The Math team has geared up for the new school year by administering its annual placement test. Designed to pinpoint areas of both expertise and struggle, the test is used to build a baseline for individual players to raise their level where they falter and hone it where they succeed.

“It’s not really a test,” team captain Tony Lu said. “It’s really just a good diagnostic or starting point for people to get back into doing problems.”

The test is a clear indicator of where issues lie and how they can be tackled, as well as how to help to solve group issues within the team, so that trends of issues can be solved faster.

“It helps us to see what people are strong at and where they’re not so strong,” Lu said “So it helps us divide our groups into ways such that everybody feels comfortable within it… And at every meeting, we might split up into those groups to make sure everyone gets the problems that they think are challenging, but not too hard.”

Selectively finding how to challenge every person continues the thought process that the Upper School Math Team has had throughout the years, maximizing the progress of each individual.

  “I think a part of the philosophy of our team is that we really want to look at every individual,” Lu said. “It’s not a very big team, but we want to make sure everyone gets as much as they possibly can out of it.”

The emphasis on individual progress within the team has left a positive culture behind, with those who understand concepts going around to help others who do not practice.

“The other leaders like me, Michael Chang, and Nathan (Liu) will go around with Dr. Feng helping people work on problems and answering questions,” Lu said. “And that way everyone’s concerns can be addressed.”

The Math Team’s diagnostic test is not solely a test of mathematical aptitude and level, but also a form of connection where leadership qualities can begin to flourish.