Monitoring Student Progress in Mathematics and Science
There are three types of assessment: school, official, and central official examinations.
- School examinations in public schools—Students in Cycles 2 and 3, as well as secondary level students, take two examinations during the school year, in addition to monthly tests.
- Official examinations in private schools—Private schools apply the same examination system as public schools; however, students in private schools take three term tests during the school year.
- Central official examinations—Students in Lebanon in public and private schools take central official examinations upon completing basic education (Grade 9) in order to obtain an Intermediate Certificate, a requirement for students who plan to pursue secondary education. At the end of the secondary stage (Grade 12), students take central official examinations in four subject areas (general sciences, life sciences, economics and sociology, and the arts and humanities) in order to obtain a General Secondary School Certificate, a university entrance requirement.
It should be noted that students’ school results are not taken into account on official examinations.
In public schools in Cycle 2 and up, students are promoted to the next grade or repeat the same grade based on the results of the examinations and tests mentioned above. In Cycle 1, students are promoted automatically. (Weaker students may enroll in a booster program at school.) In private schools, promotion and retention of students are based on the same tests and examinations administered to public school students.