Students' choice of paper and performance in SEC Mathematics

Abstract

This dissertation deals with students' performance, participation and choice of paper in SEC Mathematics with regards to gender and type of school. The statistical reports for SEC 2007 were analysed to give a picture of the participation and performance in SEC Mathematics of the school leavers by gender and type of school. Among the findings of this analysis are that 19% of school leavers opted out of the SEC Mathematics, and that only 17% of Area Secondary school leavers got certified in SEC Mathematics. A questionnaire was developed to gather information about the reasons behind students' choice between Paper 2A, Paper 2B or opting out from SEC Mathematics. The Questionnaire was distributed to 1096 Form V students in the State and Church School sectors. Some of the findings of the resulting analysis were that more girls than boys attended private lessons in Mathematics. Choice of paper did not influence private lesson attendance and Area Secondary Students were the least who attended private lessons. Also, questionnaire results highlighted that students in Church Schools got the most support, were more informed and were the most certain about their choice. Moreover, parental occupation influenced considerably the choice of paper. Students whose parents were in the highest category were the most who opted for Paper 2A, whilst students whose parents were in the lowest category opted out of the examination the most.