Problems With Engineers: Poor Maths Skills

Over the years, I have tutored a lot of engineers. Most have been at university, a few have been taking their foundation year and I have tutored two BTEC students. They all have one thing in common: a poor mathematical ability.

A lot of students lacked basic knowledge, such as the ability to handle fractions or solve linear equations and change the subject of a formula. These skills are all from GCSE maths, with the first two being from the foundation tier. I personally have found these key skills to be lacking in Physics students as well, but this is a bigger problem for those in university. As they have problems with basic math, they cannot handle the advanced math they learn as part of their university course, such as differential and integral calculus, matricies, vectors & vector calculus, complex numbers and fourier/laplace transforms. Due to this, they have a failing module pulling their average down, and worse, they have problems with other units where the maths is assumed knowledge. This can impact their degree classification, prevent them from taking placements, keep them from the MEng courses and even impact their future career.

The only solution to this: study!

If you have come from a foreign education system, you will need to study the content very carefully and seek help with anything that you have not covered in your own system. I find that many of students in engineering are from Arab countries and they lack proper knowledge of the A level syllabus. In that case, they should contact their university and find out what content they would be expected to know when starting their engineering course. They would need to learn the material and consult with a private tutor if necessary.

If you are from the UK, then you will need to be familiar with all of the content of GCSE maths, as well as all of core maths, C1-C4 as well as Mechanics M1. Most of this is a good foundation for university, any good university will require an A in A Level Maths. Ideally, students wanting to take engineering should also take AS/A2 Further Maths. This is not always possible and not all of the further maths course is applicable to engineers, much of it is dedicated to pure maths students. An alternative would be to get a private tutor to tutor you in relevant content, over the summer before you begin your university course. Of course, you should continue your efforts once accepted at university.

At all costs you should avoid being caught in the trap of a poor maths grade.