Abstract
Mathematics retention competence is crucial for academic and professional success. However, many students struggle to develop and retain mathematical concepts and skills, which is challenging for any teacher. It is an internal ability that requires intrinsic self-motivation and determination. This study investigates the strongest determinants influencing student retention competence of Grade 7 students at Columbio National High School. The descriptive correlation design used a researcher-modified survey questionnaire and a quarterly summative researcher-made test to analyze the relationship between retention competence and internal and external determinants of sixty-five respondents from Grade 7 students under the handled two sections of the researcher through the total enumeration sampling technique. Thirty-three students came from section Gumamela, and thirty-two from section Orchid. The study evaluated the level of each determinant by calculating the mean frequency, analyzing the level of retention competence of the students through computing the mean score and standard deviation of the weekly evaluation quiz and quarterly summative test, investigating the low retention competence of the students based on the decrease of the result from the quarterly summative test compared to the result from the weekly evaluation quiz, and evaluating the internal and external determinants that influence the low retention competence of the students.
