The importance of mathematics in university education

This paper investigates the relative importance of prior knowledge of mathematics that may impact on student performance in the university. Using multi-year data set covering 14,528 student, we have found that those students who have done higher level mathematics in high school have done significantly better in the university in any discipline. We have also found that prior knowledge of a higher level of English (e.g. Extension One and Extension Two) increased the overall performance (measured by Grade point Average or GPA) in university significantly.