Monitoring Student Progress in Mathematics and Science
National examinations prepared by the National Examination Center monitor student achievement relative to the minimum standards defined by the curriculum and provide general feedback to the school system about student achievement. Test items are written by national subject committees and mostly contain open-ended questions. Assessment results are analyzed at the National Examination Center and presented to schools at regional conferences. The National Education Institute is then responsible for evaluating the results, proposing changes, and planning further development activities in elementary education.
Students are required to take external national examinations at the end of Grade 9 in their mother tongue, mathematics, and a third subject, which is selected by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport for particular schools. Examination results are returned to students, but are not intended to serve as criteria for determining students’ overall success. In rare situations, when more students with the same school grades apply for entrance to a secondary school with limited entrance, these results may serve as admission criteria (with students’ consent).
Teachers assess students’ knowledge two to four times during a school year according to school policy, the curriculum for each subject, and the Elementary School Act, with written tests, oral questioning, and student presentations or seminars. In Grades 1 to 3, student achievement is presented in the form of descriptions. From Grade 4 onward, numerical grades are given on the national scale from 1 (fail or negative) to 5 (excellent). At the end of the school year, teachers summarize student grades in each subject, and students receive report cards containing final grades from all subjects.
Written policies on grading procedures for each subject are part of the national curriculum. Grading is separate from teachers’ evaluation of overall student knowledge, skills, and effort, and intended to give students feedback only on their recent knowledge. Grades should reflect students’ achieved standard of knowledge. Teachers are required to provide students and parents with a list of standards required for each grade at the beginning of the school year. Teachers also are required to enable students to take an active role in planning dates for assessments and individual oral questioning for the whole year.
Students who have received positive final grades (2 or higher) in all subjects at the end of the school year advance to the next grade. Even in lower grades, the rare students who do not reach minimal standards repeat the grade. Students in the third cycle (Grades 7 to 9) who receive a failing grade in one or two subjects must take a final make-up examination during the summer holidays in the relevant subjects. These students advance to the following grade if they pass examinations and improve their grades before the next school year. Students who receive negative (failing) grades in three or more subjects must repeat the year. Students in Grade 9 have several opportunities to improve their negative final grades for a larger number of subjects. To avoid retention, schools offer regular remedial lessons, including mathematics and science subjects, during the school year for students who need additional instruction and individual help for slow learners with special needs.
Students who complete elementary school and receive a school leaving certificate may continue their education at any general or vocational secondary school, with no restrictions regarding school location.