Doing Hard Math in High School Pays Off in College

August 15, 2007

Students with rigorous high school mathematics preparation perform much better in college biology, chemistry, and physics courses, according to a study by Robert H. Tai, of the University of Virginia, and Philip M. Sadler, of Harvard University. However, high school coursework in any one of the sciences generally does not predict better college performance in other scientific disciplines.

These conclusions are based on a survey of nearly 8,500 students enrolled in introductory science courses at more than 60 randomly selected, four-year colleges and universities across the United States. The students reported on their high school coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics and their subsequent performances in introductory college science courses.

Tai and Sadler subjected their data to modeling to correct for socioeconomic factors — including race, parental education level, and mean educational level of students' home communities — that may have given an advantage to some students.

While the data indicated that high school preparation in either biology, chemistry, or physics boosted college performance in the given subject, there was little correlation between the amount of high school biology, chemistry, or physics and later college performance in any of the other science subjects.

"Our findings knock out one of the primary claims of 'Physics First' advocates," Sadler said. "Taking more physics does not appear to improve students' subsequent performance in college chemistry or biology courses."

"The link between math and biology is not exactly an intuitive one, but biology has become an increasingly quantitative discipline," Sadler said. "Many high school students are now performing statistical analysis of genetic outcomes," he noted, "in addition to dissecting frogs and studying cells under a microscope."

Tai and Sadler's work was funded by the National Science Foundation's Interagency Educational Research Initiative and published in the July 27 Science.

Source: University of Virginia, July 26, 2007.