Maths fails on the rise but science improves

RISING failure rates in maths are offset by improved grades in science, according to the analysis of the results of more than 56,000 Junior Certificate exams out today.

Following concerns about worsening results in Leaving Certificate maths, educators and employers are likely to be unimpressed with grades in the subject for younger students.

Almost 47% of the 55,290 students who took a maths exam sat the ordinary level papers and 7.4% could not achieve a D grade or higher, up slightly on last year but the figure has risen each year since 2007 when there was a failure rate of 6.6%.