Sex Differences in Science Achievement across Ten Academic Years among High School Students in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This study investigated sex differences in science achievement at the final high school level and changes in these differences for students across ten academic years. 1,000 boys and 1,000 girls majoring in science (mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, and geology), 100 boys and 100 girls for each academic year were randomly drawn from the Ministry of Education's examination reports. The result, in general, indicates that girls scored higher on final examinations. Across years these differences favored girls. The results were discussed in the light of social, psychological, educational, and biological factors.