Some first-year students have serious deficits in math

According to a study, first-year students in Saxony have "sometimes serious deficits" in some areas of mathematics. Deficits were found in the correct handling of powers and fractions as well as in simple algebraic term transformations, as Prof. Max von Renesse from the Institute of Mathematics at Leipzig University announced on Tuesday. "What is remarkable in this segment is the significantly better performance of the participants with school-leaving qualifications from abroad."

Around 2100 first-semester students of economics, mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (WiMINT) from eight Saxon universities took part in the study. Knowledge of core school mathematics skills was assessed in writing using test items in line with the current middle and upper school curricula.

Von Renesse is spokesperson for the working group on school mathematics at Saxon universities, which carried out the new state-wide learning level survey last October and whose results have now been published.