In this study, the Turkish students' understanding level of electric circuits consisting of two bulbs and one battery was investigated by using open-ended questions. Two-hundred fifty students, whose ages range from 11 to 22, were chosen from five different groups at primary, secondary and university levels in Trabzon in Turkey. In analyzing students' drawings and explanations, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were exploited. The unipolar model (Model A), the clashing currents model (Model B), the current consumed model (Model C) and the scientist model with current conserved (Model D) determined from the related literature were used to categorize the students' answers. The results showed that the Turkish students have many misconceptions about electric circuits. Also, it is found out that especially Model A was widespread accepted among the students in group 1 (5th grade) and half of the students in group 3 (9th grade) has an understanding of electric circuits as it is in Model C.
Improving students' conceptual understanding depends on the question types asked in exams by the teachers. In the related literature, in order to analyse the cognitive levels of the questions, Bloom's Taxonomy has been mostly used. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the chemistry questions asked in exams at different schools in two cities in Turkey in terms of the levels of cognitive domain of Bloom's Taxonomy. The study was carried out in three types of high schools (student age: 14-17): 'Ordinary', 'Anatolian', and 'Vocational', from the cities of Trabzon and Amasya, with 17 chemistry teachers in 2000-01. 403 questions set in school examinations were analysed. It was found that 96% of the questions were of the lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS) type. Statistical tests showed that the question types were related to school type. On the other hand, more than half of the questions asked in the university entrance examination (OSS) were of the higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) type. This contradiction causes a problem between the assessment at high school and that at the OSS. Recommendations for overcoming this problem are made. [Chem. Educ. Res.
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