Leaving Cert Results: Honours maths slowdown for girls

Female students seem to be getting more cautious about taking honours Leaving Certificate maths after an initial spike when bonus college entry points were introduced.

Although male students have always been significantly more likely than female students to sit the subject at higher level, the gap narrowed when 25 extra Central Applications Office (CAO) points were offered in 2012 as an incentive to increase uptake.

In 2011, 14.5% of girls and 17.2% of boys doing maths took higher level papers, but a year later 21% and 23%, respectively, did so. Although more male and female students have taken honours maths every year since, the gender gap is opening again.