In view of the return to school, maths and English the most sought-after subjects in summer 2024

An analysis of contacts on one of the leading learning platforms in Italy, Letuelezioni.it, between June and August 2024 reveals which subjects were the most popular among students. Mathematics in pole position followed by English and Italian. The data suggest that the subjects in which students sought most support may coincide with those in which they feel most deficient, in view of the imminent start of the new school year.

Mathematics was the most searched subject, with a peak of 12,000 hits in June. Despite a slight drop in July (11,000) and August (10,000), mathematics maintained its leading position. This trend confirms that it is the toughest subject tackled in the fateful remedial exams.

English garnered 9,000 hits each month, demonstrating a stable and constant demand. The need to reinforce this language skill, which is fundamental in both the school and professional spheres, makes English one of the subjects many students want to master before the start of the new school year and perhaps also in anticipation of holidays abroad.

Another significant figure concerns the Italian subject, which saw a slight increase from 4,000 contacts in June and July to 5,000 in August. This increase could indicate the students' desire to improve their language skills before returning to school, aware of the centrality of the Italian language in school curricula and exams.

Another figure on the 'homework help' category shows a significant spike from 2000 searches in July to as many as 3000 in August. The August period is probably strategic: on the one hand, students are approaching the resumption of the school year and, on the other, they have to fill any gaps accumulated during the summer months. "The trend in this research," asserts Albert Clemente, founder of Letuelezioni.it, "suggests that the most popular subjects are those considered most challenging by students. Maths, English and Italian are core subjects in the school curriculum and are often a cause for concern among students. However, the increase in interest in these subjects during the summer months could also be seen as a positive sign: many students may have decided not to wait until September to start studying, anticipating their preparation and arriving more prepared for the first day of school'.