The relationship between maths and test anxiety was also significant.
Some American states, such as Texas, have recently brought in compulsory academic examinations in maths, all three sciences, English language and literature, history and geography.
He says: I ask because my experience from awarding competitive bursaries to students applying to a university was that those taking maths, physics etc bursary examinations always scored more highly than those taking social sciences.
But he called on the government to "send out a powerful signal" by extending the maths curriculum beyond GCSE examinations.
Unlike, say, A Disappearing Number, Complicité's superb 2007 examination of love and maths, Proof never manages to convey the sheer, creative joy of pure mathematics.
So is the first year of secondary school, but some children linger on to 14 or 15, unable to pass the primary leaving examination in social studies, maths, English and science.
The survey also found teacher dissatisfaction with a new accountability measure, known as progress 8, and with the reformed GCSE examinations in English and maths which will be sat for the first time next summer.
"I am very much in favour of having only one board able to set examinations in English or maths or the sciences rather than the number at the present".
The qualifications are to be set by a single exam board in English, maths, the sciences, history, geography and languages, to avoid exam boards competing to offer the easiest examinations in what has been termed a "race to the bottom".
From 2015 in subjects such as English and history, the examinations will test essay writing, while in maths and science there would be a greater focus on quantitative problem solving.
