Research project This study aims to analyze the level of prior knowledge and the diagnostic test results for first-year students in engineering programs at Umeå University.
The study also aims to investigate the possible relationship between students' grades in high school mathematics courses and their results on the diagnostic test. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate possible gender differences and differences between students who have taken the qualifying mathematics courses in the foundation year in natural science and upper secondary school.
Since 1998, new students in engineering programs at Umeå University have written a diagnostic test to evaluate their mathematical knowledge. Previous research has shown a dramatic decline in students' performance on diagnostic tests around the turn of the millennium. However, this deterioration has stopped since the mid-00s. Furthermore, a clear link exists between students' performance on the diagnostic test and their grades in upper-secondary mathematics courses. Although there is no evidence of grade inflation, it has been shown that students with grades C, D, and E in upper secondary mathematics courses have prior knowledge that is usually insufficient to pass mathematics courses at university. This study aims to analyze the level of prior knowledge and the diagnostic test results for first-year students in engineering programs at Umeå University. The study also aims to investigate the possible relationship between students' grades in high school mathematics courses and their results on the diagnostic test. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate possible gender differences and differences between students who have taken the qualifying mathematics courses in the foundation year in natural science and upper secondary school.
