That's exactly the point. They don't want kids to rely on using the same shapes to add, they have to be able to critically think and realize the question is using 2 ways to represent numbers. I really don't understand how so many people here are having trouble with this.

The question didn't ask "how many objects are on the table?" It had very vague "part I know" and "whole" labels.

> critical thinking >1st graders > using shapes as numbers I'm not sure why this is so difficult for you, but let's just leave it at "this is a really easy question that is apparently difficult for teenagers" and move on with our lives. I didn't write the damn test, so I don't understand all the heat I'm getting from this thread.

Teenagers aren't the only ones having trouble understanding it, plenty of adults are having trouble with it too. In fact, it's been covered in various articles: [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/31/a-ridiculous-common-core-test-for-first-graders/]like this,[/url] [url=http://dailycaller.com/2013/11/04/would-your-first-grader-pass-this-weird-common-core-math-test/]this[/url], [url=http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-assessments/new-york-principal-speaks-out-on-ridiculous-common-core-test-for-1st-graders/]this[/url], and [url=http://slashdot.org/story/13/11/02/1540249/a-math-test-thats-rotten-to-the-common-core]this[/url].