Intuitive sense of number correlates with math scores on college-entrance examination

Many educated adults possess exact mathematical abilities in addition to an approximate, intuitive sense of number, often referred to as the Approximate Number System (ANS). Here we investigate the link between ANS precision and mathematics performance in adults by testing participants on an ANS-precision test and collecting their scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a standardized college-entrance exam in the USA. In two correlational studies, we found that ANS precision correlated with SAT-Quantitative (i.e., mathematics) scores. This relationship remained robust even when controlling for SAT-Verbal scores, suggesting a small but specific relationship between our primitive sense for number and formal mathematical abilities.

► Investigated Approximate Number System (ANS) acuity and math ability in college ► Two correlational studies using scores on a college-entrance exam (the SAT) ► ANS acuity correlates with math but not with verbal skills on college-entrance exam. ► Link between ANS acuity and math abilities continues into college-years.