Analysing Science Questions in terms of Visual Content in Higher Education Entrance Exams in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse the science questions in terms of visual content in the higher education entrance exams in Turkey. In this context, 1714 questions in total prepared by the Center for Measurment, Selection and Placement (CMSP) between 1999 and 2019 in the fields of Physics (n=631), Chemistry (n=553) and Biology (n=530) constitute the data source of the study. This study includes case study which is one of the qualitative research patterns. The data of the study are analyzed by descriptive analysis based on the visual content of questions according to the fields of science, their years and their roles in solving questions (partial role and full role). According to the results, the science questions: i) are concentrated on greatly physics in terms of visual content compared to biology and chemistry on the basis of fields; ii) although visual content varies slightly over the years in terms of its type, the formatted drawing image is used quite a lot compared to other types; iii) formatted drawing and measurement diagrams in the field of physics in many years, formatted drawing and graphics in the field of chemistry , and flowchart and graphics in the field of biology have been largely included and iv) the role of visuals in solving the question has been partial in physics in many years, and in chemistry and biology it has been found to have a partial role in some years and in some cases it has a full role. As a result of the study, it is understood that the science questions applied to students at the entrance to university in Turkey do not show a balanced distribution in terms of visual content type on the basis of fields.