Is SEC Physics an adequate preparation for advanced level? : a study of teachers' and students' views

Abstract

This dissertation aimed to find whether the preparation of the Physics SEC syllabus is adequate for Advanced Physics and to determine which areas in the SEC Physics syllabus are satisfactory and those which are not, through teachers' and students' views. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers and 411 questionnaires were collected from students attending the post-secondary schools in Malta and Gozo. Both teachers and students felt that there is a gap between SEC and A-level in all the major areas of Physics, including practical work, mathematical skills, and the content itself. Teachers often described the SEC syllabus as superficial, which does not provide the students with the appropriate tools for the deeper A-level syllabus. In general the majority of students felt that the preparation at SEC-level was not adequate for A-level Physics, even though responses from non-state school respondents were slightly more positive. Both in practical work and in mathematical skills, only the bare majority believed that the preparation was adequate. In some particular areas, the level of preparation varied with gender as well as the type of secondary school which the students attended, whereas in others these factors were not significant. Regarding the various topics, students felt best prepared in Mechanics whereas they felt least prepared in Fields and Nuclear and Particle Physics. Finally, some recommendations are put forward on how the SEC syllabus might be improved.