Factors influencing student decision on senior secondary school mathematics subjects and subsequent effect on university studies

Abstract

There are substantial and ongoing concerns in the Australian and international secondary and tertiary education sectors about students’ transition from secondary to tertiary mathematics. Declining enrolments in university mathematics and increasing failure rates in first-year are often attributed to falling participation in advanced mathematics in secondary school and less stringent university entry requirements, which have adversely affected students' mathematical preparedness for university study.