CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Many believe that Mathematical proficiency nowadays is only for those who really study very hard, and for those who are “math whiz” which results to loss of interest of the students in the said subject.
As the author is a student herself, she knows that there are factors that affect the proficiency of students in learning and understanding different branches in Mathematics like the educational background, choosing internet over studying, playing computer games like DOTA(Defense of the Ancient), preferring to watch televisions, and sleeping.
But as the years go by, since all fourth year students will be experiencing the undertakings of different entrance examinations in different universities and colleges, they all need to know each student’s proficiency in Mathematics.
And due to the writer’s curiosity, she wanted to assess the ability of seniors in the different fields of Mathematics, namely, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry.

STATEMENT OF A PROBLEM
This study aims to determine the factors that affect the proficiency of St. Benedict School Of Novaliches’ seniors in Mathematics.
The main problem is stressed out by the researcher into three(3) subproblems, namely, 1.) To know if the Seniors are mathematically proficient; 2.) To know the different factors that affects the proficiency of the Seniors; and lastly, To know if the given factors really affect the proficiency of the students.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This research undertaking will benefit the following: 1.) The fourth year students who will be taking the entrance examinations for this study will give them an insight about their ability, and the results will help them improve their skill or capability to answer different Mathematical questions next time; 2.) The respondent’s parents for they will know their child or children’s capacity in the said field of subject, and through this study, they could give their child some advices about their real goals in life; 3.) The teachers for they could also be a help to the students, and they could also learn something about the study, and can become a help for them to also improve their knowledge; And lastly, for the researcher herself, for she is also a student who will take up exams and would satisfy her personal curiosity. She could also become a help to other students.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS This research was conducted to determine the factors that affect the proficiency of seniors in Mathematics in St. Benedict School of Novaliches for the school year of 2013-2014. This study includes the different branches of Mathematics, namely Elementary Algebra, which were taught when the respondents were on their first year, Intermediate Algebra, which were taught when they are on their second year, Geometry, which were taught during third year, and Trigonometry, which is being taught on the fourth year. The study also includes the outside factors affecting the student’s mathematical proficiency like watching television, playing computer games, sleeping, and many more. The study does not cover everything about the said branches of Mathematics, only some. It does not include the inside factors like personal issues of the respondents.