Abstract
Recent research on university mathematics education has emphasized the need to understand how cognitive factors and specific mathematical skills contribute to students’ mathematical performance in advanced mathematical contexts. This paper examines the predictive value of fluid intelligence (Gf), cognitive reflection (CR), mastery of logical-mathematical language, and conditional reasoning on the academic achievement of first-year mathematics undergraduates. Combining theoretical perspectives from cognitive science and mathematics education, this study analyzes the extent to which (individually and jointly) these cognitive and disciplinary variables explain differences in mathematical performance at the university level. Logistic and multiple linear regression models are used to examine the relationships existing between these variables, paying special attention to their role in predicting students’ academic outcomes. The findings reveal that both general cognitive abilities and discipline-specific abilities, such as formal language use and conditional reasoning, are significant and independent predictors of academic success in university mathematics. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the factors that shape students’ progression and performance in higher mathematics. Moreover, it highlights the complex interplay between cognitive resources and formal mathematical reasoning at the tertiary level.
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Research Article
EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 22, Issue 1, January 2026, Article No: em2757
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/17631
Publication date: 01 Jan 2026
Online publication date: 23 Dec 2025
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