MATRICULATION
CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATIONS 2015
Statistical Report
MATSEC Examinations Board
University of Malta
FOREWORD
The annual statistical report on the Advanced and Intermediate Matriculation examinations held in May/June
and September offers an opportunity to consider trends in the registrations, choice of subjects and the results
obtained by students at the upper secondary level. In 2015, while the total number of candidates in the
May/June sessions was very similar to last year’s registrations, the number of candidates in the September
session increased from 1651 last year to 2810 this year. Part of this difference is explained by an increase of
15% over last year’s figure in the number of candidates who sat for the examinations for the first time in
September. Furthermore, in September 2015 there were more 17-year-old candidates than 18-year-olds, a
clear indication that the majority of candidates in this session were probably students in the first year of
upper secondary education.
The most popular subjects at Advanced level have remained the same over the years, however after many
years, English has gained the place of the most popular subject with 724 candidates, followed by Biology
(672 candidates), Pure Mathematics (549 candidates) and Maltese (518 candidates). A close look at the
registrations data shows that significantly more females than males sit for Matriculation examinations so one
expects to find more females registering for all subjects. However, when these different proportions of male
and female candidates are taken into account, significant differences emerge in only a few subjects including
English and Maltese in favour of females, and in Computing, IT, Physics and Pure Mathematics in favour of
males. Yet when one considers the overall results, there are no significant differences between males and
females in these subjects though there may be gender differences when one considers candidates who obtain
Grades A and B. Further analysis shows that some subjects are becoming less popular and new subjects, such
as Psychology, are quite popular causing displacement of students from other subjects.
The percentage of the 18-year-olds who qualify for the Matriculation Certificate each year has increased over
the years from 19.2% in 2001 to 26.5% this year. There is also a substantial gender difference in this statistic
in favour of females which seems to be decreasing gradually. In fact, over the last 12 years, an average of
12.2% more female than male 18-year-olds qualified for the certificate but this difference has decreased from
an average of 12.5% up to 2005 to 10.5% in 2015. These data along with the other general information in the
present report provide an indication of how upper secondary education is performing while the data by
subject provide more specific information which can be useful to students, tutors and parents.
Finally a word of thanks is due to Gilbert Zahra who compiled the report with the assistance of Margaret
Borg who retrieved the data, Gianluca Scicluna who inputted the data and maintained the files, and Mr
Christian Attard who checked the data. Thanks are also due to the Director, Mr Dario Pirotta, and all the
other members of staff of the MATSEC Support Unit whose commitment and sense of duty is exemplary,
the examiners who gave up much of their time to meet our demands, and the Director, Mr Raymond J.
Camilleri, and the staff of the Examinations Department on whom we rely for the smooth-running of the
examinations.
Prof Frank Ventura
Chairman, MATSEC Examinations Board
February 2015
[i]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 1
1.
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3
1.01. Background........................................................................................................................... 3
1.02. Administrative Information ................................................................................................... 4
1.03. Request for Special Arrangements ......................................................................................... 6
1.04. The Examination Centres ....................................................................................................... 6
1.05. Oral Examinations ................................................................................................................. 6
1.06. Coursework .......................................................................................................................... 8
1.07. Practical Examinations .......................................................................................................... 8
1.08. Revision of Papers ................................................................................................................. 9
1.09. Examiners’ Reports ..............................................................................................................10
2.
May 2015 Registrations..................................................................................................... 11
3.
May 2015 Results .............................................................................................................. 25
4.
September 2015 Registrations ........................................................................................... 34
5.
September 2015 Results .................................................................................................... 38
6.
General Statistics .............................................................................................................. 46
7.
Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 54
Appendix A .............................................................................................................................. 55
[ii]
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1: Grade Points Awarded per Grade ........................................................................................... 4
Table 1.2: Registrations for Matriculation Examinations 2015 ............................................................... 5
Table 1.3: Oral Examinations – Advanced Level .................................................................................... 6
Table 1.4: Oral Examinations – Intermediate Level ................................................................................ 7
Table 1.5: Examiners Used for Orals of Advanced Level Examinations ................................................ 7
Table 1.6: Examiners Used for Orals of Intermediate Level Examinations ............................................ 7
Table 1.7: Advanced Level Practical Examinations (May Session) ........................................................ 8
Table 1.8: Advanced Level Practical Examinations (September Session) .............................................. 9
Table 1.9: Intermediate Level Practical Examinations (May Session) .................................................... 9
Table 1.10: Intermediate Level Practical Examinations (September Session) ........................................ 9
Table 2.1: Total Number of Candidates Sitting for Matriculation Examinations .................................. 11
Table 2.2: Registrations in May 2015 by Year of Birth and Gender ..................................................... 11
Table 2.3: May 2015 Matriculation Examination Registrations by Subject and Gender....................... 12
Table 2.4: May 2015 Registrations by Number of Subjects, Level and Gender .................................... 19
Table 2.5: Number of Requests for Special Arrangements by Presenting Condition in 2015 ............... 19
Table 2.6: Number of Registrations by Subject by Candidates who Requested Access Arrangements
in May 2015............................................................................................................................................ 20
Table 2.7: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region and
Locality................................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 2.8: May 2015 Registration for Revision of Papers ..................................................................... 24
Table 3.1: May 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 1) ................................. 25
Table 3.2: May 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender .......................................... 28
Table 3.3: May 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers .................................................. 31
Table 3.4: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in May 2015 ................................................................ 33
Table 4.1: Total Number of Candidates Sitting for Matriculation Examinations .................................. 34
Table 4.2: Registrations in September 2015 by Year of Birth and Gender ............................................ 34
Table 4.3: September 2015 Matriculation Examination Registrations by Subject and Gender ............. 35
Table 4.4: September 2015 Intermediate Level Registrations by Number of Subjects and Gender ...... 36
Table 4.5: September 2015 Registration for Revision of Papers ........................................................... 37
Table 5.1: September 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender ..................................... 38
Table 5.2: September 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender ................................. 40
Table 5.3: September 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers ........................................ 43
Table 5.4: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in September 2015 ....................................................... 45
Table 6.1: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in 2015 (May and September) ..................................... 46
Table 6.2: Passes in Advanced Level Subjects in 2015 (May and September) ..................................... 47
Table 6.3: Passes in Intermediate Level Subjects in 2015 (May and September) ................................. 48
Table 6.4: Percentage Applications for Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level ...................... 49
Table 6.5: Percentage Upgrades from Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level ........................ 50
Table 6.6: Percentage of the 18-year-old cohort qualified for the Matriculation Certificate, by Year
of Assessment and Gender ..................................................................................................................... 52
[iii]
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1: AM Registration by Gender: Group 1 ................................................................................. 13
Figure 2.2: AM Registration by Gender: Group 2 ................................................................................. 13
Figure 2.3: AM Registration by Gender: Group 3 ................................................................................. 14
Figure 2.4: AM Registration by Gender: Group 4 ................................................................................. 14
Figure 2.5: IM Registration by Gender: Group 1 ................................................................................... 15
Figure 2.6: IM Registration by Gender: Group 2 ................................................................................... 15
Figure 2.7: IM Registration by Gender: Group 3 ................................................................................... 16
Figure 2.8: IM Registration by Gender: Group 4 ................................................................................... 16
Figure 2.9: AM Registration per Group by Gender ............................................................................... 17
Figure 2.10: IM Registration per Group by Gender ............................................................................... 18
Figure 2.11: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region............... 23
Figure 6.1: Percentage Applications for Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level ..................... 50
Figure 6.2: Percentage Upgrades from Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level ....................... 51
Figure 6.3: Number of Candidates applying for Special Access Arrangements from 2004 to 2015 ..... 52
Figure 6.5: Percentage of the 18-year-old cohort qualified for the Matriculation Certificate, by Year
of Assessment and Gender ..................................................................................................................... 53
[iv]
Executive Summary
This document reports on the Matriculation Examination of 2015. The registrations and results of all
candidates and of candidates of the 1997 cohort who turned 18 years of age in 2015 are included as
separate subgroups. This report gives an overview of the administration aspect of the examinations
and then presents the registration and results data of the examination sessions held in May-June and
September. It also presents general statistics of the May and September sessions which have taken
place between 1997 – 2015, to indicate some trends that have been developing since the
Matriculation Certificate examinations were introduced in the Maltese Islands. 2015 was the third
full session of Advanced and Intermediate Matriculation examinations after the change in regulations
which came into effect on the 1st September 2012
In total, 4,001 candidates (1,715 males and 2,286 females) registered for the examination of the May
2015 session while in September, there were 2,810 (1,185 males and 1,625 females) candidates. Of
these, 1,088 candidates (38.7%) did not sit for any examination in the May session. These consisted
of 419 males and 669 females. This was possible since the 2012 regulations establish that the
September session of examinations is a new and separate session from the May session. One can note
that while the number of May registrations has decreased along with a decreasing number of births,
September registrations have increased. In September, there were more 17-year-olds than 18-yearolds who registered for one or more examinations. A total of 5,030 candidates sat for
Matriculation Examinations in 2015.
In 2015, the largest number of registrations belonged to the 1997 cohort. These are the candidates
who turned eighteen in 2015. In total, 1,886 from the 4,835 children (39.0%) born in 1997
registered for the Matriculation examinations in May 2015. These consisted of 826 males and
1,060 females, that is, 32.4% of the 2,547 males and 46.3% of the 2,288 females born in 1997
registered for these examinations in this session. In 2015, similar to previous years, females
outnumbered males in the registrations of the Matriculation examinations.
The most popular subjects at Advanced Matriculation Level English (724 candidates) and
Maltese (518 candidates) from Group 1; Accounting (484 candidates) and Marketing (443
candidates) from Group 2; and Computing (159 candidates) and Home Economics & Human
Ecology (142 candidates) from Group 4. Registrations in Group 3 subjects are, with the exception of
Applied Mathematics, of a comparable magnitude although Biology (672 candidates) and Pure
Mathematics (549 candidates) are the two subjects with largest number of registrations. All these
subjects but Pure Mathematics and Computing are marked by a higher number of female
candidates. This is true in most subjects, with notable exceptions such as Physics, IT, History and,
although subjects with a few candidates, Engineering Drawing, Music and Graphical
Communication. In these subjects, there are more male than female candidates.
