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examination has served a very useful purpose in diverting the thoughts of pupils and teachers towards other than the fairly narrow range of former examination subjects. The increasing number of candidates is throwing an ever-greater burden on the Department, which must arrange for the examination of great numbers of candidates in a wide range of subjects in many centres, and which is expected to produce a pass list as early as possible in the New Year. The whole examination procedure, from the Department's point of view, is a remarkable piece of detailed organization. The numbers of candidates for the examination in 1948 and 1949 are given below : A. Subjects Closely Associated with Core Syllabus—--1948. 1949. English 8,369 8,846 History .. 4,721 4,838 Geography 4,769 5,279 Mathematics 3,920 4,087 General science .. .. .. 1,747 1,899 B. Fine Arts Subjects — Drawing and design .. .. 982 1,003 Music 197 244 Embroidery .. .. .. 49 39 C. Science Subjects — Applied mechanics .. ■. • ■ 255 255 Biology .. .. •• ■• 1,579 1,896 Chemistry .. .. _ .. .. 2,737 2,636 Electricity and magnetism .. .. 621 668 Heat, light, and sound .. .. 132 138 Physiology and hygiene (in 1949, human biology) 360 456 D. Agricultural Subjects — General agriculture .. .. • - 307 311 Animal husbandry .. .. .. 117 109 Dairying 147 138 Horticulture .. .. •■ 90 138 E. Trades and Industrial Subjects — Engineering shopwork .. • • 249 246 Heat engines .. .. • • 38 21 Technical drawing .. .. ..491 493 Technical electricity .. .. 140 111 Woodwork .. .. ..212 214 F. Home-course Subjects — Homecraft .. .. .. .. 448 531 Clothing 605 660 G. Commercial Subjects — Commercial practice .. • • 808 1,005 Book-keeping .. .. ..1,166 1,305 Shorthand and typewriting .. .. 368 457 H. Foreiqn Lanquaqes — French / •• 2,763 2,812 German .. .. .. • • 29 25 Greek .. .. .. .. 1 H Latin 1,004 1,091 Maori .. .. .. ..117 143 In all there were 9,352 candidates in 1949 and 8,592 in 1948. It will be seen that there is little change in many subjects, but where there is an upward tendency it is found in the newer subjects.

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