Mathematical problem solving skills among high achiever students

Abstract

This study aims to examine the problem solving skills among form four high achievers in a boarding school. 52 students from two classes were purposively chosen based on their mathematics achievement in mid-year examination and PT3 results. As this study was to test students’ problem solving skills with the daily life problem, the Mathematical Problem Solving Skills Test (UKPMM) was created for this purpose. The items in this test were adapted from PISA mathematics questions and consists of ten multiple answer questions and eight openended questions. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that high achiever students have problems in solving mathematics questions especially in real life context. Most of the students managed to extract important information from the questions but possess limited ability to utilize and manipulate the information to solve the problem given. The students have tendency towards finding the correct solution rather than processing the information during the thinking process. Therefore, there is a need to introduce an alternative way of teaching approach to enhance problem solving skills among high achievers.