A SOLO Taxonomy-Based Analysis of the 2026 Final Mathematics 3 Examination Questions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Mathematics Teacher, District 1, Rasht, Guilan Province

2 Mathematics teacher of the upper secondary school in the 11st district of Tehran

10.48310/rme.2026.24423.1174

Abstract

The SOLO (Structure of Observed Learning Outcome) taxonomy is recognized as one of the most robust frameworks for analyzing cognitive structures in educational assessments. This study aims to analyze the cognitive levels of the Grade 12 Mathematics 3 final examination questions (Experimental Sciences branch) held in July 2026. Employing a descriptive-analytical research design, the study utilized a dual-rater approach to ensure coding reliability. Two independent raters evaluated 27 analytical sub-questions derived from 17 core items. Inter-rater agreement, assessed via Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, yielded a value of 0.94, indicating almost perfect agreement. The findings reveal that the distribution of cognitive levels is predominantly concentrated in the “multistructural” and “relational” levels; specifically, the multistructural level accounted for 44.5%, while the relational level accounted for 33.5%. Additionally, the unistructural level encompassed 22% of the questions. The absence of the “extended abstract” level suggests that the assessment design adhered strictly to the prescribed curriculum. Consequently, it is recommended that future assessments incorporate “extended abstract” items to more comprehensively evaluate higher-order thinking skills.

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