Knowledge, structure, change: the study of numbers, shapes and patterns
UK A-level entries have reached a record high with top grades rising again. Maths remains the most popular subject, while the share of A/A* grades has increased. Boys lead in top grades, with economics and other quantitative subjects gaining traction as students weigh future job prospects.
Britain’s plan to replace repeated GCSE resits with Level 1 stepping-stone qualifications is moving forward, with details due. Critics warn of two-tier paths even as Labour pushes skills-focused reform and unions voice concerns about Neet numbers.
The Japan Times reports that AI is assisting mathematicians in solving long-standing problems, including the Jacobian conjecture, while the Guardian debates AI’s impact on the field’s human elements and the purpose of mathematical inquiry. The debate centers on whether AI will accelerate discovery or threaten the value of human understanding.