S5 national exams to better meet needs of all learners |14 August 2013

As announced by the Minister for Education at the beginning of this year, an S5 National Examinations will be introduced as of this year to cater for the students who do not qualify for the IGCSE and who are not on the TVET Phase One programme. This article is presented in the form of Frequently Asked Questions in order to provide clarifications on pertinent issues.

Why is the ministry introducing S5 National Examinations?
On the basis of the 2009-2010 reform initiative and in line with the principles of the National Assessment Framework (2013), it was found that the current examinations system was not adequately responding to the diverse needs of the education system, and the national economy. Therefore, adjustments needed to be made in order to align it with curriculum demands and certification requirements.

As it stands, students who sit IGCSE were emerging from S5 with a certificate to show for their 5 years of secondary schooling. The students following the Phase One of TVET programme are also receiving a certificate to show their competencies at the end of S5. But those who are not ready for IGCSE or who are not on the TVET Phase One programme do not have anything to show. Therefore, national exams 2013 have been introduced to meet the needs of this specific group of students. These students will receive a school leaving certificate of achievement. The competencies that they have demonstrated during their years of schooling will be shown on their certificates.

On what syllabus will the examinations be based?
In S4, students have been following the core IGCSE programme. The same programme is being used in S5 but it has been reviewed to some extent (in collaboration with teachers) to form the National Exams assessment syllabus for the specific purpose at hand. (Some objectives have been reviewed slightly and some removed altogether).

In which subjects can they sit National Examinations?
They will do examinations in subjects that they HAVE NOT QUALIFIED to sit at IGCSE level; English, French, Maths, Geography, History, Combined Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and ICT.

What grading system will be used in these examinations? How will this be compared with IGCSE?
Students will be given a percentage mark and this will be linked to competencies that they have demonstrated in the exam in question.
There will be no attempt at comparing marks or derived grades because students sitting these exams have not reached the IGCSE level yet and the purpose of these exams is to provide the opportunity for students to show what they can do and for these to be documented and recognised. The grading system is also different. It will be in the form of percentile mark linked to relevant competencies.

It is to be noted that the grading system is in line with new curriculum and assessment principles reflected in the National Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks, where greater focus will be on competencies that students achieve during schooling.

What type of certificate will the students receive and how will it be of use to them? How will they benefit from sitting those exams? What will change for them at the end of the day?
Students will receive a School Leaving Certificate of Achievement. The certificate will show what competencies they have achieved and this will be of interest to users. Remember: The students come from a position of having nothing to show for the five years in a secondary school to a position of having a certificate which summarises their achievements and shows their competencies. This will be of use to users such as post-secondary institutions and future employers. In such circumstances more informed decisions can be taken regarding these students; where relevant, users can look for the competencies they want from what students show. Those who do well will improve their chances.

Can students sit both the national exams and IGCSE in a given subject?
No. They will sit national exams in subjects they do not qualify to sit at IGCSE level.

What criteria are used to determine whether a student will sit either national exams or IGCSE?
Assessment profile of the students and attendance in their Records of Achievements. The decision remains with the school who knows the students best. The coming of these examinations has not changed the way schools make their decisions. Bottom-line, we want schools to use the performance profile of the students and not base decisions on a single school-based assessment or examination.

What if the students fail? Will they get a certificate anyway?
The pass/fail concept will not apply here. Yes. The student will get a certificate and the certificate will describe his/her level reached in each subject.

What about students leaving at S4? Will they get something too?
The issue of students exiting at S4 is being addressed within the context of the new Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks (2013). Information on this will be given at a later date. Suffice to say, we hope that these exams will encourage more students to exit at S5 instead of at S4.

Will the certificate be recognised by SQA?
This is a new initiative. The SQA framework has been developed well before that. So, the issue of recognition is a work in progress as SQA is re-looking at the framework to make it align with new developments particularly the new National Assessment Framework (2013). To note that the issue of recognition of certificates by the SQA will apply to all certification at primary and secondary levels.  

Won’t these exams prevent students who have a slim chance of getting an IGCSE pass not to be considered?
Past trend shows that these students are most likely to fail as they are border line cases and will most likely end up with nothing. Therefore, it makes more sense for them to sit national exams whereby their competencies in that subject will be revealed and known on a certificate. Users will also know what they can do.

Due consideration needs to also be given to the cost for enrolling in an IGCSE examination which presently stands at SR1250.

How will these exams be time tabled?
S5 National Examinations will be scheduled together with IGCSE examinations. The possibility of sitting the two categories of candidates within the same room, to ease invigilation, will also be considered.

Contributed by Division of Curriculum Assessment and Teacher Support
For queries please contact;
Assessment Tel: + 248 4283218
Curriculum Tel: + 248 4283252
S5 National Exam Tel: + 248 4283215