Trends in mathematical competency of A-level students on entry to university

A comparison of the mathematical performance of mature students and traditional students over a 10-year period

“…Many third-level institutions, in Ireland and abroad, have introduced mathematics diagnostic testing for beginning undergraduates in an attempt to identify initial weaknesses in basic mathematics skills that students may have (Tall and Razali 1993;Edwards 1995Edwards , 1996Hunt andLawson 1996, 1997;Todd 2001;Engineering Council 2002;Malcolm and McCoy 2007;Faulkner, Hannigan, and Gill 2010;Treacy and Faulkner 2015). One such institution is the University of Limerick (UL) in Ireland which introduced diagnostic testing in 1997 in an attempt to identify students who may be at risk of failing end-of-semester mathematics examinations.…”

Mathematical modelling at secondary school: the MACSI-Clongowes Wood College experience

“…In particular, students at the beginning of their university degrees find the transition from secondary school extremely challenging and are under-prepared for the kind of mathematics they will face during their third level education. Researchers have documented this phenomenon, known as the 'mathematics problem' in numerous countries, for example, in the United Kingdom [1,2,3], Australia [4], Argentina [5] or the United States [4,6]. These studies underline the progressive decline in the mathematical abilities of students and the unease of both lecturers and students at the level of mathematics in universities.…”

Trends in the mathematical competency of university entrants in Ireland by leaving certificate mathematics grade

“…Diagnostic testing has become an increasingly popular tool in third level education, both in Ireland and abroad, to help identify weaknesses in basic mathematical skills in students in mathematics courses (Tall & Razali, 1993;Edwards, 1995Edwards, , 1996Hunt & Lawson, 1996;Lawson, 1997;Todd, 2001;Engineering council, 2002;Malcolm and McCoy, 2007). Diagnostic testing has been used in the University of Limerick (UL), Ireland since 1997 to help identify students who may be 1 'at risk' of failing end of semester mathematics examinations and since then there has been a significant decline in mathematical competency (Gill, 2006).…”