More than one third of the students who sat for the Matsec Advanced level examination in maths last May failed, statistics on the University of Malta website show.

This figure – 198 failures out of 578 - confirms fears by students and parents – expressed to this portal and other media soon after the exam – that the test they sat for was of abnormal difficulty.

The percentage of failures in the maths ordinary level examination was worse, as 44 per cent of students (2,168 out of 4,870) failed this particular exam.

Maths, it must be remembered, is a core subject along with Maltese and English, and passes are required in all three subjects for students to further their education.

The results obtained in Maltese A level exam were much better, as only 8.7 per cent of students sitting for the Matsec A level failed (38 out of 435). In English, 77 of the 508 (15%) students who sat for their A level failed.

At O level standard, the number of students who failed in Maltese numbered 1,772 from 4,613 (37%); a similar result was obtained in English, where 37% of students (1,912 from 3,146) failed.

See full results in pdfs below

https://secure.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/189985/AM_STATISTICS_-_MAY_2013.pdf

http://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/189928/SEC_STATISTICS_-_MAY_2013.pdf

http://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/189986/IM_STATISTICS_-_MAY_2013.pdf