5

H.—9.

COMPARISON OF RESULTS. Year 1875-6. Year 1876-7. Underwent Junior Examination... ... ... ... ... 54 107 Passed „ „ ... ... ... ... ... 37 61 Underwent Senior „ ... ... ... ... ... 31 36 Passed „ „ ... ... ... ... ... 20 22 A comparison between the results of the December, 1876, and June, 1877, examinations shows that the standard reached by candidates has fallen off considerably during the latter half of the past year. The highest number of marks attained in the Junior Examination, December, 1876, was 1,656 out of a possible 2,000 ; and in June, 1877, 1,535 out of the same maximum. Tho average number of marks attained in each subject by the best passed candidates in the Senior Examination, December, 1876, was 346 out of a possible 500 ; and in June, 1877, 328 out of the same maximum. Of 58 candidates who underwent the Junior Examination in December, 1876, 23 failed, whereas of 49 examined in June, 1877, 23 failed. The result of the Senior Examinations in this respect is still more unfavourable. Of 26 candidates examined in December, 1876, 7 failed; whereas of 10 examined in June, 1877, 7 failed. The following returns will show the numbers who failed in each subject:— Junior Examination. December, 1876. June, 1877. English ... ... 58 examiued, 11 failed 49 examined, 11 failed. Arithmetic ... ... 58 „ 16 „ 49 „ 11 „ History ... ... 58 „ 16 „ 49 „ 18 „ Geography ... ... 58 „ 7 „ 49 „ 14 „ Senior Examination. English ... ... 26 examined, 2 failed 10 examined, 1 failed. Latin ... ... 24 „ 1 „ 5 „ 1 „ Arithmetic ... ... 26 „ 3 „ 10 „ 3 „ Geography ... ... 26 „ 3 „ 10 „ 1 „ Greek ... ... 1 „ 0 „ 2 „ 0 „ French ... ... 5 „ 0 „ 5 „ 2 „ German ... ... 2 „ 1 „ 0 „ 0 „ Maori ... ... 0 „ 0 „ 0 „ 0 „ Trigonometry ... ... 5 „ 2 „ 7 „ 5 „ Algebra ... ... 23 „ 7 „ 8 „ 3 „ Geometry ... ... 16 „ 0 „ 4 „ 3 „ Science ... ... 2 „ 1 „ 1 „ 0 „ History ... ... 22 2 „ 8 „ 1 „ Book-keeping ... ... 3 „ 1 „ 1 „ 0 „ Shorthand ... ... 0 „ 0 „ 0 „ 0 „ The number of subjects in which candidates failed to pass is as follows: — Junior Examination. December, 1876. June. 1877. Failed in all subjects ... 3 ... 6 3 „ ... 4 ... 5 2 „ ... 7 ... 4 „ 1 „ ... j) ... _8 23 (58 examined) 23 (49 examined). Senior Examination. December, 1870. June, 1877. Failed in all subjects ... 0 ... 1 4 „ ... 1 ... 0 3 „ ... 3 ... 2 2 „ ... 3 ... 2 1 „ ... 0 ... 2 7 (26 examined) 7 (10 examined). RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. £ s. d. £ s . d. Voted by Parliament for the purposes of the Preparation and revision of papers ... 8111 0 Board ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 Supervision of examinations ... ... 88 11 6 Fees for examination ... ... ... 6 6 0 Attendance fees of members of Board, not Fees for certificates ... ... ... 4 0 0 being members of Ciril Service ... 27 2 0 Total ... ... ... £197 4 6 Balance unexpended ... ... 13 1 6 £210 6 0 £210 6 0

EXAMINATION PAPERS. I forward herewith, in duplicate, the Examination Papers used at the December, 1876, and June, 1877, examinations. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. G. S. Cooper, Chairman.

By Authority : George Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB77.

Price 6d.]