Teachers see surge in students studying higher-level maths

Maths teachers are witnessing a huge increase in the numbers of fifth-year students opting for the subject at higher level.

Following the introduction of bonus college entry points for students who passed higher-level Leaving Certificate maths this year, numbers taking the honours papers had increased to a record 22% in June compared to 16% in 2011.

There are already signs of a knock-on effect among younger students, with last week’s Junior Certificate results showing the numbers who took higher-level maths exceeded those who sat ordinary level for the first time in over a decade.