Elements of Difficulty Level in Mathematics* - Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing - page 81

Elements of Difficulty Level in Mathematics *

Taku Jiromaru, Tetsuo Kosaka, and Tokuro Matsuo

Abstract. It is important for each leader to know relationship of the reason why
each learner mistakes the problem of Mathematics. But, it does not exist about
previous research. Therefore, in this research, we collected answers of each learn-
er for knowing element of difficulty level in Mathematics. And we identified 10
types. 10 types are “lack of understand(problem statement, Number & Symbol,
Formula, Concept)”, “circumstances of learner (inside)”, “circumstances of learn-
er (outside)”, “Miscalculation”, “Copy miss”, “Lack of logical thinking (Deduc-
tion)” and “Lack of logical thinking (Induction)”.

Keywords: Incorrect reason, arithmetic, mathematics, classification, difficulty.

1 Introduction

In some countries, a test has a profound influence on students' life. In Japan, high-
school students who wish to go to high selection university have 3 ways to enter a
university. It is the most major way to take an original test created by each univer-
sity in addition to National Center Test for University Admissions, like Scholastic
Achievement Test in United States or baccalaureat in France. For example, 84.7%
of new students enter Yamagata University Faculty of Engineering used this way
(Yamagata 2013).
The students can take the National Center Test for University Admissions once
a year. And the students can take the original test only once a year. Can only once
test evaluate each student's ability accurately? Shojima says “Current test is