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Table 1 Examples of students’ reasons for choosing or rejecting mathematics

From: Students’ reasons for STEM choices and the relationship of mathematics choice to university admission

Reason categories

Advanced mathematics

Basic mathematics

Choosing

Rejecting

Choosing

Rejecting

Usefulness: Useful for future studies, career, life

It is necessary for entering my preferred future study place. Also, I think in the future it is needed

Advanced mathematics is not useful for me and I will not need it in the future

In basic mathematics there is enough information for me. I’ll get good grades in basic mathematics course, so it keeps my study motivation high

I wanted to enter a good profession by sc. easy way

Advice: Peer, family, friend, teacher advice

Some friends recommended it and said it is not that difficult. And it is not

My student counselor recommended me to take the basic mathematics due to my previous grades

[no responses]

My relatives recommended me to take the advanced mathematics courses

Enjoyment, Interest: Enjoys/doesn’t enjoy

It appeared like a challenge worth of taking. I find mathematics also a rewarding subject

I did not find mathematics interesting, and I did not feel studying it comfortable or necessary

During the first course I felt that things were very difficult, and it is not worth trying to even start the advanced mathematics

Because I felt that basic mathematics might be too easy, and I want to challenge myself and take the advanced mathematics courses

Logistics: Fits better with students’ study plan or timetable

I did not want to take advanced English test, so I chose advanced mathematics

I don’t have the strength to take 14 courses of a subject that I did not find interesting. I’d rather take basic math, which gives me good grades and learning is much nicer

It suited my needs better and gives me more time to better study those subjects I am interested in

I wanted to try the advanced courses first; it is possible to switch back to basic math courses if I want

Self-efficacy, Ability, Competence

I think I am rather good in mathematics, and I wanted to learn more

Because I am not good in mathematics, I would have not made it in the advanced mathematics courses

The advanced mathematics would have been too challenging and stressful for me

I am good in mathematics, and short mathematics seemed to be easy

Teaching: Methods, style, teacher likeable or dislikeable

In our school the teacher of advanced mathematics is better than the teacher of basic mathematics

The first course seemed difficult, because the topics were not explained properly

I didn’t like the flipped class method in the advanced mathematics

I don’t like the basic math teacher and I wanted to challenge myself in the advanced mathematics