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PUPILS who ditch maths after GCSEs lose £136,000 in lifetime earnings, a report reveals today.

Nearly 440,000 pupils have given up the subject at 16 to study "softer" options — and the drop-out rate is growing.

Experts claim the shortage of maths specialists and dumbing-down of exams has cost the economy £9BILLION.

GCSE maths has become little more than a "tick box test", according to the think tank Reform.

Pupils taking the top tier paper need to score fewer than two out of ten to gain a grade C, its report found.

Academics analysed maths exams over the past 60 years and found standards slipped after the GCSE was launched.

The report claims: "By 1980 questions were becoming simpler. Pass marks were lowered throughout the period."

The shift to coursework undermined standards even more, it added.

Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove warned action is needed to stop emerging economies like India and China zooming ahead.

Lib-Dem schools spokesman David Laws said: "Our system too often fails to get the basics right, which risks damaging the economy."

Schools Minister Jim Knight said last night: "Exam standards are very carefully monitored."