At Intermediate Matriculation Level, the popularity of English (1,355 candidates), Psychology
(919 candidates) and IT (205 candidates) is notable in their respective group. Other popular choices
include Maltese (322 candidates) from Group 1; Philosophy (402 candidates) from Group 2; Pure
Mathematics (621 candidates) and Physics (658 candidates) from Group 3; and Computing (102
candidates) from Group 4. Again, most subjects are marked by a stronger female presence.
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Executive Summary | MATSEC Support Unit
However, this is in line with the fact that more female than male candidates applied for Matriculation
examinations in 2015. In some subjects, such as Group 1 subjects, Sociology, Art, and
Environmental Science this is more visible. This is even more visible in Home Economics & Human
Ecology, and Biology where 83.3% and 79.7% of candidates are female. Considerably more male
candidates applied for subjects such as Religion, Applied Mathematics, Computing, Information
Technology, and Engineering Drawing & Graphical Communication.
The small decrease in the percentage of 18-year-olds registering for Matriculation examinations, this
was due to a decrease in the percentage of females applying for these examinations. In fact, this
year there are more subjects which have more male than female candidates than last year,
although the majority of subjects still have more female candidates. Only Group 3 subjects
studied at Advanced Matriculation and Group 4 subjects studied at Intermediate Matriculation Level
remain areas where most of the candidates are male.
At Advanced level, for the May session, when overall passes (Grades A to E) are considered, the
range of pass rates in the different subjects varied from over 90% (Graphical Communication,
Music and Russian) to less than 40% (Applied Mathematics). At Intermediate level, when overall
passes (Grades A to E) are considered, the range of pass rates in the different subjects also varied
from over 90% (Arabic, German, Home Economics & Human Ecology, Information Technology,
and Music) to less than 40% (Chemistry).
In 2015, 1,387 candidates (586 males and 801 females) obtained the Matriculation Certificate after
the May session, while 341 candidates (161 males and 180 females) did so after the September
session. This means that 1,728 candidates obtained the Matriculation Certificate in 2015. These
include 1,281 candidates (1,086 from May and 220 from September) from the 1997 cohort, meaning
that 26.5% of the children born 18 years before (21.5% of males and 32% of females) qualified for
the Matriculation Certificate in 2015. Although, from the 1997 cohort, 10.5% more females than
males were awarded the Matriculation Certificate, this difference, along with that in 2010, is the
smallest since 2004. Also, this percentage is slightly smaller than the percentage passes in the
previous two years since the change in regulations, however higher than that in the years before the
change in regulations. While the percentage pass rate of 18-year-olds averaged at 23.2%
between 2004 and 2011, it averages at 26.7% between 2013 and 2015.
The overall percentages of requests for revision of papers averaged 8.5% for subjects at Advanced
Level and 3.1% for subjects at Intermediate Level in the May session, while in the September session
they averaged 5.5% and 2.7% for Advanced and Intermediate Level respectively. Of these, 1.0%,
7.7%, 2.8%, and 11.4% respectively had their grade revised. There appears to be no obvious trend in
the percentage registrations for, or upgrades from, revision of papers along the years, however, in
2015, the percentage of upgrades through revision of papers for Intermediate Matriculation
subjects was relatively high.
MATSEC Support Unit | Executive Summary
2
1. Introduction
1.01. Background
The Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate (MATSEC) Examinations Board was set
up in 1991. It is responsible for external examinations at two levels: (a) the Matriculation
examinations which have replaced the GCE A-levels and (b) the Secondary Education
Certificate (SEC) examinations which have replaced the General Certificate of Education
Ordinary Level (GCE O-level) offered by English examination boards. The MATSEC
Examinations Board offers examinations at Advanced (AM) and Intermediate Matriculation
(IM) levels. Some candidates may sit for an examination in a single subject while other
candidates may sit for several subjects in order to qualify for the Matriculation Certificate.
The Matriculation Certificate is based on the International Baccalaureate model that maintains
that students develop into more mature individuals if their studies cover both the areas of the
Humanities and the Sciences. In the Matriculation Certificate examination, subjects are divided
into four groups and students must choose one subject from each of Groups 1, 2 and 3 and any
other two subjects. This structure ensures that candidates choose subjects from both the
Humanities and the Sciences areas. In addition, all students are obliged to sit for Systems of
Knowledge, a pass in which is obligatory in order to be awarded the certificate. In this system of
examinations, students normally study two subjects at Advanced level and another four at
Intermediate level, including Systems of Knowledge. Some students may choose to sit for a
different mix of Advanced and Intermediate examinations and this option is covered in the
regulations. Although any of the subjects offered may be chosen, there are some restrictions laid
out in the regulations for the award of the Matriculation Certificate
(http://www.um.edu.mt/matsec/regulations/legalnotices).
The Matriculation Certificate requirements are intended to provide an opportunity for all
students finishing post-secondary school education to obtain external certification for the
subjects studied at school. The Matriculation Certificate is the obligatory general entry
requirement into the University of Malta. In addition, certain Faculties have special course
requirements in terms of the subjects needed for admission and the grades that are acceptable for
further studies in particular areas. Students already in possession of the Matriculation Certificate
have the opportunity to apply for specific subjects at Advanced and Intermediate levels to fulfil
special course requirements.
The main session of the examinations is held in May-June while a second session is held in
September. The regulations of these examinations were first published in 1994, and candidates
took the examinations for the first time in 1997. These regulations were amended in 2012 to give
candidates the opportunity to qualify for the Matriculation certificate over a period of five years
but the other criteria were not changed. These criteria require candidates to obtain a pass in at
least one of the subjects offered in each of Groups 1, 2 and 3 and Systems of Knowledge and
gain at least 44 grade points. The Certificate is issued once and it is not graded. The results of the
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Introduction | MATSEC Support Unit
individual subjects are graded A to E, with Grade A being the highest grade. Grade points are
awarded as follows:
Table 1.1: Grade Points Awarded per Grade
Grade Points Awarded
Grade
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
30
10
A
24
8
B
18
6
C
12
4
D
6
2
E
In the September session, candidates are allowed to sit for one subject at Advanced level, up to a
maximum of four subjects at Intermediate level – one from each of Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 – and
Systems of Knowledge. The same restrictions apply to candidates irrespective of whether they
are re-sitting for the examinations or sitting for them for the first time in September.
The present document reports on the Matriculation examinations which took place in 2015. The
report first gives an overview of the administration aspect of the examinations and then presents
the registration data and results of the session in May and the second session in September. It
also presents general statistics of the May and September sessions which have taken place
between 1997 and 2015 to indicate the trends that have been developing since the Matriculation
Certificate system of examinations was introduced in the Maltese Islands.
1.02. Administrative Information
The following subjects were offered for examination:
Accounting
Art
Classical Studies*
Engineering Drawing**
English
Geography
Greek
Information Technology
Maltese
Philosophy
Pure Mathematics
Sociology
Theatre and Performance*
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Biology
Chemistry
Computing
Economics
Engineering Drawing/Graphical Communication*
Environmental Science*
French
German
Graphical Communication**
History
Home Economics
Italian
Latin
Marketing
Music
Physics
Psychology*
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge*
*Offered at Intermediate Level only
**Offered at Advanced Level only
MATSEC Support Unit | Introduction
4
The subjects are grouped as follows:
Arabic, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Maltese, Russian and
Spanish.
Accounting, Classical Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Marketing,
Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Knowledge and Sociology.
Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics,
and Pure Mathematics.
Art, Computing, Engineering Drawing, Engineering Drawing / Graphical
Communication, Graphical Communication, Home Economics & Human
Ecology, Information Technology, Music, and Theatre and Performance.
Systems of Knowledge
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
The timetable for the both the May and September session was issued in mid-October 2014 (a
copy is available in Appendix A). Registration for the May examinations took place between 27th
October and 7th November 2014. Late applications were received on 6th and 7th January 2015.
All applications were received at the Department of Examinations, Floriana and the
Examinations Centre, Victoria, Gozo. They were processed by the Examinations Department,
Floriana. Registration for the September session was online and took place between the 17th and
the 28th July 2015. Late applications were received between the 3rd August 2015. September
applications were received and processed by the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta.
A total of 4,001 candidates (1,715 males and 2,286 females) registered for the Matriculation
examinations of May 2015. Most candidates sat for Advanced and Intermediate Level subject in
order to qualify for the Matriculation Certificate. Other candidates sat for Advanced Level and
Intermediate Level subjects as single subjects. A total of 2,810 candidates (1,185 males and
1,625 females) sat for the Matriculation examinations of September 2015. Most candidates had
sat for one or more examinations in the May 2015 session, while 1,088 were new applicants (419
males and 669 females). Table 1.2 below shows the number of subject registrations for the
Advanced and Intermediate Matriculation examinations in May and September 2015.
Session
May
September
Table 1.2: Registrations for Matriculation Examinations 2015
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
1467
1939
1413
1812
3406
3225
587
713
908
1319
1300
2227
The written examinations took place between 24th April and 30th May 2015 for the May session
and results were sent via sms and results slips on the 13th July 2015. In this session, there were
3,981 (99.5%) of the Matriculation Examination candidates who applied to receive their results
by sms. For the September session, written examinations took place between 31st August and 5th
September 2015. Results were sent on the 25th September by post and, for the 2,699 (96.0%)
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Introduction | MATSEC Support Unit
candidates who applied for the service, by sms. For the first time, in the September 2015 session
candidates were given the option to receive results by registered mail. 2,037 (50.9%) candidates
applied for this option.
Registration for the service of a Revision of Papers took place between 17th and the 28th July
2015 at the MATSEC Building, University of Malta for the May session and on the 1st October
2015 for the September session. These were accepted at the MATSEC Support Unit, University
of Malta.
1.03. Request for Special Arrangements
Requests for Special Arrangements during MATSEC examinations were received during the
period of registration. Candidates needed to fill in a special form available from the MATSEC
website. This year, there were 74 applicants who were granted special arrangements after being
considered by the Access Disability Support Committee of the University of Malta.
1.04. The Examination Centres
In Malta, the administration of the examinations in the different centres was the responsibility of
the Examinations Department, Floriana. In Gozo, the administration of the examinations in the
different centres was the responsibility of the Examinations Centre, Victoria.
1.05. Oral Examinations
Tables 1.3 and 1.4 show the dates of the oral examinations at Advanced and Intermediate levels.
