Why Maths Tops the List as the Most Disliked School Subject (And What You Can Do About It)
Posted on Jun 24, 2025 by Elara Greenfield
If you ask a classroom of students which subject they dread the most, you'll almost always hear the same answer: maths. It's the thing kids swap horror stories about, the test that makes stomachs turn, the worksheet that has parents searching for a calculator. The dislike isn't just local—it's global. From Sydney's northern beaches to schools in London, New York, or Tokyo, maths seems to earn far more groans than cheers.
The Numbers Behind The Dislike: What the Research Says
So, is maths really the most disliked subject? Let's not just rely on personal grumbles—let's look at what the data says. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which surveys hundreds of thousands of students worldwide every three years, consistently finds that maths generates the most anxiety and the least enjoyment out of all major subjects. In 2022, 42% of Australian 15-year-olds reported feeling "helpless" when solving maths problems, compared with only 22% feeling that lost in their reading classes. A large survey by the UK’s National Numeracy charity found over a third of British adults admitted to feeling "nervous" when dealing with basic maths in daily life—more than for speaking in public or going to the dentist!
This pattern holds across other countries, too. The US National Center for Education Statistics found that at least 60% of eighth-grade students said maths was their least favorite subject. If you ask teachers, they'll confirm the trend: maths is the one where kids drop their pencils most, moan the loudest, and ask to go to the bathroom the most often. Sure, there are exceptions—future engineers, for instance, often love it. But statistically, maths is the runaway winner (or loser, depending how you view it) for most-disliked subject.
| Subject | Dislike Percentage |
|---|---|
| Maths | >55% |
| Science | 34% |
| History | 22% |
| English/Languages | 14% |
This isn’t about intelligence. Even bright students can struggle with maths phobia. Why does this one topic—seemingly neutral, just numbers and logic—trigger such strong reactions?
Where the Dislike Starts: The Roots of Maths Anxiety
Much of the maths aversion starts early and grows with time. Even in primary school, kids pick up on messages—sometimes subtle, sometimes not—that maths is hard, that mistakes are embarrassing, and that there’s only one right answer. One of the biggest culprits? How we teach it. Traditional maths classes often focus on drills and worksheets, not creativity or curiosity. Kids who make early mistakes can quickly label themselves as "bad at maths," and that label sticks. Studies from the University of Chicago show that one negative experience in early childhood with maths creates a fear response that’s hard to shake. For some, it only takes a few red crosses from a strict teacher or a tough exam to start doubting themselves.
Then there’s the issue of the "maths gene" myth. Many adults (yes, even teachers and parents!) claim they’re just not "maths people." Kids pick up on this, believing you’re either born with maths talent or you’re not. Yet research from Stanford University shows that with enough practice and the right teaching methods, anyone can improve their mathematical thinking. But old beliefs die hard. Peer pressure takes its toll too—no one wants to be the nerd who actually enjoys algebra.
It's not just about classroom culture, either. The language of maths—the formulas, symbols, and weird Greek letters—can feel like decoding an alien message. Unlike story-based subjects like English or History, maths often lacks context. Kids ask, "When will I ever use this?" and no one gives a satisfying answer. Cultural differences matter, too: in Finland and many parts of Asia, maths is presented as a puzzle to be explored, not a series of chores. Unsurprisingly, their surveys show less maths anxiety than in countries like Australia or the UK.
Knock-On Effects: What Happens When Kids Hate Maths?
If you’re thinking this is no big deal, here’s why it matters. Disliking maths doesn’t just affect students’ grades—it shapes how they feel about learning in general. When kids struggle with maths, they often start to avoid other challenging subjects. The Australian Council for Educational Research found that students with high maths anxiety are less likely to choose sciences or engineering in high school, even if their other marks are good.
This stress isn’t just in their heads, either. A study from Monash University in 2023 tracked cortisol (a stress hormone) in secondary students during assessment weeks. Students who said they "loathed" maths had nearly double the rise in cortisol before a maths test than those doing a written English essay. And it doesn’t end at graduation. Adults who remember failing maths at school often avoid financial matters, budgeting, or even helping their kids with homework. The impacts ripple through careers where logical thinking is required—even if there’s barely a number in sight.
Let’s flip it. On the rare occasion when kids fall in love with maths, they often develop more confidence in other subjects. Yet for most, the dislike snowballs into avoidance. If you think maths is just a school subject, think again: it shapes how people think about their own ability to tackle big problems and learn new things.
Schools Fight Back: What Actually Helps Kids Like Maths?
Sydney’s been trying new ways to break the maths phobia cycle. A handful of local schools, including the much-talked-about "Maths Pathways" program, have overhauled how numbers get taught. Instead of whole-class lectures and endless worksheets, teachers create "maths blocks" with puzzles, projects, and real-world scenarios. Picture students measuring plant growth in the garden or budgeting for a class excursion. And guess what? Absentee rates for maths sessions dropped. Kids went from saying "I don’t get it" to "Can I try that again?". This mirrors success stories from Singapore and Japan, where small-group discussion, hands-on tasks, and lessons linked to everyday life all help lower the dread factor.
Technology is getting in on the action too. Australian schools using adaptive learning apps (think: Mathspace or Prodigy) report better engagement scores. These apps adjust the difficulty to each student and show instant feedback—so making a mistake doesn’t feel like a personal catastrophe. According to anecdotal reports from teachers at Randwick Primary, struggling students are more willing to ask for help when apps show that everyone learns at their own pace.
- Tip: Try turning homework into a challenge instead of a chore. Who can find a maths problem in their favorite video game? Or budget a mock shopping list for dinner?
- Tip: Parents—never say you’re "not a maths person" in front of kids. Even a shrug can plant seeds of doubt.
- Tip: Teachers who use names and stories ("Imagine you’re running a zoo…") help students connect abstract concepts to their own lives.
- Tip: Praise effort and process, not just correct answers. Growth mindset isn’t just a buzzword—real praise builds lasting confidence.
The real key is replacing fear of failure with curiosity. Mistakes should be stepping stones. As a local maths coach shared, "If you’re not getting stuck, you’re not really learning."
Can the Most Disliked Subject Ever Become Fun?
Here’s a bold idea: maybe the problem isn’t maths itself, but our relationship with it. In cultures where maths gets woven into games, cooking, and even music, kids don’t automatically flinch at the sight of a number line. Take LEGO robotics clubs in Sydney—kids there don’t fret over sums, they’re trying to build the fastest robot, and maths just sneaks in as a tool. Social media corners like "Maths With Maddie" on TikTok or "Numberphile" on YouTube pull in millions of views. Suddenly, trigonometry is a party trick to find how tall your tree is.
This isn’t to say everyone will fall in love with the most disliked subject overnight. But when students get to explore, to ask "what if?", or even to argue about why the answer matters, something shifts. At my local café, a group of students once debated whether a pizza cut into five or six slices is more fair. Suddenly, fractions tasted a lot better. No fancy textbooks, just a real problem and a hungry table.
Maybe it all comes back to this: curiosity wins where fear fails. Turning maths from a wall into a playground isn’t about making everyone a mathematician, but making sure nobody walks away believing numbers aren’t for them. When maths is allowed to be messy, useful, and even a little bit silly, it might just lose its crown as the thing students love to hate. Or at least, it’ll be a fairer fight.