Maths is
about pattern, both in its concepts and its position in society. Stereotypically,
it is a ‘boy subject’, but the days of further education being deemed
‘unsuitable’ for a woman are long – gone, so why is the debate about gender
differences in mathematics still being worked out?
If you choose
to study a mathematical science in further or higher education, be prepared to
be the only girl in the class. I didn’t get an A in statistics, but the figures
for subject choices make it pretty clear.
In June 2013,
the number of boys who sat the A-level mathematics exam was 53,435 compared to
34,625 girls, a significant gap. This division, however, is not reflected in
the exam results, where the grades tend to alternate year-on-year, with only
marginal differences.
Last year’s
A-level students were no exception. A huge 43.4% of male maths students
achieved an A grade in 2013, closely followed by 42.6% of female students. The
difference between B and C grades was a mere 1.5%, girls just slightly ahead.
