Female students outperform males in majority of Leaving Cert subjects

Female students continue to outperform males in the majority of Leaving Certificate subjects — but are still behind them in maths.

Latest figures from the State Examinations Commission also reveal that boys are more likely than girls to benefit from the bonus college entry points offered for passing higher level maths. For the third successive year, overall numbers doing the honours papers in June rose, as the 25 extra points going for Central Applications Office ranking of course applicants continues to encourage more students to attempt the harder exams.

Analysis of the SEC’s gender statistics by the Irish Examiner show that the proportion of males doing maths who sat the higher level papers still exceeds that of females — 28.7% of boys, compared to 26% of girls.