Analysis of university pre-baccalaureate students' academic preparation and mathematical skills.

摘要

According to statistics provided by the California State University Public Affairs Office, approximately 1/3 of incoming freshman need remediation in mathematics. However, there is little information available on which specific mathematical skills they lack. The CSU Entry Level Mathematics Test does not allow for disaggregation of scores by topic, so it is of limited use in studying students' pre-existing skills. However, the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project Second Year Algebra Readiness Test is well correlated with the ELM, and can provide information regarding student deficiencies.;This study administered a student survey on prior preparation in mathematics and the MDTP to students enrolled in a required remedial mathematics course. The results were analyzed for patterns among the incorrect answers, and the correlation between students' preparation and test results was studied. Results indicate that students can access only a small subset of the mathematical skills required for success in postsecondary courses.