Perception levels of the students, who have qualified for university admission, in mathematical concepts

Abstract This study aims to determine the forms of perception of the students, who have just qualified for university admission, about the mathematical concepts that they gained during elementary education and secondary education process and to determine their level of readiness about general mathematics lesson. In this regard, the sample of the study is composed of 250 first-year students who study at the Department of Science Teaching and the Department of Mathematics Teaching at Kazim Karabekir Faculty of Education, Department of Elementary Education at Ataturk University. A test, which is composed of 8 open-ended questions on the definitions and applications of the concepts, has been applied in order to collect data in the research. According to the obtained results, it is observed that the students do not have much difficulty in the definitions of the concepts whereas they have difficulty in the applications and meanings of these concepts.