Table 1.3: Oral Examinations – Advanced Level
Subject
Dates
Arabic
17, 20, 21, 22, 23 April
English
18 March
French
11 April
German
18 April
Italian
27, 30 March
Maltese
25 April
Music
11 April
Russian
11 April
Spanish
MATSEC Support Unit | Introduction
6
Table 1.4: Oral Examinations – Intermediate Level
Subject
Dates
16 April
Arabic
9, 10, 13, 14, 15 April
English
17 April
French
16 April
German
21 April
Italian
23, 24, 25 April
Maltese
Russian
16 April
Spanish
10, 12, 16 March
Theatre & Performance Studies
Oral examinations were held at St Aloysius College, Birkirkara for the May Session and at the
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida for the September session in Malta. Gozitan candidates had
their oral examinations at the Examinations Centre, Victoria for both sessions.
Teachers were recruited for the oral examinations on the basis of the recommendation of the
Chairperson of the respective subjects. Tables 1.5 and 1.6 show the numbers of examiners
involved in the different subjects at the two levels.
Table 1.5: Examiners Used for Orals of Advanced Level Examinations
Subject
Malta
Gozo
Total
0
0
0
Arabic
22
2
24
English
4
1
5
French
2
1
3
German
6
1
7
Italian
14
2
16
Maltese
1
0
1
Russian
2
1
3
Spanish
51
8
59
Total
Table 1.6: Examiners Used for Orals of Intermediate Level Examinations
Subject
Malta
Gozo
Total
1
0
1
Arabic
15
2
17
English
10
1
11
French
2
1
3
German
7
1
8
Italian
6
1
7
Maltese
0
0
0
Russian
2
1
3
Spanish
43
7
50
Total
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Introduction | MATSEC Support Unit
1.06. Coursework
There were five subjects at Advanced Level with a coursework component in 2015. These were:
Art, Computing, Geography, Home Economics & Human Ecology and Information Technology.
Four subjects had a coursework component at Intermediate Level in May 2015. These were: Art,
Computing, Information Technology and Systems of Knowledge.
The coursework of private candidates for both Advanced and Intermediate Level subjects was to
be presented to the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta and the Examinations Centre,
Victoria, Gozo by the 13th March 2015 for the May session and by the 17th August for the
September session. The deadline to submit the coursework for Advanced Level and Intermediate
Level Art was the 4th June 2015 for the May session and the 7th September for the September
session. Candidates for both IM and AM Music were to present two copies of the composition
(if chosen) to the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta and the Examinations Centre,
Victoria, Gozo by the 29th April 2015.
Private candidates and a sample of school candidates were called for an interview in relation to
the work presented for the coursework component of the subjects under consideration.
1.07. Practical Examinations
Practical examinations at Advanced Level were held in the following subjects: Art, Biology,
Chemistry, Music, Physics and Graphical Communication (CAD). Table 1.7 shows the dates of
these examinations and the examination centres used for the May session. Table 1.8 shows the
data for the September session.
Table 1.7: Advanced Level Practical Examinations (May Session)
Subject
Dates (2015)
Examination Centres
St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
30 May
Art
Gozo Exams Centre, Victoria
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
5 June
Stella Maris College, Gżira
Biology
Gozo College Boys Secondary, Victoria
Stella Maris College, Gżira
12
June
University of Malta, Msida
Chemistry
Gozo College Boys Secondary, Victoria
24, 25 April
St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
Music
9 May
Gozo School of Music
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
2 June
Physics
Gozo College Boys Secondary, Victoria
29 January
Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, Naxxar
26 February
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
CAD
28 May
Sir M.A. Refalo, Victoria
MATSEC Support Unit | Introduction
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Table 1.8: Advanced Level Practical Examinations (September Session)
Subject
Dates (2015)
Examination Centres
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
1, 2 September
Art
Gozo Exams Centre, Victoria
28 August
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
Biology
28 August
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
Chemistry
1, 3 September
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
Music
28 August
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
Physics
Practical examination at Intermediate level were held for Art, Physical Education and Music.
Table 1.9 shows the dates and examination centres for these examinations for the May session
while Table 1.10 shows the data for the September session.
Table 1.9: Intermediate Level Practical Examinations (May Session)
Subject
Dates (2015)
Examination Centres
30 May
St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
Art
23 March
University of Malta, Msida
Physical
30 March
St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
Education
St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
12 May
Music
Gozo School of Music
Table 1.10: Intermediate Level Practical Examinations (September Session)
Subject
Dates (2015)
Examination Centres
5 September
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
Art
28 August
Marsa Sports Club, Marsa
Physical Education
G.F. Abela Junior College, Msida
3 September
Music
Gozo School of Music
1.08. Revision of Papers
Candidates who are not satisfied with the grade awarded to them in any subject may register for
the service of a Revision of Papers. Information about the registration period for this service is
posted to the candidates with their result slip. For each subject, an additional examiner is
appointed to review the papers of the candidates who ask for a Revision of Papers. A brief report
on the performance of the candidate is written in each case. This is forwarded to the candidate. A
fee of €40 per Intermediate Level subject and of €40 per Advanced Level subject is paid on
registration. This fee is refundable in cases where the examiners’ panel recommends a change in
the original grade, which can only be an upgrade. In the May 2015 session, there were 497
requests for Revision of Papers at Advanced Level and 284 at Intermediate Level. In the
September 2015 session, there were 72 requests for Revision of Papers at Advanced Level and
88 at Intermediate Level.
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Introduction | MATSEC Support Unit
1.09. Examiners’ Reports
For each subject, the Chairperson is required to write an Examiners’ Report on the performance
of the candidates in the examination. The information for this report is compiled from notes and
comments made by the subject markers involved in the process. This report provides statistical
data on the grades awarded and gives detailed feedback on the performance of the candidates.
These reports were posted on the MATSEC website after January 2015.
MATSEC Support Unit | Introduction
10
2. May 2015 Registrations
The total number of candidates who registered for the May 2015 session of examinations is
given in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: Total Number of Candidates Sitting for Matriculation Examinations
Males
Females
Total
All Candidates
1715
2286
4001
826
1060
1886
1997 Cohort
Table 2.2 presents the number of registrations for Advanced and Intermediate Level
examinations in May 2015 by year of birth and gender.
Year
Pre-1994
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Total
Table 2.2: Registrations in May 2015 by Year of Birth and Gender
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
120
295
415
40
98
138
54
51
105
36
39
75
111
137
248
91
119
210
342
388
730
292
359
651
773
999
1772
806
1033
1839
67
69
136
147
164
311
0
0
0
1
0
1
1467
1939
3406
1413
1812
3225
The largest number of registrations for both Advanced and Intermediate Level examinations,
52.0% and 57.0% respectively, belonged to the 1997 cohort. This is the cohort that turned
eighteen years of age in 2015. There were 4,835 children born in 1997 (2,547 males and 2,288
females) in the Maltese Islands1. This means that 36.6% of the 18-year-old cohort born in 1997
(30.3% of males and 43.7% of females) registered for Advanced Level examinations while
38.0% (31.6% of males and 45.1% of females) registered for Intermediate Level examinations in
2015.
Table 2.2 indicates that, in both Advanced and Intermediate Level examinations, there were
more registrations from females than males. At Advanced Level, 56.9% of registrations were
from females and 43.1% from males. At Intermediate Level, the total registrations were higher
for females (56.2%) versus 43.8% for males.
1
Data obtained from the National Statistics Office and used as the best estimate of 18-year-olds in the year covered
in the present report.
11
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 2.3 below provides information on the numbers of candidates, males and females, who
applied for the Matriculation examinations at Advanced and Intermediate levels in the different
subjects.
Table 2.3: May 2015 Matriculation Examination Registrations by Subject and Gender
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing & Graphical Comm.
Engineering Drawing
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
History
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
Advanced Level
Males
Females
197
287
4
4
0
0
23
48
241
431
211
305
116
43
93
97
6
0
222
502
21
33
24
31
5
11
9
2
66
36
15
127
46
16
63
97
148
370
212
231
8
6
46
75
0
0
300
135
381
168
50
57
0
1
49
154
7
26
-
Total
484
8
0
71
672
516
159
190
6
724
54
55
16
11
102
142
62
160
518
443
14
121
0
435
549
107
1
203
33
-
Intermediate Level
Males
Females
Total
48
28
76
44
25
69
3
7
10
6
27
33
60
241
301
5
19
24
9
11
20
78
24
102
19
32
51
60
15
75
649
706
1355
159
222
381
30
100
130
54
43
97
4
14
18
29
31
60
12
60
72
119
86
205
67
72
139
120
202
322
135
114
249
3
3
6
206
196
402
75
42
117
319
339
658
257
662
919
291
330
621
127
108
235
0
0
0
66
118
184
7
15
22
930
1122
2052
11
29
40
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
12
Figures 2.1 to 2.4 and Figures 2.5 to 2.8 that follow present the numbers of male and female
registrations per subject at Advanced (AM) and Intermediate (IM) levels respectively.
Spanish
Russian
Maltese
Subject
Latin
Italian
Males
Greek
Females
German
French
English
Arabic
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
100
200
300
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.1: AM Registration by Gender: Group 1
Sociology
Religious Knowledge
Subject
Philosophy
Males
Marketing
Females
History
Geography
Economics
Accounting
400
300
200
100
0
100
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.2: AM Registration by Gender: Group 2
13
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
200
300
Pure Mathematics
Subject
Physics
Chemistry
Males
Females
Biology
Applied Mathematics
500
400
300
200
100
0
100
200
300
400
500
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.3: AM Registration by Gender: Group 3
Music
IT
Subject
Home Economics …
Computing
Males
Females
Art
Graph. Comm.
Eng. Drawing
150
100
50
0
50
100
150
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.4: AM Registration by Gender: Group 4
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
14
Spanish
Russian
Maltese
Subject
Latin
Italian
Males
Greek
Females
German
French
English
Arabic
800
600
400
200
0
200
400
600
800
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.5: IM Registration by Gender: Group 1
Psychology
Classical Studies
Sociology
Subject
Religious Knowledge
Philosophy
Males
Marketing
Females
History
Geography
Economics
Accounting
800
600
400
200
0
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.6: IM Registration by Gender: Group 2
15
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
200
400
Environmental Science
Subject
Pure Mathematics
Physics
Males
Chemistry
Females
Biology
Applied Mathematics
400
300
200
100
0
100
200
300
400
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.7: IM Registration by Gender: Group 3
Eng. Draw. & Graph. Comm.
Theatre & Perf.
