International Approaches to Exams Given the Pandemic

Higher School Certificate (HSC), New South Wales

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)

Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET)

Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)

Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)

Australian Capital Territory Senior Secondary Certificate (ACTSSC

Also see:
HSC: https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/
QCE: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/
SACE: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/
NTCET: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/
TCE: https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/
VCE: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
WACE: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/
ACTSSC: http://www.bsss.act.edu.au/

(updated 30 august 2020)

School-Leaving Exams, University Entry-Exams

Civil Service Selection Exams and Interviews

V.Huseyn@dim.gov.az

• disinfection and ventilation of the buildings and rooms;
• placement of dispensers for hand disinfectants on the premises;
• regulation of the number of participants per room following the principle of social distance (max 15 students in a room);
• provision of examination staff with appropriate protective equipment;
• staff training on the pandemic.

The content which was taught online since institutions were closed was excluded from the test specifications of the exams in order to avoid any disadvantage for the students who have no or limited internet access.

In addition to paper-based exams, the SEC developed its e-proctoring technology – the ProctorDİM* – SEC’s online proctoring service to run their testing programs online with invigilation. (DİM means State Examination Center)

The SEC developed an online interview platform for the civil service selection, which was piloted and also introduced in June.

For more updates: http://dim.gov.az/en/

(updated 1 September 2020)

Director of National Examinations Directorate,
Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA)

wafa.alyaqoobi@bqa.gov.bh

Due to the Covid-19 situation this year, regular on-site study was suspended in all of the Kingdom’s schools from the 26^th of February 2020, which prevented the administration of the 2020 National Examinations for grades 6 and 12. However, the examinations are currently scheduled to be held for the next batch of students in the upcoming academic session (2021).

(updated 7 June 2020)

GCSE and A level

Primary school assessments

(A level results were released on schedule on 13^th August. These were the standardised grades as planned. However, following considerable protests, a few days later these results were replaced with the original grades that schools and colleges had submitted to the exam boards in May. GCSE results issued on 20^th August were also the original (unstandardised) grades.

The final aggregated results are rather different from historic data. For example, at A level, 38% of all 2020 candidates have now been awarded a grade A or A*. Over the last 10 years, that figure varied between 25% and 27%.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-roger-taylor-chair-ofqual

(updated 28 August 2020)

Primary school assessments, including the Early Years Foundation Stage profile and Key Stage 2 tests, will not go ahead this year.

(updated 10 May 2020)

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-9-april-direction-from-secretary-of-state-for-education

One type of VTQs, BTEC qualifications, are unitised, meaning that for many units the work is already completed. Where a result is required this summer for learner progression, the following information will be collated and used to determine an overall qualification grade: results from units already completed, centre-assessed grades for incomplete internal units and rank ordering information. The approach will vary by qualification as structural differences require.

Some BTEC qualifications are continuing with an adapted assessment approach where possible, and others, such as those with a licence to practice element may be delayed until they can be safely completed.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/campaigns/assessment-and-grading-in-2020.html

Following the decision to change the method for awarding grades for GCSE and A Level in August 2020, BTEC results were issued based on the same process i.e. centre assessed grades were used to determine final internal component outcomes.  Where BTEC qualifications also contained external components (that were due to be taken in summer 2020), a component grade was calculated based on learners’ grades in the internal assessments.  The overall qualification grade was calculated in the normal way. (updated 30 September)

WASSCE,

GABECE,

NAT

• The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2020 was conducted across the sub-region from August 3 to September 12, 2020. Meanwhile, the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020 – Second Series has been scheduled for November 14 – December 17, 2020.

National examinations were conducted or have been scheduled:

• Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) July 20 – 29, 2020.

(updated 1 October 2020)

WASSCE,

BECE,

G/ABCE

• The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2020 was conducted across the sub-region from August 3 to September 12, 2020. Meanwhile, the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020 – Second Series has been scheduled for November 14 – December 17, 2020.

National examinations were conducted or have been scheduled:

• General Business Certificate Examination (GBCE) and Advanced Business Certificate Examination (ABCE) August 5 – September 3, 2020;
• Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) September 14 – 18, 2020.

