Reflections on a linear algebra reading comprehension exercise arising from macroeconomics

Abstract We reflect on a reading comprehension exercise given in a linear algebra course to joint honours students enrolled in their first year on an Applied Mathematics with Economics undergraduate degree programme. The exercise first required students to read a proof of a Hawkins–Simon condition, which contained some intended minor mistakes. Students were then required to identify and fix the mistakes; apply the theorem to guarantee the existence of a solution to a simple instance of such a system; and explain how they could use the theorem in more generality. Consequently, we highlight how reading comprehension exercises can be used to evidence students’ attainment of attributes they should typically have obtained via their undergraduate degree studies.