CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

The Assessment Programme

The assessment programme is divided into two semesters at the end of which full reports are issued. Each semester is divided into two half-semesters. The academic programme comprises the following assessment cycles:

 First Half-Semester, Semesters 1 and 2: At the end of the first half-semester in Semester 1 and 2, abridged reports are issued, providing feedback on students’ continuous assessment.

 End of Semesters and 2: At the end of Semesters 1 and 2, full reports are issued. For subjects in which standardised tests or examinations are written, continuous assessment counts 50 percent and the test or exam 50 percent of the semester score. For subjects in which no test or examination is written, continuous assessment counts 100 percent of the semester score (see the table below)

 End of the Academic Year: A final end-of-year result is determined by calculating the average of the Semester 1 and 2 scores.

 Continuous Assessment: Continuous assessment scores are calculated by calculating a student’s average score for class assignments, tests, quizzes and homework tasks completed during the assessment period.

Four reports are issued to parents at Parent-Teacher Conferences, held four times per year, as indicated in the table below. Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled to reinforce the partnership between teachers and parents. Significantly, they also afford teachers the opportunity to give feedback to parents on students’ progress. It is very important that parents attend these conferences.

Semester Report Semester 1 – End of First Half-Semester Abridged Report Semester 1 – End of Semester 1 Full Report, indicating Semester 1 result Semester 2 – End of First Half-Semester Abridged Report Semester 2 – End of Semester 2 Full Report, indicating both Semester 2 and end- of- year results End of Year

Subject Achievement Grading – Grades 3 to 11

Percentage Grade Symbol State Grading Descriptors 95 – 100 A* 5 Superior – Exemplary demonstration of the achievement standard 85 – 94 A 5 Excellent – Convincing demonstration of the achievement standard 75 – 84 B 4 Very Good – Clear demonstration of the achievement standard 65 – 74 C 4 Good – Adequate demonstration of the achievement standard 55 – 64 D 3 Satisfactory – Acceptable demonstration of the achievement standard 40 – 54 E 3 Weak – Inadequate demonstration of the achievement standard 0 – 39 F 2 Fail – At least 80% attendance of lessons, but performance does not meet the achievement standard U – Ungraded Ungraded – Less than 80% attendance of lessons and/or failure to submit class/homework assignments and/or sit tests/exams

Subject Effort Grading Symbol Descriptors 5 Consistently demonstrates an exceptional level of effort 4 Demonstrates a high level of effort 3 Demonstrates an acceptable level of effort 2 Demonstrates a level of effort which needs marked improvement 1 Demonstrates an unacceptable level of effort which significantly deters learning

Promotion Requirements

In order to be promoted to the next grade level, students in Grade 4 upwards are expected to meet BOS’s promotion criteria. An E symbol is required to pass a subject at the end of the year. Students with one or two F symbols in academic subjects on their end-of-year report will be required to retake and pass examinations in the subject(s) failed before the new academic year commences.

Students with three or more F symbols in academic subjects will not be promoted and will be required to repeat the year at the same grade level.