Abstract: A general survey test, containing 6 groups with a total of 36 arithmetical problems, were administered to three thousands children of grades Ⅳ, Ⅴ and Ⅵ with the purpose of studying the structure of verbal arithmetical problems and its bearing on the nature and causes of the difficulty encountered by the children. The results of this test were then corroborated with individual tests employed under the supervision of the experimenter.By analysing the results and the kinds of mistakes made by the children, in corroboration with data obtained from interviews, conclusions were drawn concerning: (1)the components of the verbal problems; (2) psychological factors affecting the nature and causes of difficulty in solving the problems; and (3) differences among the different grade levels.

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