Of course maths at 16 is getting easier! The one from the 50s took a few minutes to write out all the steps to a solution but the recent one about finding the volume of a hemisphere could be done in one's head. Maths exams are getting easier and top universities understandably want their own tests!

Philip L. J. Barton, Exeter, Devon

When is the government going to stop its disgraceful complacency? The exams are easy. They don't fool anyone any more.

Oliver Chettle, Bedford,

Maths is important because it is all about understanding and solving problems. Those taught about numbers in a fun way as a young child, find maths easy later in life.

Those that don't stimulate their brain neurons early in life struggle later, so exams have to be dumbed down or most would fail.

Sam Redman, London, UK

What gets rewarded gets done.

Knowledge of mathematics or science are not rewarded as much as knowledge of sales or law.

The English speaking world pays major attention to the Oscars, BAFTAs, cup finals, but largely ignores the Nobel Prizes and whatever prizes there are for engineering.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

Some autistic people are good at maths. True. Therefore all people who are good at maths are autistic. False. A basic error of logic which could be avoided if maths (which is not just arithmetic, another common misconception) were better taught in this country.

Martin, Newmarket, Suffolk

I did my one of my AS maths papers yesterday and im taking up further maths next year as well.I used to hate maths and adopt a can't do approach, then my teacher would embarass me asking me loads of questions in class that i couldn't answer so i stepped up to the challenge.
How things soon changed!

Phoebe, Manchester,

I passed with a C five years ago, having taken the Higher paper because i was in the highest set for Maths all through secondary school. I struggled massively, and only passed for that higher paper- as you can't be awarded a D. Even now i couldn't tell you my times tables...

Rebecca, Crewe,

Speaking as one who took a GCSE maths paper last summer, may I point out that to gain a 'C' grade at GCSE maths, you need to score 50% (at least on a Higher Tier GCSE paper)?

I would also like to know how Reform came to the figure of 440,000 people being put off A-level maths since 1989

Daniel Tor, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

I did Maths A level and I can't say it helped me get a job. I got a job because I can write. The only maths I do is counting my daily calorie intake! As much as I enjoy Algebra, if I had any spare time (which I don't) I'd do it. I'm not saying it's not important, but everything is a drama these days

Seetal Udeshi, London, UK, UK

There seems to be a common confusion between "mathematics" and "sums". Real mathematics is based on calculus: anything less is just sums. People who talk about "doing the maths" are usually rather over-stating their ability.

Alan, Amersham,

How do you support the quote 'about 440,00 people have been put off taking A-level maths since 1989'? Seems like a quite a statement.

A bit like saying 440,00 people have been put off reading this comment since 1 o'clock- doesn't seem overly likely..does it?

NM, London,

To be good at maths, you have to be Autistic/Asperger's. It's pointless trying to force 'normal' people to learn maths at any level above the very basic because they just don't have the brain wiring for that.

In this country, they do not support people with Autism - they abandon or bully them.

Roza, Birmingham, UK

Steady reduction in standards over 50 years? Definitely. Don't forget that the candidates in the 1970 and 2000 GCEs would have been given a formula sheet in the exam. Those sitting in earlier years had to memorise all the formulae. In 2000, the candidates could use a calculator.

Leon, London,

It is getting easier, I am imnumerate and yet I find my 12-year old daughter's maths do-able. As for the Sudoko thing, teh music shop near me sells books of Suduko based on musical notation. All good logical training.

Sue R, London, England

I achieved a maths degree at the highest level, and after eight years of training off and on, in maths and computing, it never did me any good financially.

Too many brag in inability to do maths, children will see their success and adopt them as role models.

Stephen John Davis, Burton-on-Trent, england

I have recently started tutoring maths at GCSE level and set two of my pupils a question similar to the June 2000 one printed today. I was astounded that neither could attempt it as they had no idea what a hemisphere was!

Janet Cox, Lichfield,

With a BBC presenter who knows little about maths earning a chunk of money and a GCSE loser guaranteed with minimum wage and incomes, who cares about maths and scinece?

Jason, Oxford,

Being a retired Maths teacher I agree completely that standards have gone down a lot. It was always depressing to face a new class of 13 year olds and find they could not do the simplest calculations. My son who has a Master's in Maths/Physics has been unable to find a job in 12 months of trying.

Colm Hand, Frome, Somerset

Could it be that students are choosing easier subjects to get them self into university. University appears to many as a party and so just try get there for the fun, they never see the education side. Look at the number of university drop outs every year, especially in science/maths based subjects.

Chris, Soton, UK

If you are looking to encourage maths, why not split the subject into "Numeracy" and "Mathematics". Students who want to become a nurse (say) can ignore the side of mathematics that will not benefit their career. Those who choose say engineering will take the mathematics side of the subject?

