An enquiry into adverse attitudes towards advanced level mathematics

Abstract

Investigations into subject choice among upper sixth form pupils had revealed the not uncommon existence of adverse attitudes towards the advanced level mathematics course. A survey was undertaken to investigate this situation and to examine attitude and performance in a sample which was virtually the entire entry of a county and metropolitan area. Earlier findings were confirmed and some tentative explanations offered. There is strong evidence that in mathematics .there exists too marked a change between ordinary and advanced level courses, and that the weaker pupils are not alone in being adversely affected. There is also evidence that mathematics benefits from a close relationship to the subjects studied with it, and it is suggested that mathematics candidates who take arts or social science subjects would benefit from the wider adoption of the mathematics with statistics option.