The latest Northern Ireland A Level results have shown a marked rise overall in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects since 2004.
We wanted to see whether this was part of a longer term trend, so we asked CCEA if they could provide us with figures for the last decade.
The results are very interesting and show a particularly marked rise in the number of students taking A Levels in Maths and ICT. Maths is now the most popular A Level to take in Northern Ireland – it now accounts for 1 in 10 of all A Levels sat in Northern Ireland.
The total number of candidates in all STEM A Levels rose steadily year on year between 2004 and 2015, with a 17% increase. Other than a small decline between 2013 and 2014 this growth has remained steady.
The number of female students taking Maths at A Level was up from 1,028 in 2004 to 1,382 in 2015 and those taking ICT A Levels rose from 306 to 564 during the same period.
There was a similar increase in the number of male students taking Maths at A Level, up from 1,276 in 2004 to 1,946 in 2015, while the number taking ICT at A Level more than doubled from 432 to 934.
