How realistically do the elementary school students approach to non-routine word problems?

The current study investigated middle grade (4 to 7th grade) students’ solutions to non-standard word problems and changes in their solutions with respect to grade level, gender, and socio-economic status. A total of 915 students were participated in the study. Data were collected through a test with 5 open ended nonstandard word problems. Data were analyzed mainly through descriptive statistics. Group differences were analyzed via ratio test. Results showed that most of the students produced nonrealistic solutions to word problems. Many students either made technical mistakes or were not able to produce any solutions. The types of answers did not change with respect to gender but socio-economic status and grade level. Students in upper grades and with a relatively high socio-economic background more frequently gave realistic answers to problems