Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (MPA) Among Secondary School Students

ABSTRACT The education system always aims to strengthen the learners' problem-solving ability, in which the learners are shaped to think systematically and critically to create knowledge and to use information, where the learners' Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (MPA) is essential. National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes increasing the learners’ problem-solving ability as the fundamental principle. Hence, the present study intends to develop a scale to evaluate the learners’ Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (MPA) using Polya’s principles. Also, the study measured the relationship between Polya’s principles and the learners' mathematics problem-solving ability (MPA). The study conducted a mathematics performance test of 68 students of the 8th class from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), India. The reliability of the scale was found to be 0.80. The subject ensured content and construct validity. Findings of the total scale found a significant relationship between the learners’ Understanding of the mathematics problem and Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (r=.73, N=68, p=.00). A significant relationship between the learners’ Planning ability and the learners’ Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (r=.82, N=68, p=.00). A significant relationship between the learners’ Carryout ability and Mathematics Problem-Solving Ability (r=.89, N=68, p=.00). A significant relationship between the learners’ lookback ability and Mathematics problem-solving ability (r=.73, N=68, p=.00).