The article discusses the issue of formation of learning motivation in classes with advanced study of mathematics in comparison with general education classes. In the study were used the questionnaire “Goals of Educational Achievement” by M. G. Nikitskaya, I. L. Uglanova and the method of diagnostics of the direction of educational motivation by T. D. Dubovitskaya. The sample consisted of 90 students of 7th grades. It is shown that the main motivational tendencies are similar by adolescents studying in both general education and mathematics classes. Adolescents-“mathematicians” have less negative feelings about possible failures, in addition, they are less focused on the final result when performing learning tasks.