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VOL. 10, ISSUE 1 (2025)
A statistical study on students' selection of G.C.E. advanced level streams
Authors
H P T N Silva
Abstract
The General Certificate of Education Advanced
Level [G.C.E. (A/L)] examination plays a crucial role in determining students'
higher education and career paths. This study aims to analyze the selection of
streams among students and identify the factors influencing their choices. By
using statistical methods, we explore trends, gender-based preferences,
regional disparities, and socio-economic impacts on subject selection.
Preliminary analysis indicates that Commerce and Technology are the most
preferred streams, followed by Arts and Mathematics & Science. The study
employs both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected
through surveys conducted among A/L students from various schools, while
secondary data is obtained from official reports from the Department of
Examinations and the Ministry of Education. Multistage
Cluster Sampling was used to ensure a
representative sample of 370 students from different schools and different socio-economic
backgrounds. Chi- square teat and multinomial logistic regression were utilized
to analysis the data and finding revealed that the male students are more
likely to choose Commerce stream, while those engaged in extracurricular
activities tend to prefer the Arts stream. Parental education level and sports
participation do not significantly impact stream selection. Students with lower
Sinhala scores are more likely to choose Commerce, while those with lower
Mathematics scores tend to select for the Arts. Many Arts students aspire to
become lawyers, while others aim for managerial, business, or IT-related jobs.
Male students are more inclined toward ICT than the Arts, whereas female
students prefer the Arts over ICT. Additionally, most students lack awareness
of job opportunities in their chosen fields and do not consider job
availability if their future ambitions are not met. Career guidance programs
should be strengthened to help students make informed choices based on their
interests and abilities rather than societal expectations.
Pages:5-10
How to cite this article:
H P T N Silva "A statistical study on students' selection of G.C.E. advanced level streams". International Journal of Advanced Educational Research, Vol 10, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 5-10
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