Factors affecting UiTM Pahang students´ achievement in learning mathematics

Mathematics is a core subject that students need to learn since they first entered school life and until higher level institution, the mathematics learning still continues. For each programme offered in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), it is compulsory for all students to take the mathematics subject at least once, along their study depending on their study plan. Therefore, this research was carried out to identify the main factors that affect students´ achievement in learning mathematics. Students of July 2007 and December 2007 intake were the respondents involved in this study. From the distributed questionnaires, statistical analysis such as descriptive analysis and factor analysis were used in this study. The results revealed that there was not conspicuous difference between both session of students´ intake. From the six factors studied, the two main factors that had been determined to overcome are mathematics self-concept and students´ attitude towards mathematics. The results also showed that the effective students´ learning techniques in mathematics were to spend three to five hours on mathematics per day, always have group discussion, do a lot of mathematical problems and always consult the lecturer about the solved mathematical problems. This study can be a big contribution to academicians especially in determining the factors influence the students´ achievement in order to increase mathematics performance.