What Makes a Student a High Achiever in Science?

Abstract

Substantial differences were found between the 5% top achievers in science and the remaining 95% 9th and 12th grade students. While girls constitute 55% of the 9th grade population only 18% of the high achievers are girls, a ratio of approximately 1:3. The corresponding ratio in the 12th grade was 1:8, 1:5, 1:2 and 3:4 for physics, non-science, chemistry and biology majors respectively. A typical profile of a higher achiever is: A small family. Parents with more formal education holding more science related careers, and more books at home. School science grades are relatively high. Science and mathematics are liked more than other school subjects. Intends to study science in the university and aspires for a science related career. The gaps between the top % and the rest in biology and physics are larger than in chemistry and earth science. The high achievers excel more in tasks which require higher cognitive abilities and which are outside their area of specialization. Their attitudes toward science learning are considerably more positive. Finally, they exhibit substantially higher preference for questioning and lower preference for rote memorization.