The Gender Gap in the Algerian Learners’ Academic Achievements: The Case of the BEM Exam in Bordj Bou Arreridj

The gender factor can be taken as a variable in comparative studies when dealing with students' achievements at schools. This study aims, basically, at investigating the status of the gender gap in Algerian learners' academic achievements. The present paper focuses on a population consisting of 32839 fourth year middle school pupils of the wilaya of Bordj Bou Arreridj in the official exam taken at the end of the middle school level (BEM) from 2015 to 2017. The results revealed that female learners outperform males in almost all subjects of study and in the overall success rates. This study, therefore, will serve as a cornerstone for further research seeking an understanding of the relationship between learners' academic outcomes and learners' gender in larger populations