The Influence of Mathematical Problems on High Mathematics Anxiety Students

Kai Kow Joseph YEO

National Institute of Education
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore

Published in The Mathematician Educator, 2025, Vol 6, No. 1, pp 33-46.

Abstract

Mathematics anxiety has been identified as an issue nationally and internationally. As part of a larger study on Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematical Problem Solving, this paper aims to explore high mathematics anxiety secondary two (13 to 14 old years old) students’ reasons and feelings with regard to choices of problems. Students were also asked to rank the order in which they would choose to solve three non-routine problems. The study strongly delineated the affective responses exhibited by highly anxious mathematics students when choosing to solve particular non-routine problems.

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