Subject
Music
IT
Males
Females
Home Economics …
Computing
Art
100
50
0
50
100
150
Number of Candidates
Figure 2.8: IM Registration by Gender: Group 4
The most popular subjects at AM level were English (724 candidates) and Maltese (518
candidates) from Group 1; Accounting (484 candidates) and Marketing (443 candidates) from
Group 2; and Computing (159 candidates) and Home Economics & Human Ecology (142
candidates) from Group 4. Registrations in Group 3 subjects are, with the exception of Applied
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
16
Mathematics, of a comparable magnitude although Biology (672 candidates) and Pure
Mathematics (549 candidates) are the two subjects with largest number of registrations.
All these subjects but Pure Mathematics and Computing are marked by a higher number of
female candidates. This is true in most subjects, with notable exceptions such as Physics, IT,
History and, although subjects with a few candidates, Engineering Drawing, Music and
Graphical Communication. In these subjects, there are more male than female candidates.
At IM level, the popularity of English (1,355 candidates), Psychology (919 candidates) and IT
(205 candidates) is notable in their respective group. Other popular choices include Maltese
(322 candidates) from Group 1; Philosophy (402 candidates) from Group 2; Pure Mathematics
(621 candidates) and Physics (658 candidates) from Group 3; and Computing (102 candidates)
from Group 4. Again, most subjects are marked by a stronger female presence. However, this is
in line with the fact that more female than male candidates applied for Matriculation
examinations in 2015. In some subjects, such as Group 1 subjects, Sociology, Art, and
Environmental Science this is more visible. This is even more visible in Home Economics &
Human Ecology, and Biology where 83.3% and 79.7% of candidates are female. Considerably
more male candidates applied for subjects such as Religion, Applied Mathematics, Computing,
Information Technology, and Engineering Drawing & Graphical Communication.
Figures 2.9 and 2.10 below present the numbers of male and female registrations per Group of
subjects at Advanced (AM) and Intermediate (IM) levels respectively.
Group 4
Subject
Group 3
Males
Group 2
Females
Group 1
1500
1000
500
0
500
Number of Registrations
Figure 2.9: AM Registration per Group by Gender
17
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
1000
1500
Group 4
Subject
Group 3
Group 2
Males
Females
Group 1
Systems of Knowledge
1500
1000
500
0
500
1000
1500
Number of Registrations
Figure 2.10: IM Registration per Group by Gender
For most group of subjects studied at AM and IM levels there are more female candidates, as
expected given that more female candidates have applied for matriculation examination in 2015.
This difference is biggest for Group 1 AM subjects where 69.1% of registrations were from
female candidates. This is, however, not the case for Group 3 subjects studied at AM and Group
4 subjects studied at IM.
Although the award of the Matriculation Certificate depends on passes in two subjects at
Advanced Level, three at Intermediate Level and Systems of Knowledge, a number of candidates
sit for more examinations than required. Table 2.4 below provides information on the numbers of
candidates, males and females, who applied for one to six subjects at Advanced Matriculation
Level and at Intermediate Level in the different subjects, including Systems of Knowledge.
Table 2.4 shows that most registrations were for two Advanced and four Intermediate Level
subjects, which included Systems of Knowledge. This indicates that most candidates were
aiming at obtaining the Matriculation Certificate in May. A significant number of candidates
registered for one Advanced Level examination only and a small number attempted three
Advanced Level examinations. Three candidates attempted four subjects at AM Level.
Similarly, a small number of candidates registered for five Intermediate Level subjects while one
male candidate registered for six.
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
18
Table 2.4: May 2015 Registrations by Number of Subjects, Level and Gender
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
Number of
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
Subjects
409
628
1037
279
417
696
1
1020
1269
2289
283
347
630
2
36
41
77
258
282
540
3
2
1
3
580
744
1324
4
0
0
0
12
22
34
5
0
0
0
1
0
1
6
This year there were 74 candidates who requested special arrangements at this level. Table 2.5
shows the presenting conditions of these candidates. It is important to point out that applications
by candidates with disability were processed by the Access - Disability Support Committee of
the University of Malta. This committee decides on appropriate arrangements to enable these
candidates to access the examinations. In general, special arrangements included extra time and
rest periods, large print, as well as special instructions to examiners of oral components,
invigilators and markers.
Table 2.5: Number of Requests for Special Arrangements by Presenting Condition in 2015
Condition
Number of Candidates
ADD/ADHD
15
Autism Spectrum Disorder
6
DCD/ Dyspraxia
3
Hearing Impairment
2
Last minute Injuries
6
Medical Condition
3
Mental Health
9
Mobility Problems
3
SpLD/ADHD
4
SpLD/Dyslexia
15
Stammer
3
Visual Impairment
5
Total
74
Table 2.6 shows the number of registrations by subject at Advanced and Intermediate levels
made by candidates who requested special arrangements.
19
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 2.6: Number of Registrations by Subject by Candidates who Requested Access
Arrangements in May 2015
Advanced
Intermediate
Subject
Level
Level
7
0
Accounting
0
3
Applied Mathematics
0
0
Arabic
4
3
Art
9
6
Biology
8
0
Chemistry
0
0
Classical Studies
4
1
Computing
4
1
Economics
0
3
Eng. Drawing & Graphical Comm.
0
0
Engineering Drawing
7
23
English
0
6
Environmental Science
2
6
French
1
5
Geography
0
0
German
0
0
Graphical Communication
0
1
History
3
1
Home Economics & Human Ecology
1
3
Information Technology
1
2
Italian
11
8
Maltese
7
7
Marketing
0
0
Music
1
8
Philosophy
0
1
Physical Education
11
11
Physics
11
8
Pure Mathematics
0
10
Psychology
2
7
Religious Knowledge
0
0
Russian
4
3
Sociology
1
0
Spanish
0
32
Systems of Knowledge
0
0
Theatre & Performance
Table 2.7 below presents the number of candidates who registered for the Matriculation
examinations from the different localities in Malta and Gozo. The data are grouped by locality as
well as by region. Figure 2.11 graphically represents the number of candidates from different
regions.
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
20
Table 2.7: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region and
Locality
Locality
Males
Females
Total
Southern Harbour
209
321
530
2
4
6
Birgu
8
5
13
Bormla
46
67
113
Fgura
1
13
14
Floriana
4
6
10
Isla
11
17
28
Kalkara
10
30
40
Luqa
10
8
18
Marsa
19
34
53
Paola
7
11
18
Santa Luċija
26
43
69
Tarxien
12
10
22
Valletta
7
9
16
Xgħajra
46
64
110
Żabbar
Northern Harbour
452
609
1061
76
105
181
Birkirkara
0
1
1
Blata l-Bajda
2
1
3
Fleur-de-Lys
8
6
14
G`Mangia
15
37
52
Gżira
14
26
40
Ħamrun
10
16
26
Ibraġġ
24
12
36
Kappara
15
33
48
Msida
39
41
80
Pembroke
11
7
18
Pieta’
47
60
107
Qormi
31
40
71
San Ġiljan
44
59
103
San Ġwann
21
34
55
Santa Venera
47
56
103
Sliema
0
1
1
St Andrews
16
20
36
Swatar
27
49
76
Swieqi
3
3
6
Ta’Xbiex
2
2
4
Ta' Ġiorni
21
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 2.7: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region and
Locality (Part 2)
Locality
South Eastern
Birżebbuġa
Għaxaq
Gudja
Kirkop
Marsascala
Marsaxlokk
Mqabba
Qrendi
Safi
Żejtun
Żurrieq
Western
Attard
Baħrija
Balzan
Dingli
Iklin
Lija
Mdina
Mtarfa
Rabat
Siġġiewi
Żebbuġ
Northern
Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq
Buġibba
Burmarrad
Għargħur
Madliena
Manikata
Mellieħa
Mġarr
Mosta
Mrieħel
Naxxar
Qawra
San Pawl il-Baħar
San Pawl tat-Tarġa
Xemxija
Males
254
40
21
12
13
39
12
17
13
6
41
40
291
71
3
19
23
21
19
0
13
30
39
53
320
3
10
2
7
10
0
29
20
112
3
77
13
26
3
5
Females
339
44
36
21
13
70
19
20
12
12
34
58
364
81
4
22
23
25
13
0
20
49
48
79
394
3
19
2
23
13
5
36
27
129
0
80
7
42
3
5
Total
593
84
57
33
26
109
31
37
25
18
75
98
655
152
7
41
46
46
32
0
33
79
87
132
714
6
29
4
30
23
5
65
47
241
3
157
20
68
6
10
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
22
Table 2.7: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region and
Locality (Part 3)
Locality
Gozo
Fontana
Għajnsielem
Għarb
Għasri
Kerċem
Marsalforn
Munxar
Nadur
Qala
San Lawrenz
Sannat
Santa Luċija
Victoria
Xagħra
Xewkija
Xlendi
Żebbuġ
1200
Males
189
8
14
9
4
10
3
9
17
9
4
10
2
37
19
19
0
15
Females
259
5
28
5
2
16
2
14
25
19
4
15
1
54
33
28
0
8
Total
448
13
42
14
6
26
5
23
42
28
8
25
3
91
52
47
0
23
1061
1000
800
600
593
530
655
714
448
400
200
0
Southern
Harbour
Northern
Harbour
South
Eastern
Western
Northern
Gozo
Figure 2.11: May 2015 Registrations of Matriculation Examinations Candidates by Region
In Malta, the largest number of registrations for the Matriculation Certificate by region came
from the Northern Harbour and Northern regions while least candidates come from Gozo and
Southern Harbour regions. Most candidates come from Mosta (241 candidates), Birkirkara (181
candidates), Naxxar (157 candidates), Attard (152 candidates), and Żebbug (132 candidates).
Most candidates from Gozo came from the locality of Victoria (91 candidates).
23
May 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 2.8 below shows the numbers of candidates who registered for a Revision of Papers after
the May 2015 results were issued.
Table 2.8: May 2015 Registration for Revision of Papers
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing & Graph. Comm.
