ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the pattern of O- and A-Level subjects passed by university entrants from comprehensive schools. It also examines some of the structural changes that have taken place in such schools, particularly the open sixth form, and to assess the effect, if any, it might have upon the A-Level patterns of students from schools with open sixth forms. The open sixth allows more flexible permutations in A-Level patterns as well as acting as an important 'fail-safe' device for students either to repeat previous failures or to make up deficiencies in their O-Levels. A comparison of Eleven Plus successes and Eleven Plus failures according to the individual O-Level subjects passed by each group shows very clearly the different bias in the O-Level subjects of the Eleven Plus failure. The chapter deals with the effects of structural change upon both examination strategy and upon subject choice at A-Levels of comprehensive school entrants to university.
