GCE(O/L) pass rates over time
October 7th, 2008 - Filed Under General
(Pass rate = percent of school candidates passing 6 subjects including math and language)
GCE O/L pass rates have doubled over the decade spanning 1995 to 2005.Here are some data (data_ed_ol_examresults1 What do you make of the data?
1. From 1995 to 2000 the pass rates increased dramatically 20% to 40%. Why? Is it because:
a. Education reforms have had an effect
b. Benefits of public education became increasingly more available to all
c. More and more students are getting help from tuition classes
d. The mathematics papers have got easier over time (e.g. geometry has become and optional topic
(The rate in 1999 is an anomaly because in that year the department of examination gave the candidates the option of two papers –one regular and another easier– in math and science, dramatically increasing the pass rates to 50% but the two paper system was discontinued in 2000.
2. From 2001 the rates have not increased significantly above 40%. Why?
a. Education reforms are not having an effect
b. Benefits of public education are expropriated by a 40% or so of the population
c. We have reached a saturation point
d. The mathematics paper or other crucial exam paper/s have got more difficult
e. We are at the beginning of another period of increasing pass rates.