Engineering Drawing
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
History
Home Ec. & Human Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
Total
Advanced Level
Registered
Requested
484
22
8
0
0
0
71
14
672
80
516
122
0
0
159
12
190
10
0
0
6
0
724
79
0
0
54
4
55
2
16
1
11
0
102
6
142
12
62
1
160
5
518
34
443
21
14
0
121
5
0
0
435
27
0
0
549
27
107
2
1
0
203
6
33
5
0
0
0
0
5856
497
%
4.5
0
0
19.7
11.9
23.6
0
7.5
5.3
0
0
10.9
0
7.4
3.6
6.3
0
5.9
8.5
1.6
3.1
6.6
4.7
0
4.1
0
6.2
0
4.9
1.9
0
3.0
15.2
0
0
8.5
Intermediate Level
Registered
Requested
76
1
69
5
10
0
33
1
301
4
24
1
20
0
102
1
51
1
75
0
0
0
1355
52
381
7
130
8
97
3
18
0
0
0
60
2
72
1
205
2
139
1
322
15
249
12
6
0
402
16
117
6
658
14
919
51
621
15
235
4
0
0
184
5
22
0
2052
54
40
2
9045
284
%
1.3
7.2
0
3.0
1.3
4.2
0
1.0
2.0
0
0
3.8
1.8
6.2
3.1
0
0
3.3
1.4
1.0
0.7
4.7
4.8
0
4.0
5.1
2.1
5.5
2.4
1.7
0
2.7
0
2.6
5.0
3.1
The overall percentage of requests for a Revision of Papers was higher for subjects at Advanced
level compared to the Intermediate level (8.5% and 3.1% respectively). Data relating to the
outcome of these requests are presented in the following section.
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Registrations
24
3. May 2015 Results
Table 3.1 (Parts 1 to 3) presents the Advanced Level results by gender obtained in the different
subjects for all candidates. Table 3.2 (Parts 1 to 3) presents the Intermediate Level results in the
different subjects by gender.
Table 3.1: May 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 1)
Subject
Accounting
Females
Males
Applied Mathematics
Females
Males
Art
Females
Males
Biology
Females
Males
Chemistry
Females
Males
Computing
Females
Males
Economics
Females
Males
Engineering Drawing
Females
Males
English
Females
Males
French
Females
Males
Geography
Females
Males
25
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
18
7
11
0
0
0
5
2
3
79
54
25
38
23
15
13
1
12
21
8
13
0
0
0
30
21
9
2
1
1
3
2
1
66
39
27
0
0
0
6
5
1
155
90
65
80
48
32
34
15
19
32
17
15
1
0
1
74
55
19
12
8
4
12
9
3
120
69
51
1
0
1
14
11
3
161
112
49
147
82
65
40
10
30
50
22
28
2
0
2
254
180
74
15
9
6
15
8
7
77
47
30
0
0
0
15
13
2
115
64
51
75
45
30
33
7
26
34
18
16
1
0
1
146
103
43
13
7
6
11
5
6
62
38
24
2
2
0
16
8
8
76
51
25
48
32
16
18
3
15
16
12
4
0
0
0
92
60
32
2
1
1
6
4
2
91
61
30
2
0
2
11
6
5
50
35
15
107
64
43
13
6
7
25
14
11
1
0
1
95
64
31
8
5
3
6
3
3
50
26
24
3
2
1
4
3
1
36
25
11
21
11
10
8
1
7
12
6
6
1
0
1
33
19
14
2
2
0
2
0
2
484
287
197
8
4
4
71
48
23
672
431
241
516
305
211
159
43
116
190
97
93
6
0
6
724
502
222
54
33
21
55
31
24
May 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 3.1: May 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 2)
Subject
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
German
Females
Males
Graphical Communication
Females
Males
History
Females
Males
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Females
Males
Information Technology
Females
Males
Italian
Females
Males
Maltese
Females
Males
Marketing
Females
Males
Music
Females
Males
Philosophy
Females
Males
Physics
Females
Males
1
0
1
1
0
1
5
3
2
6
6
0
5
2
3
10
4
6
17
13
4
21
15
6
1
0
1
7
5
2
24
8
16
4
2
2
2
1
1
12
2
10
20
20
0
17
3
14
18
13
5
112
86
26
57
37
20
6
2
4
20
12
8
58
14
44
3
2
1
6
1
5
34
14
20
53
47
6
22
9
13
45
25
20
177
125
52
110
61
49
2
1
1
29
18
11
126
37
89
1
1
0
1
0
1
16
4
12
24
21
3
7
2
5
27
15
12
89
63
26
66
31
35
4
3
1
14
9
5
97
31
66
4
3
1
0
0
0
10
4
6
23
22
1
1
0
1
13
8
5
66
47
19
47
25
22
1
0
1
17
11
6
65
27
38
1
1
0
1
0
1
10
0
10
13
9
4
4
0
4
29
18
11
37
21
16
81
36
45
0
0
0
17
9
8
47
13
34
2
2
0
0
0
0
15
9
6
3
2
1
6
0
6
18
14
4
20
15
5
61
26
35
0
0
0
17
11
6
18
5
13
16
11
5
11
2
9
102
36
66
142
127
15
62
16
46
160
97
63
518
370
148
443
231
212
14
6
8
121
75
46
435
135
300
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Results
26
Table 3.1: May 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 3)
Subject
Pure Mathematics
Females
Males
Religious Knowledge
Females
Males
Russian
Females
Males
Sociology
Females
Males
Spanish
Females
Males
27
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
42
13
29
11
8
3
1
1
0
11
11
0
5
4
1
105
36
69
12
5
7
0
0
0
25
20
5
3
3
0
138
36
102
28
14
14
0
0
0
49
38
11
6
4
2
29
11
18
20
8
12
0
0
0
36
25
11
11
8
3
57
19
38
11
4
7
0
0
0
27
20
7
3
2
1
137
43
94
7
2
5
0
0
0
27
18
9
4
4
0
41
10
31
18
16
2
0
0
0
28
22
6
1
1
0
549
168
381
107
57
50
1
1
0
203
154
49
33
26
7
May 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 3.2: May 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender
Subject
Accounting
Females
Males
Applied Mathematics
Females
Males
Arabic
Females
Males
Art
Females
Males
Biology
Females
Males
Chemistry
Females
Males
Classical Studies
Females
Males
Computing
Females
Males
Economics
Females
Males
Eng. Drawing & Graphical Comm.
Females
Males
English
Females
Males
Environmental Science
Females
Males
French
Females
Males
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
6
2
4
9
3
6
3
2
1
1
1
0
28
25
3
0
0
0
1
1
0
7
2
5
4
4
0
5
0
5
97
45
52
17
7
10
8
8
0
12
6
6
10
6
4
3
2
1
3
3
0
51
42
9
0
0
0
3
2
1
17
3
14
7
5
2
9
0
9
207
110
97
30
17
13
21
19
2
14
6
8
12
5
7
4
3
1
12
11
1
76
63
13
1
1
0
5
4
1
31
3
28
13
7
6
19
2
17
428
209
219
98
55
43
30
22
8
13
3
10
9
2
7
0
0
0
5
3
2
38
34
4
3
2
1
1
1
0
23
7
16
6
3
3
15
3
12
292
153
139
104
65
39
35
27
8
11
4
7
14
7
7
0
0
0
7
5
2
44
29
15
5
5
0
1
0
1
11
2
9
8
3
5
9
3
6
137
84
53
54
35
19
18
12
6
16
7
9
12
2
10
0
0
0
4
3
1
39
31
8
10
7
3
8
3
5
12
7
5
7
6
1
16
6
10
166
92
74
49
29
20
16
10
6
4
0
4
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
1
0
25
17
8
5
4
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
6
4
2
2
1
1
28
13
15
29
14
15
2
2
0
76
28
48
69
25
44
10
7
3
33
27
6
301
241
60
24
19
5
20
11
9
102
24
78
51
32
19
75
15
60
1355
706
649
381
222
159
130
100
30
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Results
28
Table 3.2: May 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 2)
Subject
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
Geography
Females
Males
German
Females
Males
History
Females
Males
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Females
Males
Information Technology
Females
Males
Italian
Females
Males
Maltese
Females
Males
Marketing
Females
Males
Music
Females
Males
Philosophy
Females
Males
Physical Education
Females
Males
10
2
8
2
2
0
2
1
1
13
12
1
19
6
13
7
4
3
10
6
4
29
10
19
1
0
1
39
21
18
6
2
4
12
8
4
8
7
1
8
2
6
16
14
2
58
28
30
30
21
9
37
25
12
49
21
28
1
1
0
64
33
31
14
7
7
39
18
21
4
4
0
20
13
7
23
19
4
67
36
31
46
27
19
104
66
38
69
40
29
2
2
0
105
51
54
32
11
21
15
6
9
3
1
2
14
7
7
9
8
1
27
9
18
19
8
11
72
40
32
39
18
21
2
0
2
57
29
28
21
11
10
3
2
1
1
0
1
5
1
4
5
2
3
14
4
10
18
7
11
42
27
15
29
14
15
0
0
0
43
20
23
11
6
5
10
5
5
0
0
0
5
4
1
1
1
0
7
0
7
12
2
10
49
34
15
23
8
15
0
0
0
70
31
39
29
5
24
8
2
6
0
0
0
6
3
3
5
4
1
13
3
10
7
3
4
8
4
4
11
3
8
0
0
0
24
11
13
4
0
4
97
43
54
18
14
4
60
31
29
72
60
12
205
86
119
139
72
67
322
202
120
249
114
135
6
3
3
402
196
206
117
42
75
29
May 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 3.2: May 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 3)
Subject
Physics
Females
Males
Psychology
Females
Males
Pure Mathematics
Females
Males
Religious Knowledge
Females
Males
Sociology
Females
Males
Spanish
Females
Males
Systems of Knowledge
Females
Males
Theatre & Performance
Females
Males
A
B
C
D
E
F
abs
Total
45
17
28
45
34
11
46
26
20
12
7
5
12
8
4
1
1
0
86
55
31
4
2
2
96
55
41
83
66
17
59
30
29
31
13
18
18
16
2
3
3
0
352
214
138
6
4
2
163
80
83
200
153
47
119
78
41
68
33
35
49
33
16
6
5
1
722
416
306
8
8
0
98
48
50
181
126
55
86
49
37
52
23
29
29
17
12
4
2
2
364
201
163
6
4
2
88
53
35
107
74
33
111
61
50
30
10
20
26
16
10
2
0
2
310
136
174
6
4
2
141
71
70
243
161
82
147
65
82
28
13
15
34
18
16
5
3
2
181
88
93
9
6
3
27
15
12
60
48
12
53
21
32
14
9
5
16
10
6
1
1
0
37
12
25
1
1
0
658
339
319
919
662
257
621
330
291
235
108
127
184
118
66
22
15
7
2052
1122
930
40
29
11
Table 3.3 shows that in May 2014, at Advanced level, 5 out of the 497 requests for a Revision of
Papers had their grade revised. This means that 1.0% of the requests resulted in a higher grade.
