The latest PISA survey has revealed a worrying trend among young school students, particularly in Denmark, where they are beginning to perform worse, especially in mathematics.
This decline in proficiency is a growing concern for educators and policymakers.
According to the survey, a significant number of students are struggling with basic arithmetic. The report from Pensionist highlights that 20-30% of students are unable to solve elementary math problems. This issue becomes even more pronounced when elements like fractions are involved, with the difficulty rate jumping to between 30 and 60%.
Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) has identified five examples of math problems that a large number of school students found challenging. These examples reflect the struggles students face in grasping fundamental mathematical concepts.
0.7 - 1 = ? (47% could not answer correctly in 2017)
4509 / 9 = ? (29% could not answer correctly in 2016)
801 - 499 = ? (29% could not answer correctly in 2018)
1/8 + ? = 3/4 (52% could not answer correctly in 2018)
7 x 508 = ? (36% could not answer correctly in 2023)
The correct answers to these problems are as follows:
-0.3
501
302
5/8
3556
Were you able to solve all five of them?