Steve, Sheffield, England

When i did my maths A Level we used to dread being given past papers from the '60s to do, as they were clearly much harder than the modern papers. That was over a decade ago so I wonder what they're like now...

Chris Allen, London, UK

Our dumbed down egalitarian state school system focuses on quantity, not quality. It's better to produce a million D's in soft subjects than it is to achieve a half million A's in hard ones. At least then we will be able to compete with Polish plumbers, if not Chinese and Indian mathematicians.

Alan Gooch, Honiton,

DO NOT publish articles about show-business or football wanabee's - the umpteenth useless singer croaking further nonsense to pollute our ears.

Keep plugging the message about the sexiness and prestige of engineering, science and mathematics.

France does and its Grande Ecoles are world class.

Peter Athey, Paris,

I've taught A Level Maths for 25 years. I don't care what any Government minister says about standards I can tell you the amount of knowledge of mathamatical techniques and ability to reason that is required to pass Maths A level today is about 50% of what would have been required 25 years ago.

Charles , Croydon,

Education like everything else has been 'dumbed down' in this country, which is not surprising when you have a nanny micro managing government running the show.
The voluntary 'do it if you want to' attitude sucks!

SRB, Abergele, UK

Well, there is the problem, right there:

"Standards are carefully monitored by a watchdog"

Surely standards should be monitored by humans? As ever, the Government fails to understand education, seeing it as something to be measured rather than something to be achieved.

Kidd Garrett, Bristol, UK

The worst part is, those who are doing well in Maths are unable to apply the formulas to practical subjects.

David, London,

The answer to this problem lies in internet social networks. The Nerdfighter movement on YouTube affirms intelligence in all things including maths and computing and gives teenagers a chance to seek social validation somewhere other than school. Surely this is just what we need?

Zoya, Cambridge,

getting everyone 'into' university is a well recognised function of social engineering (control). Without the 'university' function, there would be mass unemployment and youth anarchy.
I feel desperately sorry for teachers, they have an impossible job; they have become 'admin/policing' servants.

Andre Tooth, Rippon, Yorkshire

Is maths really that important? I didn't get a good job because of maths - I got it because of one of the 5 languages I speak: English. And because I am good in programming. Today, I don't need algebra, probability calculations etc. ... just the odd calculation on my VAT return.

Markus, London, UK

I am an accounting technician and standards of pay for such a position and similar in my region are fairly poor.

I shall be steering my children into the world of local government instead. Money for old rope.

Louise Hardy, Mirfield, England

The standard of maths in schools has gone down in this country. It is an outright lie for the Schools Minister to say that A-levels and GCSEs are rigorous examinations. In 2006 the A-level maths content was reduced by quarter, and every module can be re-sat numerous times.

Emma, London,

Teenagers are special.
They are also lazy.
They ride in cars - do they wash them?
Many withdraw to their own room, TV, computer - do they help with housework?
At school they choose easy subjects - maths and science are hard.
They hide behind a mask of cool.
Change the culture starting at home

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

My impression is the government simply makes everything easier for the students so that more people could get into the universities. This is certainly a bad move consider the quality of education is dropping like mad! I would not solely rely on the education system which is in such a poor state.

sm, edinburgh, UK

AH's comment on Sudoku misses the point. It is not the symbols that matter - it is exploring the relationship between them that makes it like maths. As a mathematician I think Killer Sudoku is an excellent training ground for someone to develop logical thinking skills.

Richard, Gerrards Cross, England

Surely the financial crisis is a result of mathematicians. The crisis is a result of too much not too little maths.

Eddie Reader, birmingham, england

I passed maths in 2007 after 28 yrs. So if one is determined enough, one will do it.

ian payne, walsall,

In developing countries the populace strive to get a good education. They want to get on.

In this country we despise the hard subjects like maths and engineering. The world owes us a living as we enjoy our priveledged position.

Wullie, luss, scotland

It's not the teaching, it's cultural. Children are more socially aware than they were 20 years ago. It's distinctly uncool (in the UK) to be a kid good at maths - or worse, science or computers. This is a major UK failing. Compare US, Euro, Asia where geeks are billionaires or in goverment.

CM, London, UK

Other than pattern recognition, Sudoku has nothing to do with mathematics. The digits, as easily recognized symbols, are merely a convenience. Any other set of nine symbols could be used.

Alan Hopkinson, Santa Barbara, USA

Jim Knight says: "and they tell us maths is a nationally important priority.”

What does this add to the debate?

Pupils have got to be encouraged to do the "hard" subjects, otherwise our economy will have to rely on people from overseas who have the necessary ability in mathematics to do key jobs.

Des, Edinburgh,