State schools IGCSE 2017 results show general decrease in performance |27 January 2018

There has been an overall decrease in performance in IGCSE results in 2017 compared to 2016, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development has announced.

In a report analysing last year’s IGCSE and DELF examination results, the ministry however notes that in the school year 2017, the pass rate was 95% in IGCSE and 96% in DELF examination.

The S5 student population for 2017 was 1201 compared to 1253 for 2016.

S5 students' achievements

The total number of S5 students who sat for the IGCSE exams in 2017 was 872 compared to 729 in 2016, and 709 sat for DELF, compared to 796 in 2016..

The percentage of students scoring grade C or higher in IGCSE subjects in 2017, was 34%. This is a reduction by 3% compared to 2016, which stood at 37%. Although First Language English remains the subject where students perform better, with 87.3%% of the students scoring grade C or better, this was a decrease, from 89% in 2016.

S4 students' achievements

In 2017, 74 S4 students were registered for the subject 'English as a second language' compared to 78 in 2016. As for DELF B1 there were 51 students registered in 2017 compared to 57 in 2016.

Similar to 2016, the pass rate remained at 100% in both 'English as a Second Language' and DELF for S4 students.

86% of the S4 students scored grade C or better in 'English as a Second Language', compared to 91% in 2016.

There was a general decrease in performance in IGCSE results in 2017 compared to 2016. While a lot of effort is being put in the teaching and learning, the challenge remains in reaching the Education Medium Term Strategic Plan 2013-2017of100% pass rate and50% of student population scoring grade C or better in the subjects examined.

The year 2017 has been one of the most challenging year for the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, but the ministry is determined to address the situation and together with its stakeholders, try to revert the decreasing trend in performance. The ministry continues to stress the importance for students to be more committed to their studies and for parents to play a more leading role in the education of their children.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development congratulates the students who have worked hard to achieve good results, and wishes them well in the next stage of their education, and future career path. And for those who have not worked hard enough, they need to reflect more on their performance and take important steps to improve for the future.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development also wishes to thank the School Councils, head teachers and their teaching staff, parents and all other stakeholders for their continued support towards enriching the educational experiences of the students.

Trend in pass rate in IGCSE from 2013 to 2017

The general trend shows that over the past five year the pass rate has remained above 90% from 2013 to 2017. 2016 recorded the highest

pass rate of 98% but this dropped to 95% in 2017.

Table 2 and graph 2 show the trends in IGCSE English, Geography, History and Art & Design.

In the languages, First language English has maintained a 100% pass rate since

2014. On the other hand English as a second language was the worst performing subject in 2017, in terms of pass rate, which with 87%, was at its lowest since 2013.

History recorded 100% pass rate, in 2016 and 2017, and Geography maintained 98% pass rate similar to 2016. Although it has not reached 100% pass rate, there has been improvement in the pass rate for Geography during the past 5 years.

Art and Design also declined in pass rate from 100% for the past two years, to 96% in 2017.

Percentage of students scoring grade C or better across subjects from 2013 to 2017

Table 3 and graphs 3 and 4, shows the trends in performance of students

scoring grades C or better.

First Language English was the only subject that reached and maintained the

target of 50% of students scoring grade C or better. In 2017 87% of the

students scored in the grade range A* to C.

Although still below target, History and Mathematics have shown a slight

improvement in terms of grades C or better during the past 5 years.

The subjects that performed worst in 2017 compared to 2016, were English as

a second language, Geography, Art and Design, and ICT.

Trend in pass rate in IGCSE from 2013 to 2017

The general trend shows that over the past five year the pass rate has remained above 90% from 2013 to 2017. 2016 recorded the highest pass rate of 98% but this dropped to 95% in 2017.

Trend in pass rate(%) across subjects from 2013 to 2017

In total, 7 out of the 11 subjects offered at IGCSE, reached the targeted 100% pass rate.

Table 1 and graph 1 shows the trends in the Sciences, Mathematics and ICT.

The pass rate for the sciences and ICT has improved over the past five years. In 2017, 100% pass rate was recorded in all the science subjects, namely Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Combined Science.  The greatest improvement was in Combined Science which until now, the pass rate had never reached 90%.ICT also reached 100% pass rate for the first time since 2013.

Table 2 and graph 2 shows the trends in in IGCSE English, Geography, History and Art & Design.

In the languages, First language English has maintained a 100% pass rate since 2014. On the other handEnglish as a second language was the worst performing subject in 2017, in terms of pass rate, which with 87%, this was at its lowest since 2013.

History recorded 100% pass rate, in 2016 and 2017, and Geography maintained 98% pass rate similar to 2016. Although it has not reached 100% pass rate, there has been improvement in the pass rate for Geography during the past 5 years.

Art and Design also declined in pass rate from 100% for the past two years, to 96% in 2017.

Table 2: Trends in pass rate for IGCSE English, Geography, History and Art & Design

Percentage of students scoring grade C or better across subjects from 2013 to 2017

Table 3 and graphs 3 and 4, shows the trends in performance of students scoring grades C or better.

First Language English was the only subject that reached and maintained the target of 50% of students scoring grade C or better.  In 2017 87% of the students scored in the grade range A*to C.

Although still below target, History and Mathematics have shown a slight improvement in terms of grades C or better during the past 5 years.

The subjects that performed worst in 2017 compared to 2016, were English as a second language, Geography, Art and Design, and ICT.

Table 3: Trends in grade C or better for the 11 IGCSE subjects