👉 Adverse math refers to the phenomenon where students who are already struggling with math concepts or have lower math proficiency tend to perform worse on standardized math tests compared to their peers who are more mathematically proficient. This discrepancy can be attributed to several factors, including test anxiety, lack of prior knowledge, and insufficient practice. When students are already at a disadvantage, the pressure to perform well on these high-stakes tests can exacerbate their difficulties, leading to lower scores that do not accurately reflect their true understanding of math. This can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the poor performance reinforces negative perceptions and further hinders their mathematical development.
