title: Sex Differences in School Science Performance from Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence.
abstract: We investigated whether the sexes differ in science performance before they make important course and career selections. We collected teacher-report data from a sample of children from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) assessed at ages 9, 10 and 12 years (N>2500 pairs). In addition we developed a test of scientific enquiry and administered it to a sub-sample of TEDS (n=1135; age=14 years). We found no evidence for mean sex differences in science performance assessed by teachers, or by a test of scientific enquiry, although boys were somewhat more variable. At a time when adolescents are making important course choices, girls are performing just as well as boys.
authors.affiliation: Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Claire M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plomin