A Ricardian approach to subject selection: some consequences of the study of rigorous maths and physics

Abstract

This paper analyses the Tertiary entrance score consequences of the concurrent study of Physics and higher level Maths in the last two years of Secondary schooling in Queensland. Those consequences are shown to be both positive and significant, especially for males. It is suggested that this potential improvement, if made known to the students, could be a motivation for more students to take those disciplines, so providing a larger pool of qualified students from which Tertiary physical Science and Engineering departments could draw.