Monitoring Student Progress in Mathematics and Science

The evaluation department is responsible for designing and implementing the Qatar Comprehensive Educational Assessment (QCEA), a program that measures student learning. This program administers standardized tests to students in independent schools in Qatar. Testing is done annually, with the first tests having occurred in April and May 2004, to establish a baseline from which to compare all future test results.

A school report card is published by the School Evaluation Office of the Evaluation Department. These report cards are posted on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education website for easy access by school personnel, parents, students, and other interested parties. Parents will be able to use the information on the report card to help identify the best schools for their children. Test results for individual students will not be released publicly.¹¹

The other types of assessments are designed and implemented by schools, and the results of these assessments are sent to parents at the end of every semester as a report card with their children’s oral and written examination scores in every subject. Grades 1 and 2 primarily use verbal assessments, while the upper grades use verbal and written assessments along with homework grades. These reports are intended to keep parents up-to-date on their children’s performance, as well as the level of knowledge they have acquired. Parents may choose to enroll their children in enrichment lessons if their performance levels do not meet expectations.

Following the dissemination of results, parents and class teachers receive reports of student scores in relation to performance benchmark levels set by experts and teachers through a performance-level-setting workshop. Student performance is categorized into three levels of performance benchmarks: meets standard, approaches standard, and below standard.

The following methods are used in Qatar for instruction and testing:

A variety of comprehensive and development plans
Guidelines for academic classes¹²
Periodic tests prepared by the schools
National standardized tests for Grades 3 and 6
Formative evaluations such as quizzes, projects, homework, and activities
Diagnostic tests