Students’ mathematical competences and exam results

Abstract

In the paper we focus on the most common logical errors in the mathematical thinking of students at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Error analysis was based on student tests. The tasks in the tests were focused on the use of basic issues related to functions taught at the Faculty of Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA). The main hypothesis was that students ́ results are better at final exams than at mid-term tests taken during the term. In formulating the main research hypothesis, we relied on the theoretical knowledge of the issue and the experience based on our own teaching. Pedagogical experiment was conducted in two groups. We compared the results of mid-term tests taken during the term with final exams in certain subjects to see whether the differences between study outcomes of students were significant.