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Subject choice at Advanced level is largely felt to be freely made rather than enforced.
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Attitudes to wider courses are adverse rather than favourable.
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High ability pupils are relatively concentrated in specialist courses, particularly the Sciences.
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Many specialist pupils have a very wide range of achievement at Ordinary level.
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The more able pupils make earlier subject choice decisions than the weaker: Science specialists show earliest decision times.
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Subject choice is seen as easy rather than difficult by three‐fifths of the sample pupils, and by three‐quarters of Science specialists.
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Science subjects are perceived, by either sex, as more closely interrelated than Arts subjects.
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Mathematics is unusual in that it consistently attracts higher rates of dislike than other subjects, though four‐fifths of those taking it would still select it if a choice had to be made again.
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Definitions of ‘specialization’ need reconsideration.