Problem solving, errors and difficulties in the Primary School Degree

This article deals with errors and difficulties which pre-teachers encounter when solving elementary Math problems. The instruments used were: the Maths test which prospective teachers are given when they take the state exams in the Region of Madrid, an attitude questionnaire and an anxiety questionnaire. There were 142 informants, belonging all of them to the Primary School Undergraduate Programme at the University of Murcia at the beginning of the academic year 2014/2015. To a great extent, errors are due to deficient learning of facts, skills and previous concepts. Error rate is over 50% in all years and half of the students fail the oral test. Their attitude towards Mathematics is positive, there is a medium anxiety level and only half of the students answered the questions about Mathematics correctly, which leads to the conclusion that improvement programmes in the field of Mathematics must be implemented.