Factors affecting success in solving a stand-alone geometrical problem by students aged 14 to 15

This paper investigates and considers factors which affect the success in solving a stand-alone geometrical problem by 182 students of the 7th and 8th grade of elementary school. The starting point for consideration is a geometrical task from the National Secondary School Leaving Exam in Croatia (State Matura), utilising elementary- level geometry concepts. The task was presented as a textual problem, as a textual problem with an appropriate drawing, and as a task “wearing” a context. After data processing, the key factors affecting the process of problem solving were singled out: visualisation skills, detection and connection of concepts, symbolic notations, and problem-solving culture. The obtained results are the base of suggestions for changes in the geometry teaching – learning process.