New research by AAT has found that millions of Brits can’t identify basic GCSE level maths symbols, with only 2% of the 2,000 adults surveyed able to identify all 10 of the GCSE level symbols!
Just 41% of those surveyed could identify the infinity symbol and 34% cannot name the less than sign. Perhaps more worryingly more than a quarter of teachers couldn’t identify the square root symbol.
The idea behind the AAT research is to highlight how most adults haven’t used these symbols since they left school, and maths knowledge is not indicative of success when it comes to a career in accounting or finance – there is a much broader skillset involved.
Rachel Staples, Head of Qualifications and Product Development at AAT, said, “Maths can be a polarising topic with many people believing they aren’t good at it, however, that shouldn’t be the case. While we’ve looked into the knowledge of the nation in regards to common GCSE mathematical symbols, the truth is they aren’t used as frequently in later life or indicative of overall professional success.”
