news

Matsec trends

By Marika Azzopardi

English is by far the most popular subject for secondary and higher level students who vie to get good grades in this crucial language.

In the May 2001 MATSEC examinations, a significant 5,996 candidates sat for the exam in English, making it the most popular subject by far and placing it first in order of preference, amongst 21 subjects. Next down the line is mathematics with 4,759 candidates, Maltese with 4551 candidates; religious knowledge with 4,175 candidates and English literature with 2246 candidates.

In the same month, the MATSEC Matriculation Intermediate exams included 29 subjects at examination level. The varied set of topics included engineering drawing, Russian, information technology and art. However the sitting allowed the English language to keep its first position with a distinctly reduced number of candidates totalling to 827. Second in order of preference was, philosophy with 525 candidates, followed by pure maths with 536 candidates, environmental studies with 498 candidates and Italian with 476 candidates.

At Advanced level, students with the same selection of subjects, shifted number one preference to accounts with 793 candidates. English was second in line with 617 candidates, then pure maths with 525 candidates, marketing with 475 candidates and Maltese in fifth position.