 6
6 6 9 6 9 9 6 9 9 6 9 6 9
9 9 6 9 9 6 6 6 9 6 9 6 6

18. Look at the following number sequence. Cover it up and then write it
on the line.

6 7 8 3 4 5 ____________

19. Repeat the following number sequence back to me:

9 7 4 5 6 2

20. Look at the shape. Cover it up and copy it on the line.

__________________________

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

21. Use the symbols to perform the math problems.

= +2 = -3 = +1

7 = ___ 8 = ___

9 = ___ 4 = ___

3 = ___ 2 = ___

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

Answer Key:

1. Fill in the missing numbers.

3, 6, 9 , 12, 15, 18, 21,24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39

2. Match:

6 9 8 6 5
8 3 5 9 8
9 6 9 0 5
3 5 8 3 2

3.Count backward from 20 and then forward to 50. Student is to count

backward quickly and easily without missing any numbers and then easily
switch to counting to 50 without missing any numbers.

4. Match:

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

5. Draw the next two figures in the pattern:

6. Copy the following problem to the right making sure the columns are
lined up: Make sure student copies the problem with the columns lined up
and the numbers in the correct order.

123987
35520
2352782
569
4789346
+ 12
_____________

7. Do the following word problem. Show the number sentence.

Max, Sam, and Anna were collecting rocks. Max found 5 rocks. Sam
found 6 rocks. Anna found 3 rocks. How many rocks did Sam and Max
find all together?

5 + 6 = 11 11 rocks
_____________________________________________

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

8. What does sum mean? to add numbers

9. How many hours are in a day? 24

10. How long would it take you to brush your teeth?

a. three hours b. three minutes c. three seconds

11. 12 + 2 – 3+2 = 13

Student should be writing steps down: 12 + 2 = 14

14 – 3 = 11
11 + 2 = 13

12. Count out loud by 4’s.

4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64
-student should not spend too much time processing this or use fingers to
count

13. How long would a new pencil be?

a. 12 feet b. 12 inches c 12 meters

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

14. Copy the following numbers on the lines below.

6 12 9 6 9 21

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

-make sure student copies the number correctly without transposing

15. Add 3 to each number:

7 10 6 9 9 12 5 8 4 7

16. Now subtract 2 from each answer from above.

8 7 10 6 5

17. Circle all the 6’s:

9 6 6 9 6 6 9 9 6 9 6 9 6
6 6 9 6 9 9 6 9 9 6 9 6 9
9 9 6 9 9 6 6 6 9 6 9 6 6

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

18. Look at the following number sequence. Cover it up and then write it
on the line.

6 7 8 3 4 5 ____________
-make sure number sequence is covered and that the student copies it
correctly

19. Repeat the following number sequence back to me:

9 7 4 5 6 2

-call out the above number sequence and have the student repeat it back
to you. You may not repeat it for the student. The student must have all
numbers repeated back correctly for it to count as a correct response.

20. Look at the shape. Cover it up and copy it on the line.

__________________________

-check that the student was able to copy the shapes in the correct order.
The shapes don’t have to be precise, but you should be able to recognize
the shape.

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com

21. Use the symbols to perform the math problems.

= +2 = -3 = +1

7 = 9 8 = 5

9 = 10 4 = 5

3 = 0 2 = 4

Scoring:

The student should get 16 or more of the answers correct. If the student
misses more than 5 of the answers, then this may be an indication of
dyscalculia and intervention should take place.

For more information and tools for discovering and treating learning
disabilities please go to

http://www.learning-aids.com

© Learning Link Technologies http://www.learning-aids.com