At Intermediate level, 22 out of the 284 requests had their grade revised. At this level, 7.7% of
the requests resulted in an upgrade.
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Results
30
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing/Grap. Comm.
Engineering Drawing
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
History
Home Econ./Hum. Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
31
Table 3.3: May 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers
Advanced Level
Registered
Requested
Upgraded
%
Registered
484
22
0
0.0
76
8
0
0
0
69
0
0
0
0
10
71
14
0
0.0
33
672
80
0
0.0
301
516
122
2
1.6
24
20
159
12
0
0.0
102
190
10
1
10.0
51
75
6
0
0
0
724
79
0
0.0
1355
381
54
4
0
0.0
130
55
2
0
0.0
97
16
1
0
0.0
18
11
0
0
0
102
6
0
0.0
60
142
12
0
0.0
72
62
1
0
0.0
205
160
5
0
0.0
139
May 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
Intermediate Level
Requested
Upgraded
1
0
5
0
0
0
1
0
4
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
52
0
7
2
8
1
3
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
2
0
1
0
%
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
100
0
0.0
100
0
0.0
28.6
12.5
0.0
0
50.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Table 3.3: May 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers (Part 2)
Subject
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
Total
Registered
518
443
14
121
0
435
549
107
1
203
33
5856
Advanced Level
Requested
Upgraded
34
0
21
1
0
0
5
1
0
0
27
0
27
0
2
0
0
0
6
0
5
0
497
5
%
0.0
4.8
0
20.0
0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
1.0
Registered
322
249
6
402
117
658
919
621
235
0
184
22
2052
40
9045
Intermediate Level
Requested
Upgraded
15
0
12
0
0
0
16
0
6
0
14
0
51
0
15
1
4
0
0
0
5
1
0
0
54
14
2
0
284
22
MATSEC Support Unit | May 2015 Results
%
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.7
0.0
0
20.0
0
25.9
0.0
7.7
32
Table 3.4 presents data relating to the number of candidates awarded the Matriculation
Certificate after the main examination session in May 2015.
Table 3.4: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in May 2015
Males
Females
Total
586
801
1387
All Candidates
455
615
1070
1997 Cohort
The data in Table 3.4 show that 34.7% of the 4,001 candidates who sat for the May session in
2015 (34.2% males and 35.0% females) managed to qualify for the award of the Matriculation
Certificate. These proportions include 56.78% of the 1,886 candidates of the 1997 cohort (55.1%
males and 58.0% females).
33
May 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
4. September 2015 Registrations
Since 2012 the September session for Advanced and Intermediate Matriculation Level of
examination is no longer a supplementary session but a separate session from the session in May.
Thus, while many candidates, probably the majority, register for the September session to re-sit
examinations other candidates register for Advanced and/or Intermediate examinations for the
first time. A total of 1,088 candidates (38.7%) from the 2,810 candidates registering for the
September session did not register for any examination in May of the same year. The data in the
following Tables suggest that many of the latter candidates are students in their first year of postsecondary who take the opportunity of the new regulations to spread the examinations in six
subjects required for the award of the Matriculation Certificate over two or more sessions
without possibly missing out a year at University in case of a failure.
The total number of candidates who registered for the September 2015 session of examinations
is given in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1: Total Number of Candidates Sitting for Matriculation Examinations
Males
Females
Total
All Candidates
1185
1625
2810
373
520
893
1997 Cohort
The numbers of candidates who registered for Advanced Level and Intermediate Level
examinations are given in Tables 4.2 below. The data is presented by gender and date of birth.
Table 4.2: Registrations in September 2015 by Year of Birth and Gender
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
Year
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
28
72
100
12
25
37
Pre-1993
7
9
16
6
10
16
1993
22
27
49
16
24
40
1994
47
44
91
37
42
79
1995
156
135
291
141
124
265
1996
233
308
541
272
420
692
1997
93
116
209
418
664
1082
1998
1
2
3
6
10
16
1999
587
713
1300
908
1319
2227
Total
Tables 4.2 show that the largest number of registrations for Advanced Level examinations were
made by the 1997 cohort. This is followed by the number of registrations from the 1996 cohort,
who are likely to be candidates that have repeated a year. There were also many 17-year-olds
and a few 16-year-olds of the 1998 and 1999 cohorts respectively who registered for these
examinations. As noted before, it is quite likely that these were students in their first year of
post-secondary studies. Of these registrations from younger candidates, the majority are for
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Registrations
34
Intermediate Level examinations to the extent that, for this level, there are more registrations
from the 1998 cohort rather than the 1999 one.
Table 4.3 below provides information on the numbers of candidates, males and females, who
applied to sit for Matriculation examinations at Advanced and Intermediate levels in the different
subjects in September 2015.
Table 4.3: September 2015 Matriculation Examination Registrations by Subject and Gender
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing/Graph. Comm.
Engineering Drawing
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
Greek
History
Home Ec./Hum. Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Latin
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
35
Advanced Level
Males
Females
Total
57
83
140
0
0
0
1
1
2
5
8
13
29
47
76
18
30
48
0
0
0
19
14
33
13
13
26
0
0
0
0
0
0
78
123
201
0
0
0
6
5
11
3
4
7
2
8
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
7
22
4
23
27
4
1
5
10
24
34
0
0
0
55
106
161
82
83
165
1
0
1
15
18
33
0
0
0
40
25
65
0
0
0
93
37
130
18
18
36
0
0
0
16
30
46
3
5
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
September 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
Intermediate Level
Males
Females
Total
23
17
40
10
4
14
1
1
2
0
1
1
26
119
145
6
12
18
2
1
3
9
3
12
15
27
42
21
11
32
0
0
0
351
517
868
59
102
161
7
13
20
18
23
41
1
7
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
20
9
29
3
47
50
24
20
44
25
17
42
0
0
0
56
85
141
66
65
131
1
2
3
44
37
81
12
22
34
93
118
211
106
236
342
136
134
270
79
84
163
0
0
0
32
37
69
1
4
5
131
147
278
2
8
10
In the September session, at Advanced Matriculation level, the subjects with most candidates
were English (201 candidates), Marketing (165 candidates), Maltese (161 candidates),
Accounting (140 candidates), and Pure Mathematics (136 candidates). At Intermediate Level,
these were English (868 candidates), Psychology (342 candidates), Systems of Knowledge (278
candidates), Pure Mathematics (270 candidates), and Physics (211 candidates).
A total of 1,300 candidates (587 males and 713 females) applied to sit for an Advanced Level
examination in September 2015. Table 4.4 shows the number of subjects that candidates applied
for in the September session. One should note that the September session is a restricted session
where candidates can apply for one Advanced Level examination, one Intermediate Level
subjects from each group and Systems of Knowledge. Most candidates applied for one
Intermediate Level examination.f
Table 4.4: September 2015 Intermediate Level Registrations by Number of Subjects and Gender
Intermediate Level
Number of
Males
Females
Total
Subjects
518
794
1312
1
313
446
759
2
72
72
144
3
5
7
12
4
0
0
0
5
Table 4.5 below shows the number of requests, by subject, made for a Revision of Papers after
the publication of the September 2015 results. Data relating to the outcome of these requests are
presented in the following section. For Advanced and Intermediate Level examination, 5.5%
and 2.7% of the respective papers were revised following registrations for Revision of Papers.
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Registrations
36
Table 4.5: September 2015 Registration for Revision of Papers
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing/Graph. Comm.
Engineering Drawing
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
History
Home Ec./Hum. Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
Total
37
Advanced Level
Registered
Requested
140
0
2
13
76
48
0
33
26
0
0
201
0
11
7
10
0
22
27
5
34
161
165
1
33
0
65
0
130
36
0
46
8
0
0
1300
11
0
0
0
4
2
0
1
1
0
0
12
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
6
12
0
0
0
10
0
3
3
0
3
0
0
0
72
September 2015 Registrations | MATSEC Support Unit
%
7.9
0
0
0
5.3
4.2
0
3.0
3.8
0
0
6.0
0
18.2
0
0
0
4.5
0
0
2.9
3.7
7.3
0
0
0
15.4
0
2.3
8.3
0
6.5
0
0
0
5.5
Intermediate Level
Registered
Requested
40
14
2
1
145
18
3
12
42
32
0
868
161
20
41
8
0
29
50
44
42
141
131
3
81
34
211
342
270
163
0
69
5
278
10
3310
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
4
2
0
24
2
1
3
0
0
2
0
0
1
4
3
0
4
1
1
7
11
7
0
0
0
6
1
88
%
0
0
0
0
0.7
5.6
0
16.7
9.5
6.3
0
2.8
1.2
5.0
7.3
0
0
6.9
0
0
2.4
2.8
2.3
0
4.9
2.9
0.5
2.0
4.1
4.3
0
0
0
2.2
10.0
2.7
5. September 2015 Results
The following tables present the results of the September 2015 session of examinations. Table
5.1 (Parts 1 and 2) and Table 5.2 (Parts 1 and 2) respectively present the Advanced and
Intermediate level results for candidates by gender. It is important to note that registrations in
September are restricted to a maximum of six subjects: one subject at Advanced level, one
subject from each of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 subjects at Intermediate level, and
Systems of Knowledge.
There were no registrations for Advanced Level Applied Mathematics, Engineering Drawing,
Greek, Latin and Russian while there were also no registrations for Intermediate Level Greek,
Latin and Russian in September 2015. These subjects are not shown in the tables below.
