This paper builds on our previous research and investigates how students' fractional competence and reasoning can provide clear evidence of non-symbolic algebraic thinking and its progressive transition towards fully generalised algebraic thinking. In a large-scale study, 470 primary students completed a written paper and pencil test. This…

This paper will focus on two students who depended on diagrammatic representations in both a Fraction Screening Test and in a subsequent Structured Interview. One student attempted to use diagrams, with limited success, to identify the correct relationships, and consequently struggled to generalise her strategies as she responded to the questions…