Based on the science achievement survey data collected in the IEA Second International Science Study, the present study seeks to provide empirical evidence to substantiate the Education Commission's reform proposals on: (1) the unification of the Sixth Form educational structure and the accompanying science curricular provision, (2) the upgrading of the educational standard of the private schools, and (3) the delegation of decision making related to the teaching of science to the teachers. When student intake into the various types of schools and their opportunity to learn the course content are controlled, this study establishes that the HKHL and HKAL matriculation curricula are equally effective as far as science achievement is concerned.

筆者之所以進行這個研究，是由於筆者認為，在IEA第二次國際科學教育的研究中，有些關於科學學習成績的調查數據，是可以支持香港教育統籌委員會下列的改革建議:(1)應該統一大學預科學制及其相關課程;(2)提高私立學校的教學水準;(3)通過改革後的學校管理措施， 下放更多權力給科學教師，使其能更好地決定自己的教學工作。筆者同時認為，只要有以下前提:(1)學生入讀不同類型的學校時，其入學水平是受到控制的；(2)他們學習課程內容的機會，是受到控制的而又用科學學習的成績為依據來衡量課程效能，則香港高等預科課程及香港高級預科課程的效能是不相伯仲的。