The Effect Of Reform-Oriented And Other Mathematics Curricula On Students’ College Mathematics Placement Test Scores

Jon D. Davis, Jeffrey C. ShihThis study examined the college mathematics placement exam results of 1,277 students learning from nine secondary mathematics curricula and two Advanced Placement (AP) mathematics programs in 25 different high schools in the United States. The results suggest that students learning from several traditional mathematics programs and AP Calculus significantly outperformed students learning from the reform-oriented mathematics program, Core-Plus Mathematics Project, on algebra manipulation and calculus readiness questions. Prior mathematics achievement, course completion, and gender also significantly influenced mathematics placement scores.

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