No-calculator provincial math exam expands to Grade 9 in Alberta

Put down that calculator, teens — a new mental math component is part of the Grade 9 provincial achievement test (PAT) this year.
“The kids are all freaking out about that already,” Education Minister David Eggen told the government’s families and communities committee Wednesday.
Following Eggen’s move last year to add 15 calculator-free questions to the Grade 6 standardized test in math, Grade 9 students this year will plow through 20 numerical questions in 20