Assessment of grade10 students’ performance in mathematics: the case of jimma zone

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of grade10 students in mathematics tests and identify the major causing factors that influence students’ achievement in mathematics. A correlation research design was employed. 10 secondary schools were sampled by purposive sampling technique. 21 sections (1378 students) of 10th grade students studying in the academic year 2014/15 and 40 mathematics teachers were sampled by Systematic sampling technique in the sampled schools. The study was carried out by employing close-ended questionnaires addressing issues attributing to mathematics achievement like gender stereotype, attitude, demographic factors, instructional factors, individual factors, students’ mathematics semester average and grade letter of Ethiopian General Education Certificate Mathematics Examination (EGSECME). These variables were analyzed statistically with t-test and correlation analysis using version 20 SPSS-PC software package. The results of the study indicated that there is statistically significant differences between male and female students in mathematics achievement in EGSECME grade letter; and male students significantly performed better than female students. Moreover, the analysis of close-ended questions showed Demographic Factors, Instructional Factors, and Individual Factors are the causing factors that attribute to students’ low mathematics achievement.