PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS OF STUDENTS ENTERING UNIVERSITY IN IRELAND: HAS CURRICULUM REFORM CONTRIBUTED TO A DECLINE IN STANDARDS?

A series of studies published by staff and recent postgraduates of the University of Limerick show that standards in basic mathematics among university entrants enrolling in degree programmes in science and technology have declined in recent years, as measured by a 40-item Diagnostic test. The studies point to the introduction of Project Maths (the revised mathematics syllabus and associated teaching methods implemented in all post-primary schools from 2010 onwards) and the availability of bonus points for university entry to students taking mathematics at Higher level in the Leaving Certificate since 2012 as key contributing factors. This paper re-examines published data on the performance of First-year undergraduates on the 40-item test and concludes that, while standards on the test have dropped over a number of years, there is difficulty in attributing this to Project Maths. Instead, it is argued that reported performance patterns are most likely to have arisen from a changing mathematical profile among students entering science and technology programmes at UL, and, most recently, from a time-limited realignment of grades arising from the introduction of bonus points.