Investigation of the challenges of the seventh grade students encountered the solution of mathematical literacy questions

There is a need for change in the thinking skills, interests and attitudes of individuals according to the requirements of the age. In the 21st century, PISA revealed the fact that mathematics literate individuals in our country could not be raised. For this purpose, in order to determine why the mathematics literacy of individuals is low and to increase the level of mathematics literacy, research has been conducted on individuals. The aim of this study is to determine the difficulties faced by students at three different levels in the process of solving mathematics literacy questions and what clues students need to overcome these difficulties. In this study, semi-structured interview techniques, which is a qualitative data collection technique, was used. The sample of the study consists of 9 students in seventh grade in a public school. As a result of the Mathematical Literacy Examination which was applied to 42 students in total, three different level groups were formed as "low", "medium" and "high according to the mathematics average scores of the students in the previous semester. Three students from low, middle and high level groups who were able to answer the questions of the talker and the observer were selected and a total of 9 students were interviewed. According to the findings of the interviews, it was observed that low-level students had difficulty in understanding mathematics literacy questions and that the teacher was able to solve some mathematical literacy questions to some extent after warning about past subjects. It was found that middle level students generally understood the question but could not express it mathematically, and with the simple clues of the teacher, it was found that middle level students could solve some more mathematical literacy questions than low level students. Higher level students were found to be able to solve more mathematics literacy questions than low and middle level students. t was observed that students at three different levels in general had difficulty in understanding mathematics literacy questions since they first encountered such questions. As a result of the findings, it was observed that there was a slight change in mathematics literacy levels with low level students, re-reading and using question and answer method in order to understand the questions and making reminders about the subjects they learned in previous periods. It was found that the change in mathematical literacy levels increased significantly with the use of the question and answer method for understanding the questions, drawing attention to the information contained in the question, and giving the time required for the solution of the questions. It was observed that the mathematical literacy levels of high level students changed considerably as the researcher gave enough time for the solution of the questions and draws attention to the information in the questions in order to understand the questions.