This study investigated the relationships between math-related context variables and
students’ mathematics literacy on PISA 2012 based on multi-level SEM analyses. Student-level
variables considered in this study include students’ intrinsic and instrumental motivations in
learning math, subjective norms in math, perseverance and openness to problem solving,
self-efficacy in mathematics, participation in math-related activities, and intention to study math
or work in the field in the future, after controlling for parents' socio-economic status.
School-level variables include math-teacher-to-student ratio, students' aggregated perceptions
about teaching behaviors of math teachers, and principals’ perceptions about the overall level
of morale and enthusiasm of teachers. The results of this study show that self-efficacy in
mathematics and problem-solving dispositions were the two most influential factors in
explaining math performance. At the student level, students possessing higher instrumental
motivation in math, with more favorable subjective norms with respect to math study, tended
to participate more actively in math-related activities and to have long-term plans for exploring
math-related careers in the future, and finally to have higher performance in math. Intrinsic
motivation in math did not have a significant direct effect on math performance, but had
significant indirect effects through participation in math-related activities and long-term plans
for exploring math-related careers in the future. At the school level, schools with a low
math-teacher-to-student ratio tended to achieve higher math performance. School-level math
performance also increased as students perceived their math teachers as being supportive,
possessing good class management skills, and facilitating students' cognitive activation. The
overall level of teacher morale and enthusiasm also positively predicted math performance.