Too many students are starting science and engineering degrees without studying maths at A-level, according to a report.
Around seven in 10 biology undergraduates, almost two-fifths of those taking chemistry at university and a fifth of those on engineering courses have not studied maths past GCSE level, it found.
Lord Willis of of Knaresborough, chairman of the House of Lords sub-committee which published the report, said he was “absolutely gobsmacked” by the figures.
The report suggests that the level of maths required by universities to study science-based courses is not demanding enough, and is deterring people from taking the subject at A-level. It calls for all teenagers to continue studying maths past the age of 16, and for all students who want to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) at university to study the subject to A-level standard.
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