One in four fails to score a C in Junior Cert

ALMOST one quarter of Junior Certificate students tailed to achieve even a single higher level C grade in last year's exam, according to a confidential new report.

A further 36 per cent of Junior Cert students obtained less than two grade Cs, and more than five per cent achieved less than five D grades a pass at any level.

The report, prepared for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), also reveals considerable differences between the performance of boys and girls, and large variations in the proportions of high grades awarded in different subjects.

The continuing sharp divergence in student performance is illustrated by the finding that in contrast to the percentage of low grades reported, more than 22 per cent of candidates obtained at least eight C grades on higher level papers. Similarly, while 37 per cent of students took at least eight subjects at higher level, almost 14 per cent took no higher level subjects.

Girls outperform boys more than ever, to judge from the report. At higher level, 42 per cent of girls obtained an A or B grade, compared with 35 per cent of boys. Girls also outscored boys at ordinary and foundation level.

This dominance extends to all major subjects, except traditional male preserves such as materials technology, metalwork and technical graphics. In some subjects, the differences are considerable. For example, in home economics, 22 per cent more girls pick up high grades. The equivalent gender margin in German is 17 per cent, in music 15 per cent, and in Irish 13 per cent.

While both sexes take the most popular subjects in fairly equal numbers, boys are still more likely to take science, and girls French and business studies. Home economics (90 per cent female), typewriting (81 per cent) and music (78 per cent) are still largely female preserves, but there is some evidence that more boys are taking these subjects.

In contrast, technical subjects remain male preserves, for example, technical graphics (9 per cent female), materials technology (8 per cent) and metalwork (6 per cent).

In most subjects, less than half of all candidates sit a higher level paper. The exceptions are geography (70 per cent at higher level), history, science and English.

There are extreme variations in the proportion of A grades awarded in different subjects, from 3 per cent in higher level geography, 6 per cent in English, home economics and business studies, to 12 per cent in science, 14 per cent in maths, 19 per cent in history and 20 per cent in Art craft and design.

A total of 68,792 students sat last year's exam, almost exactly the same as in 1994. The numbers are expected to drop over the next few years.

The report, by Dr Thomas Kelleghan and Ms Bernie Dwan of the Educational Research Centre in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, was presented to the NCCA last week.