Table 5.1: September 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender
Subject
Accounting
Females
Males
Arabic
Females
Males
Art
Females
Males
Biology
Females
Males
Chemistry
Females
Males
Computing
Females
Males
Economics
Females
Males
English
Females
Males
French
Females
Males
Geography
Females
Males
A
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
B
5
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
7
2
5
3
1
2
12
7
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
C
46
29
17
0
0
0
4
3
1
11
6
5
9
6
3
4
1
3
5
3
2
64
35
29
3
2
1
4
3
1
D
36
24
12
0
0
0
2
1
1
25
16
9
17
13
4
10
6
4
6
2
4
54
35
19
6
3
3
2
1
1
E
23
12
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
6
7
4
2
2
6
2
4
1
1
0
28
19
9
1
0
1
0
0
0
F
14
10
4
1
0
1
6
3
3
22
16
6
13
7
6
5
2
3
4
1
3
27
18
9
0
0
0
1
0
1
abs
15
7
8
1
1
0
1
1
0
3
3
0
4
1
3
0
0
0
5
3
2
16
9
7
1
0
1
0
0
0
Total
140
83
57
2
1
1
13
8
5
76
47
29
48
30
18
33
14
19
26
13
13
201
123
78
11
5
6
7
4
3
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Results
38
Table 5.1: September 2015 - Advanced Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 2)
Subject
German
Females
Males
History
Females
Males
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Females
Males
Information Technology
Females
Males
Italian
Females
Males
Maltese
Females
Males
Marketing
Females
Males
Music
Females
Males
Philosophy
Females
Males
Physics
Females
Males
Pure Mathematics
Females
Males
Religious Knowledge
Females
Males
Sociology
Females
Males
Spanish
Females
Males
39
A
2
2
0
B
1
1
0
C
4
3
1
D
1
0
1
E
0
0
0
F
2
2
0
abs
0
0
0
Total
10
8
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
3
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
3
1
6
2
4
7
7
0
2
1
1
11
7
4
4
2
2
6
4
2
0
0
0
6
6
0
1
0
1
9
8
1
0
0
0
5
3
2
5
0
5
5
4
1
1
0
1
5
2
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
2
0
22
7
15
27
23
4
5
1
4
34
24
10
5
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
26
18
8
10
6
4
0
0
0
7
2
5
0
0
0
14
4
10
2
1
1
1
0
1
2
0
2
66
44
22
53
21
32
1
0
1
10
5
5
18
7
11
34
13
21
6
4
2
9
6
3
1
1
0
32
24
8
30
18
12
0
0
0
4
4
0
18
7
11
14
5
9
9
5
4
5
4
1
2
2
0
16
9
7
29
14
15
0
0
0
3
1
2
12
8
4
20
6
14
10
4
6
7
3
4
2
1
1
9
3
6
21
10
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
3
11
35
6
29
6
2
4
9
4
5
1
1
0
7
4
3
22
14
8
0
0
0
5
3
2
3
0
3
11
3
8
2
1
1
14
13
1
0
0
0
161
106
55
165
83
82
1
0
1
33
18
15
65
25
40
130
37
93
36
18
18
46
30
16
8
5
3
September 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 5.2: September 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender
Subject
Accounting
Females
Males
Applied Mathematics
Females
Males
Arabic
Females
Males
Art
Females
Males
Biology
Females
Males
Chemistry
Females
Males
Classical Studies
Females
Males
Computing
Females
Males
Economics
Females
Males
Eng. Drawing & Graphical Comm.
Females
Males
English
Females
Males
Environmental Science
Females
Males
French
Females
Males
Geography
Females
Males
A
3
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
11
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
2
0
2
41
23
18
3
3
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
B
10
3
7
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
41
33
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
7
4
3
3
0
3
101
64
37
6
3
3
1
0
1
3
1
2
C
10
5
5
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
46
40
6
5
4
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
3
2
4
2
2
268
157
111
32
22
10
4
3
1
9
5
4
D
8
5
3
4
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
17
12
5
4
2
2
0
0
0
3
0
3
2
1
1
8
1
7
230
136
94
51
32
19
7
5
2
11
5
6
E
3
1
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
6
3
3
1
2
1
1
0
4
2
2
10
7
3
3
1
2
96
61
35
23
13
10
2
2
0
5
4
1
F
5
1
4
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
1
0
8
7
1
1
1
0
2
0
2
1
0
1
10
7
3
12
7
5
116
69
47
29
18
11
4
2
2
8
5
3
abs
1
1
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
10
3
5
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
3
0
0
0
16
7
9
17
11
6
2
1
1
4
2
2
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Results
Total
40
17
23
14
4
10
2
1
1
1
1
0
145
119
26
18
12
6
3
1
2
12
3
9
42
27
15
32
11
21
868
517
351
161
102
59
20
13
7
41
23
18
40
Table 5.2: September 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 2)
Subject
History
Females
Males
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Females
Males
Information Technology
Females
Males
Italian
Females
Males
Maltese
Females
Males
Marketing
Females
Males
Music
Females
Males
Philosophy
Females
Males
Physical Education
Females
Males
Physics
Females
Males
Psychology
Females
Males
Pure Mathematics
Females
Males
Religious Knowledge
Females
Males
Sociology
Females
Males
41
A
4
0
4
8
8
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
3
4
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
34
20
14
15
12
3
11
7
4
2
2
0
6
3
3
B
2
1
1
7
7
0
10
7
3
4
1
3
9
6
3
32
20
12
1
1
0
5
4
1
2
2
0
30
12
18
24
20
4
23
12
11
2
2
0
7
3
4
September 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
C
6
2
4
13
12
1
16
6
10
15
8
7
49
30
19
34
17
17
1
0
1
4
1
3
12
7
5
63
38
25
74
52
22
53
31
22
17
8
9
10
6
4
D
3
2
1
7
7
0
5
1
4
6
3
3
28
18
10
15
6
9
0
0
0
10
6
4
7
5
2
28
17
11
75
51
24
43
20
23
25
15
10
8
5
3
E
1
0
1
3
3
0
3
2
1
11
2
9
28
17
11
15
7
8
0
0
0
15
7
8
5
3
2
19
11
8
36
25
11
52
20
32
28
20
8
8
3
5
F
7
1
6
7
6
1
5
3
2
6
3
3
20
9
11
17
8
9
0
0
0
34
13
21
8
5
3
22
12
10
86
51
35
63
31
32
79
32
47
23
12
11
abs
6
3
3
5
4
1
3
1
2
0
0
0
7
5
2
11
4
7
0
0
0
12
6
6
0
0
0
15
8
7
32
25
7
25
13
12
10
5
5
7
5
2
Total
29
9
20
50
47
3
44
20
24
42
17
25
141
85
56
131
65
66
3
2
1
81
37
44
34
22
12
211
118
93
342
236
106
270
134
136
163
84
79
69
37
32
Table 5.2: September 2015 - Intermediate Level Results by Subject and Gender (Part 3)
Subject
Spanish
Females
Males
Systems of Knowledge
Females
Males
Theatre & Performance
Females
Males
A
1
0
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
B
0
0
0
19
9
10
1
1
0
C
0
0
0
76
49
27
3
3
0
D
1
1
0
57
26
31
0
0
0
E
0
0
0
63
27
36
1
1
0
F
3
3
0
54
30
24
5
3
2
abs
0
0
0
7
4
3
0
0
0
Total
5
4
1
278
147
131
10
8
2
Table 5.3 below presents information on the outcome of the requests for Revision of Papers in
the various subjects at Advanced and Intermediate Levels after the September 2015 results were
issued.
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Results
42
Table 5.3: September 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers
Advanced Level
Intermediate Level
Subject
Registered
Requested
Upgraded
%
Registered
Requested
Upgraded
140
11
0
0.0
40
0
0
Accounting
0
0
0
0
14
0
0
Applied Mathematics
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
Arabic
13
0
0
0
1
0
0
Art
76
4
0
0.0
145
1
0
Biology
48
2
0
0.0
18
1
0
Chemistry
3
0
0
Classical Studies
33
1
0
0.0
12
2
2
Computing
26
1
0
0.0
42
4
1
Economics
32
2
0
Eng. Drawing & Graph. Comm.
0
0
0
0
Engineering Drawing
201
12
0
0.0
868
24
4
English
161
2
0
Environmental Science
11
2
0
0.0
20
1
0
French
7
0
0
0
41
3
0
Geography
10
0
0
0
8
0
0
German
0
0
0
Graphical Communication
22
1
1
100
29
2
0
History
27
0
0
0
50
0
0
Home Ec. & Human Ecology
5
0
0
0
44
0
0
Information Technology
43
September 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
25.0
0
16.7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Table 5.3: September 2015 - Outcomes of Requests for Revision of Papers (Part 2)
Subject
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
Total
Registered
34
161
165
1
33
65
130
36
46
8
1300
Advanced Level
Requested
Upgraded
1
0
6
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
3
1
3
0
3
0
0
0
72
2
%
0.0
0.0
0.0
0
0
0.0
33.3
0.0
0.0
0
2.8
Registered
42
141
131
3
81
34
211
342
270
163
69
5
278
10
3310
Intermediate Level
Requested
Upgraded
1
0
4
0
3
0
0
0
4
0
1
0
1
0
7
0
11
2
7
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
1
0
88
10
MATSEC Support Unit | September 2015 Results
%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
18.2
0
0
0
16.7
0
11.4
44
Table 5.4 presents the numbers of the Matriculation Certificate awarded to all candidates and to
candidates of the 1997 cohort by gender in the September session.
Table 5.4: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in September 2015
Males
Females
Total
161
180
341
All Candidates
93
118
211
1997 Cohort
The data in Table 5.4 show that 12.1% of the 2,810 candidates who sat for the September session
in 2015 (13.6% males and 11.1% females) managed to qualify for the award of the Matriculation
Certificate. These proportions include 23.6% of the 893 candidates of the 1997 cohort (24.9%
males and 22.7% females).
45
September 2015 Results | MATSEC Support Unit
6. General Statistics
This section brings together the main statistical results of the May and September 2015 sessions.
These include the number of all candidates who qualified for the Matriculation Certificate in
2015 and, separately, the number of candidates of the 1997 cohort who qualified for the
Matriculation Certificate. These are presented in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1: Matriculation Certificates Awarded in 2015 (May and September)
Males
Females
Total
747
981
1728
All Candidates
548
733
1281
1997 Cohort
When the results of the 1997 cohort in the May and September are aggregated, it is found that
26.5% of the 4,835 children of that cohort qualified for the Matriculation Certificate in 2015.
This percentage is an average result which when analysed by gender shows that the successful
candidates consist of only 21.5% of males as against 32.0% of females born in 1997.
Table 6.2 indicates the percentage passes in the different subjects at Advanced Level in 2015 in
May and September separately. Table 6.3 presents similar data for the Intermediate level
subjects. The percentage pass rate is usually higher in the May session than in the September
session. In 2015, these average at 78.8% and 75.4% respectively for Advanced Matriculation
subjects and 80.6% and 74.5% respectively for Intermediate Matriculation subjects.
