Students are focussing on CAO points - not their capabilities - during the Leaving Cert cycle.
That's according to the Chairperson of the Irish Mathematics Teachers' Association, Ciaran Duffy.
The number of students sitting higher level maths for their Leaving Cert has doubled in the past decade.
It was roughly 18% in 2012 but rose to 36% last year.
Students who opt to take on the higher level maths papers secure 25 bonus points.
Duffy says "in many cases, there's no discussion around whether they are able for the maths involved, and the focus becomes primarily on the point system.
This means that people become exam-focused, as opposed to really trying to understand the maths involved.
It puts stress and strains on both teachers and students."
