Matsec examiners ask themselves why boys are better in mathematics

A report suggests that males are better than females at solving “cognitively demanding” mathematical questions.

This contrasts with educational data showing females outperforming males in subjects like languages and in getting qualifications to continue a post secondary education.

The study commissioned by the MATSEC Examinations Board is based on a 2015 exam papers aimed to assess whether questions favour a particular gender. 

In 2015, male candidates outperformed female candidates in most questions in the Maths ‘O’ level examination. In nearly half of these questions, the difference was significant. 

But the report concludes that this finding has to be sustained through further research, both in Mathematics and other subjects, and at this level and other levels. 

If these were confirmed “there would be numerous questions to ask about the causes and effects of this observation”. 

One question where males significantly outperformed presented candidates with a fictitious situation in which Xandru had to estimate the time taken for two printers printing at different rates to print a certain number of copies. Candidates were expected to convert the information provided into an abstract logical representation. 

Another question where females were outperformed tested candidates’ knowledge of algebra and graphs applied to a fictitious scenario. The question presented two mobile phone plans to candidates and the needs of Oliver. They were asked to select which plan is best for Oliver, to convert a plan to an algebraic equation, plot it and determine when it is best to use which plan. 

But no significant differences were noticed in questions which relied on existing knowledge and carrying out calculations in familiar situations. 

Like most other subjects studied at this level, more female than male candidates registered for SEC Mathematics in 2015. 

The exam included four questions involving named fictitious characters. Two of these are males. The two questions involving named males were questions where a statistically significant difference in favour of male candidates was observed. However, according to the report “it might be over-simplistic to attribute the advantage given to male candidates to this simple fact”. Moreover, the equal number of male and female characters suggests no deliberate ‘bias’ in favour of males.