The results of this study provided evidence that part of the errors that fifth graders commit can be corrected by using a general heuristic method to help analyze and work out word problems. Fifth-grade pupils informed about the usefulness of visualizing word problems applied the strategy without any external prompt on the posttest and increased their performance. However, this study also clearly indicated that not all of the errors were the result of a superficial problem analysis and could have been eliminated by making a drawing. Often, drawings reflected interpretational errors. In those cases, one can more appropriately assume a lack of relevant knowledge.