Investigation of international kangaroo mathematics contest Turkey questions i̇n terms of basic mathematical skills (according to TIMSS cognitive fields)

In this research, it is aimed to examine the exam questions of the International Kangaroo Mathematics Competition, in which more than 7 million students participated in more than 80 countries, within the framework of TIMSS cognitive domain in terms of basic mathematical skills at the secondary school level for the years 2015-2022. In the study, in which qualitative research is adopted, data are collected by document analysis method. In the study, the data are analyzed using document analysis in the context of descriptive analysis. In this study, answers are sought to the questions of which TIMSS cognitive domain the Kangaroo Mathematics Contest Turkey questions consist of, how they differ according to years, grade levels and questions with 3-4-5 points. In this context, a total of 480 questions are classified in the cognitive domain of TIMSS2019 by examining their sub-dimensions in the categories of knowing, applying and reasoning, and the categories of previous TIMSS questions, and some of the questions are coded and analyzed by the researcher and a teacher, as a result of which 83.3% encoder reliability is achieved. Between 2015 and 2022, it is found that the cognitive area of knowledge at the 5th and 6th grade level is 16%, while the cognitive area of knowledge at the 7th and 8th grade level is 13%; the cognitive area of application at the 5-6 grade level is 24%, while the 7th and 8th grade level is 28%; the cognitive area of reasoning is 60% at the 5th and 6th grade level and 59% at the 7th and 8th grade level.Although there are changes in the cognitive domain according to years and classes, it has been concluded that 5-point questions generally require reasoning skills, 4-point questions are questions in reasoning and application, and 3-point questions are questions in the cognitive domains of application and knowing. It is concluded that the Kangaroo Mathematics first stage questions examined in the study included more questions to measure high-level skills. It is thought that identifying talented students will motivate students with such competitions and contribute to the realization of their potential by pushing the intellectual limits of the students.