MATSEC Support Unit | General Statistics
46
Table 6.2: Passes in Advanced Level Subjects in 2015 (May and September)
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Computing
Economics
Engineering Drawing
English
French
Geography
German
Graphical Communication
History
Home Economics & Human Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
May Session
Grades A-E
Registered
N
%
484
343
70.9
8
3
37.5
0
0
0
71
56
78.9
672
586
87.2
516
388
75.2
159
138
86.8
190
153
80.5
6
4
66.7
724
596
82.3
54
44
81.5
55
47
85.5
16
13
81.3
11
10
90.9
102
77
75.5
142
126
88.7
62
52
83.9
160
113
70.6
518
461
89.0
443
301
67.9
14
14
100
121
87
71.9
435
370
85.1
549
371
67.6
107
82
76.6
1
1
100
203
148
72.9
33
28
84.8
September Session
Grades A-E
Registered
N
%
140
111
79.3
0
0
0
2
0
0.0
13
6
46.2
76
51
67.1
48
31
64.6
33
28
84.8
26
17
65.4
0
0
0
201
158
78.6
11
10
90.9
7
6
85.7
10
8
80.0
0
0
0
22
16
72.7
27
22
81.5
5
3
60.0
34
27
79.4
161
145
90.1
165
122
73.9
1
1
100
33
28
84.8
65
48
73.8
130
84
64.6
36
28
77.8
0
0
0
46
23
50.0
8
7
87.5
An analysis of Table 6.2 indicates that in Advanced level subjects the pass rates differ
substantially between subjects as shown below:
Pass rate
(May Session)
90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
<50%
47
Subjects
Graphical Communication, Music, Russian.
Biology, Computing, Economics, English, French, Geography, German,
Home Economics & Human Ecology, Information Technology, Maltese,
Physics, Spanish.
Accounting, Art, Chemistry, History, Italian, Philosophy, Religious
Knowledge, Sociology.
Engineering Drawing, Marketing, Pure Mathematics.
Applied Mathematics.
General Statistics | MATSEC Support Unit
Table 6.3: Passes in Intermediate Level Subjects in 2015 (May and September)
Subject
Accounting
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computing
Economics
Eng. Drawing & Grap. Comm.
English
Environmental Science
French
Geography
German
History
Home Ec. & Human Ecology
Information Technology
Italian
Maltese
Marketing
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Psychology
Pure Mathematics
Religious Knowledge
Sociology
Spanish
Systems of Knowledge
Theatre & Performance
May Session
Grades A-E
Registered
N
%
76
56
73.7
69
54
78.3
10
10
100
33
28
84.8
301
237
78.7
24
9
37.5
20
11
55.0
102
89
87.3
51
38
74.5
75
57
76.0
1355
1161
85.7
381
303
79.5
130
112
86.2
97
79
81.4
18
18
100
60
49
81.7
72
66
91.7
205
185
90.2
139
120
86.3
322
265
82.3
249
215
86.3
6
6
100
402
308
76.6
117
84
71.8
658
490
74.5
919
616
67.0
621
421
67.8
235
193
82.1
184
134
72.8
22
16
72.7
2052
1834
89.4
40
30
75.0
September Session
Grades A-E
Registered
N
%
40
34
85.0
14
9
64.3
2
2
100
1
0
0.0
145
124
85.5
18
12
66.7
3
1
33.3
12
11
91.7
42
27
64.3
32
20
62.5
868
736
84.8
161
115
71.4
20
14
70.0
41
29
70.7
8
8
100
29
16
55.2
50
38
76.0
44
36
81.8
42
36
85.7
141
114
80.9
131
103
78.6
3
3
100
81
35
43.2
34
26
76.5
211
174
82.5
342
224
65.5
270
182
67.4
163
74
45.4
69
39
56.5
5
2
40.0
278
217
78.1
10
5
50.0
MATSEC Support Unit | General Statistics
48
An analysis of Table 6.3 indicates that in Intermediate Level subjects the pass rates differ
substantially between subjects as shown below:
Pass rate
(May Session)
90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
50% - 59%
<50%
Subjects
Arabic, German, Home Economics & Human Ecology, Information
Technology, Music.
Art, Computing, English, French, Geography, History, Italian, Maltese,
Marketing, Religious Knowledge.
Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Economics, Eng. Drawing &
Graphical Comm., Environmental Science, Philosophy, Physical Education,
Physics.
Psychology, Pure Mathematics.
Classical Studies.
Chemistry.
The numbers of candidates applying for Revision of Papers from 2004 to 2015 are shown in
Table 6.4. The table that follows, Table 6.5, shows the percentage of these applicants who had
their grade revised. The two figures that follow, represent this data graphically.
Table 6.4: Percentage Applications for Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
49
May
Advanced
Intermediate
Matriculation Matriculation
(AM)
(IM)
8.1
3.9
7.7
3.5
5.9
2.7
6.8
3.6
5.5
4.4
5.2
3
6.2
4.1
7.4
4
8.2
4
7.5
3.5
8.5
3.1
General Statistics | MATSEC Support Unit
September
Advanced
Intermediate
Matriculation Matriculation
(AM)
(IM)
7.3
5.9
6.8
7.2
9.6
8
7
5.8
5.7
4.3
6.6
4.2
7.3
6.3
7.4
6.2
2.9
4.2
7.1
6
5.5
2.7
Percentage of applications for Revision of
Papers
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
Year of Assessment
May AM
May IM
September AM
September IM
Figure 6.1: Percentage Applications for Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level
Figure 6.1 suggests that the percentage of candidates applying for Revision of Papers has
followed no particular trend across the years from 2004 to 2015. Drop and peaks along the years
seem rather haphazard. The percentage of candidates applying for Revision of Papers ranges
from 2.7% (May IM 2006, September IM 2015) to 9.6% (September AM 2006). Usually, the
percentage of candidates applying for Revision of Papers is higher for Advanced Matriculation
subjects.
Table 6.5: Percentage Upgrades from Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
May
Advanced
Intermediate
Matriculation Matriculation
(AM)
(IM)
4
4.6
2.5
3
2.9
6.6
2.5
8.4
2.1
3.1
4.9
4.5
4.9
3.5
3.5
3
4.3
5.8
4.3
5
1
7.7
September
Advanced
Intermediate
Matriculation Matriculation
(AM)
(IM)
1.3
3.1
4.8
1.3
0.9
22.8
2.7
0
6
0
3.4
2.4
1.4
7.5
2.9
1.5
0
0
0
1.6
2.8
11.4
MATSEC Support Unit | General Statistics
50
Percentage of upgrades from Revision of Papers
25
20
15
10
5
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
Year of Assessment
May AM
May IM
September AM
September IM
Figure 6.2: Percentage Upgrades from Revision of Papers by Year, Session and Level
Figure 6.2 suggests that the percentage of upgrades from Revision of Papers has also followed
no particular trend across the years from 2004 to 2015. Increased percentage of upgrades in
Intermediate Matriculation for the 2006 and 2010 September sessions roughly coincide with an
increased percentage of applications for Revision of Papers in these sessions (Table 6.4). This
is, however, not observed for other sessions and levels. The percentage of upgrades from
Revision of Papers ranges from 0% (five instances) to 22.8% (September IM 2006). In 2015, the
percentage of upgrades through Revision of Papers for Intermediate Matriculation subjects was
relatively high.
This year, 74 candidates applied for Special Arrangements to access the May Matriculation
examinations. The number of such requests has been increasing along the years as shown in
Figure 6.3.
51
General Statistics | MATSEC Support Unit
Number of requests for special access
arrangements
80
75
74
2014
2015
70
60
53
50
44
43
2011
2013
40
40
34
27
30
20
30
23
17
10
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year of Assessment
Figure 6.3: Number of Candidates applying for Special Access Arrangements from 2004 to 2015
The following Table presents the trend in the percentage of the 18-year-old cohorts that qualified
for the Matriculation Certificate since 2001.
Table 6.6: Percentage of the 18-year-old cohort qualified for the Matriculation Certificate, by
Year of Assessment and Gender
18-year-old
Number of Individuals
Percentage
Percentage
Total
Year
cohort born in
in the Cohort
of Males
of Females
Percentage
1983
5,651
*
*
19.2
2001
1984
5,571
*
*
19.4
2002
1985
5,430
16.4
27.5
21.7
2003
1986
5,245
16.2
29.0
22.3
2004
1987
5,314
16.5
30.3
23.2
2005
1988
5,533
17.1
29.1
23.0
2006
1989
5,584
18.1
29.8
23.9
2007
1990
5,368
17.3
28.8
22.8
2008
1991
5,302
17.6
31.0
24.2
2009
1992
5,474
17.3
27.8
22.4
2010
1993
5,147
18.9
29.5
24.0
2011
1995
4,613
20.6
34.3
27.1
2013
1996
4,944
20.0
33.2
26.4
2014
1997
4,835
21.5
32
26.5
2015
MATSEC Support Unit | General Statistics
52
Percentage of Cohort awarded the
Matriculation Certificate
Figure 6.1 shows the percentage of the 18-year-olds’ cohort who qualified for the Matriculation
Certificate as from 2001. The overall percentage has exceeded 25% after the change in
regulations in 2012. While in the eight years before the change in regulations, an average of
23.2% of the population used to gain the necessary entry requirements for University, in the
three years after the change in regulations 26.7% did. In general, one can also note that the
difference between males and females in this regard is decreasing, although this trend is not
observed yearly. The lowest difference between the percentages of males and females being
awarded the Matriculation Certificate was observed in 2010 and 2015 (10.5%).
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015
Year of Assessment
Males
Females
Total
Figure 6.4: Percentage of the 18-year-old cohort qualified for the Matriculation Certificate, by
Year of Assessment and Gender
53
General Statistics | MATSEC Support Unit
7. Conclusion
This report has been produced with the intention of providing valid and reliable information
about various aspects of the 2015 Matriculation Examination sessions in May and September.
The emphasis is on both the presentation of the information as well as on important analyses that
are possible as a result of this information. The report also makes it possible for individuals and
institutions to carry out further analyses on the data presented. This report may also be used as a
basis of an evaluation of the Matriculation Certificate system of examinations that has been in
operation for sixteen years to date.
Comments on this report and any recommendations on improving this or similar documents
published by the MATSEC Support Unit are welcome. These are to be addressed to Mr. Gilbert
John Zahra, Principal Assessment Research and Development Officer, MATSEC Support Unit,
University of Malta on Tel: 2340 3965 or email: gilbert.j.zahra@um.edu.mt.
MATSEC Support Unit | Conclusion
54
Appendix A
Timetables for May 2015
and September 2015 Sessions
55
Appendix A | MATSEC Support Unit
MATSEC Support Unit | Appendix A
56
57
Appendix A | MATSEC Support Unit
MATSEC Support Unit | Appendix A
58
59
Appendix A | MATSEC Support Unit