Using ChatGPT 3.5 to Reformulate Word Problems for State Exam in Mathematics

Piret Luik, Carmen Keivabu, Kerli Orav-Puurand

2025

Abstract

Although there are already studies on the use of large language models in education, the possibilities and potential of this are still not clear. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to find out whether ChatGPT is an effective tool for teachers in simplifying mathematical word problems, thereby improving students’ learning outcomes. The study was conducted with 26 students who solved four state exam textual problems that were worded more clearly for the students, and then the students solved these reformulated problems a week later. Besides the tests a questionnaire of yes-no questions was used to obtain students ratings on the tasks. All the tasks were assessed according to the criteria of the assessment manuals of the state exam in mathematics The main results of the study showed that the students had overall better results with the task tests reformulated using ChatGPT compared to the state exam tasks. Based on the ratings, the students found some tasks to be clearer in the state exam tasks, while other tasks were more understandable to them in the versions reformulated by ChatGPT. In conclusion, ChatGPT has the potential to support mathematics teaching, but its effective use requires careful wording of tasks.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Luik P., Keivabu C. and Orav-Puurand K. (2025). Using ChatGPT 3.5 to Reformulate Word Problems for State Exam in Mathematics. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: CSEDU; ISBN 978-989-758-746-7, SciTePress, pages 180-190. DOI: 10.5220/0013152200003932

in Bibtex Style

@conference{csedu25,
author={Piret Luik and Carmen Keivabu and Kerli Orav-Puurand},
title={Using ChatGPT 3.5 to Reformulate Word Problems for State Exam in Mathematics},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: CSEDU},
year={2025},
pages={180-190},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013152200003932},
isbn={978-989-758-746-7},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: CSEDU
TI - Using ChatGPT 3.5 to Reformulate Word Problems for State Exam in Mathematics
SN - 978-989-758-746-7
AU - Luik P.
AU - Keivabu C.
AU - Orav-Puurand K.
PY - 2025
SP - 180
EP - 190
DO - 10.5220/0013152200003932
PB - SciTePress