Subject choice at Advanced level is largely felt to be freely made rather than enforced.

Attitudes to wider courses are adverse rather than favourable.

High ability pupils are relatively concentrated in specialist courses, particularly the Sciences.

Many specialist pupils have a very wide range of achievement at Ordinary level.

The more able pupils make earlier subject choice decisions than the weaker: Science specialists show earliest decision times.

Subject choice is seen as easy rather than difficult by three‐fifths of the sample pupils, and by three‐quarters of Science specialists.

Science subjects are perceived, by either sex, as more closely interrelated than Arts subjects.

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.

Definitions of ‘specialization’ need reconsideration.