Task persistence at a difficult mathematics problem was examined among 74 junior high-school students. Minimal goal level, expectancy, and attainment value were the main independent variables. Other predictors were: the discrepancy between minimal goal level and expectancy, the certainty one holds of attaining his minimal goal, "inner-other direction" and social class membership. Expectancy related positively to persistence. Neither minimal goal level nor attainment value was predictive. Minimal goal certainty and the discrepancy scores related positively to persistence. It was impossible, however, to isolate the effect of these scores from the expectancy level since both related to expectancy and to persistence. "Inner-directed" students were more persistent than "other-directed." Social class related to persistence for boys. Neither "social desirability" nor IQ was associated with persistence. (27 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)