Investigation of the challenges in understanding skill-basedquestions in eighth grade mathematics: Bitlis province sample

The purpose of this research is to determine teachers' and students' evaluations regarding difficulties in understanding eighth grade math skill-based questions. The study group of the research consisted of 30 secondary school mathematics teachers working in different schools and 205 eighth grade students in different schools in Bitlis province in the 2020-2021 academic year. The research is a qualitative and quantitative research and a phenomenological design was used in this research. In the research, there were interview forms and questionnaires structured by the researcher, taking into account the expert opinions, as data collection tools. The data obtained in the interview form for the teachers were evaluated with the content analysis method. The findings were reached by using the descriptive analysis method in the survey studies conducted for teachers and students. During the analysis of the data, frequency and percentage values and chi-square test were used. According to the findings obtained from the research, the teachers stated that the students had difficulties in understanding and interpreting the mathematical skill-based questions. In the study conducted with students, it was observed that students had difficulties in solving skill-based questions. Teachers stated that the mathematics textbook of the Ministry of National Education was insufficient in teaching skill-based questions. According to the findings obtained in the study, it was found that the mathematics curriculum achievements and LGS mathematics skill-based questions were not compatible. In the study, it was observed that the mathematical skill-based questions taught in the distance education process were not as effective as the teaching in face-to-face education and that the students did not have sufficient readiness to solve the skill-based questions. Most of the teachers stated that the questions didn't have distinctiveness due to the high level of difficulty and this increased the level of anxiety of students. Important factors that would increase the success of students such as reading habits and regular study were investigated. In addition, studies on sample question solving and the need for additional resources have been carried out on students, and some findings have been reached as a result of this study.