Aged 15 1/2 and leaving school, went to the local Rootes agency (that was Commer, Dodge and Karrier for you young lad’s! 
) for a commercial vehicle mechanics apprenticeship. Manager sits me down and presents me with an hours test on algebra and triganometary (spelling!) ! 
I was hopeless at maths anyway, after an hour I had hardly touched it so he gave me another hour, useless, goodbye lad. Went to the BMC dealership close by and got taken on with no problems, spent eight years there. 
Pete.