Up to 12,900 students are intending to sit the higher-level maths paper in this year’s Leaving Cert, a 24pc increase on last year. That’s according to data that has been released by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
In 2011, 8,235 students sat higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert, while in 2010 the figure was 8,390. SEC figures point to how 10,435 students had initially intended to sit last year’s higher-level maths paper.
The rise in students planning to take higher-level maths paper coincides with the introduction of a new bonus scheme this year.
From 2012, the higher education institutions are introducing a bonus scheme for higher-level Leaving Cert maths. It means that any student who gets a D3 or more in their higher-level maths paper will get an extra 25 points.
According to the CAO, all higher education institutions participating in the central applications service will adopt the bonus points scheme with the exception of NCAD, which uses portfolio scores for selection and does not use the common points scale.
