ONLY pupils who score a B-grade or better at GCSE should be able to take AS-level maths, a Government exam watchdog has said.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority included the idea in a "work in progress document" after last year's AS-Level results showed a third failed the exam, double the rate for any other subject.

However, it has been claimed that it would make the task of finding enough maths graduates to teach the subject in schools in England even harder in an era of chronic shortages as there will be far fewer sixth formers studying it in future.

Last year, many students and teachers complained that AS-Level maths was too hard and added considerably to the overall burdens imposed by the new system.

The QCA stressed it would be seeking the views of schools and other interested parties from September, with a view to introducing any changes in 2004.

A spokeswoman stressed it was up to teachers to decide which pupils were ready to do AS-Level maths. The National Union of Teachers said the QCA was wrong to try and limit access to AS-Level maths and said it was glad it was only guidance.