Reply to Old VMPI plans & FCPS’s E3 Math Pilot

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP the US has fallen in the world educational rankings and like it or not the world now operates on a global scale.  I suggest that math majors and engineers take a shot a UK A levels in math, samples available here - https://revisionmaths.com/level-maths/level-maths-past-papers .  You are the products of American math programs.  These are exams given to 17 & 18 year-olds to help determine which universities they will attend.

The US is currently ranked 24th in the world in math.  How much farther do we have to fall.  [/quote]

What percent of UK students pass the math A levels with a high enough score to study in fields requiring them? And do you think that there would not be a similar percentage out of the US that would pass them?

Not every child in the UK takes A levels and not every child who takes A levels takes the math A level. We end up comparing test scores and results out of a US system that does not have tracked programs to programs in Europe and Asia were there is tracking. Students have to test into high schools in many Asian countries. I don’t end up buying that the US is 24th in math because I don’t think that they are comparing similar kids across the board and the US system doesn’t highlight our standouts the way the European and Asian systems do. [/quote]

This. This is what I don't understand about the rankings. We're pushing *all* public school students to take Calculus in 12th grade? Or at least pre-Calculus in 11th? There are scores upon scores of kids in the UK who stop taking maths completely at 16. In fact, only 28% of students in the UK take the maths A-level which means that 72% of students stop taking math at 16. It feels impossible to compare with the US system.[/quote]

No one is saying everyone should take Calculus in 12th grade, but for those students who want to pursue STEM careers or work in finance or economics need a strong math background to successfully compete at top colleges in the US and abroad. So, for those students, the ability to take math classes beyond Calculus is valuable.  If that needs to be through dual enrollment that is fine. But let those options exist.[/quote]

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