(updated 1 October 2020)

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

1. The deadline for the submission of school-based assessment results had been extended from mid-March to 31 March
2. Speaking examinations of both Chinese and English language subjects were cancelled
3. Several parts of the Physical Education practical tests, which will tentatively take place between the end of May and mid-June, were cancelled.
4. The tentative results release day will be delayed from 8 July to 22 July

A backup plan prepared by the HKEAA was in place to produce predicted levels for school candidates based on their schools assessment results and the schools’ prior performances in HKDSE in case the written examinations were to be cancelled.

(updated 3 May 2020)

All NEBOSH Award, Certificate and Diploma exams

NEBOSH are developing an adapted assessment for both National and International General Certificates in Health and Safety.  The first open book examination will take place July 2020.

Additional standard date Diploma examinations may be offered later in the year dependant on government advice on gatherings.

NEBOSH are looking at developing online assessment for their multiple choice Award and Certificate examinations, with a date yet to be advised.

NEBOSH General Certificate examinations can now be taken remotely.  The first examination took place in August 2020.  More dates will be available. Other standard date Certificate and Award examinations recommence September 2020, and on demand examinations are available. Standard date Diploma examinations will take place week in October and December 2020, dependant on government advice on gatherings.

In-person invigilated examinations can only take place where it is safe to do so and permitted by local government regulations and guidance.

Dates of examinations have been posted on the NEBOSH website (www.nebosh.org.uk) and updates are posted on NEBOSH’s social media pages.

(updated 21 August 2020)

Psychometric Entrance Test

Kenya Certificate of Secondary
Education
(KCSE)
Examination

Diploma in
Teacher
Education (DTE)
Examination

March/April Technica! &
Business Examinations

Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) Examinations

Dploma ne Special Needs Education (SNE) Examinations

• A decision was· made by the Government of Kenya to close down all learning institution by 20th of March 2020 leading to postponement of all national examinations scheduled for March and April 2020.
• The project component for the KCSE examination was in progress and was scheduled to end in July 2020. The project is school-based assessment (SBA) where scores are uploaded onto the KNEC portal at the end of two milestones; end of March & July
• The DTE examination was in progress and was to end on 25th March 2020. The examination was postponed with 10 papers remaining out of the 73 papers offered during the 2020 DTE
• The Business & Technica! Examinations, which was scheduled to start in the last week of March were postponed till the COVID-19 pandemie is contained and learning institutions
• The ECDE & SNE Examinations, which were scheduled to start in April were postponed till COVID-19 pandemie is contained and learning institutions reopen.

WASSCE,

LJHSCE,

LPSCE

• The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2020 was conducted across the sub-region from August 3 to September 12, 2020. Meanwhile, the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020 – Second Series has been scheduled for November 14 – December 17, 2020.

National examinations were conducted or have been scheduled:

• Liberia Primary School Certificate Examination (LPSCE) October 12 & 13, 2020;
• Liberia Junior High School Certificate Examination (LJHSCE) October 14 & 15, 2020

(updated 1 October 2020)

A

A

A

D

• The final test primary education (Eindtoets primair onderwijs) is required by law for each pupil in their 8th year of primary education in the Netherlands. This test provides an independent score next to the compulsory school advice for secondary education placement. Last year this test was cancelled. This year preperations are being made for the test to be administered in several different circumstances.
• The central and state exams 2021 for secondary education will continue this year. The digital and flexible central exams in the pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo) has been prolonged with several weeks, so schools have more opportunities for planning sessions suitable to their own situation. The practical central exams in the pre-vocational secondary education will be school exams next year, instead of central exams. Further decision-making bij the Minister of Education will take place before Christmas.
• The central exams in the intermediate vocational education in the Netherlands (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs) will proceed this year as usual. These exams are all digital and flexible in their scheduling and count for 50% of the final grade together with school-based exams. The flexibility in scheduling has been prolonged with several weeks, so schools have more opportunities for planning sessions suitable to their own situation.
• The State Exams Dutch as a Second Language (Staatsexamens Nt2) are the national language proficiency exams for non-native adult speakers, who want to study or work in the Netherlands. The State Exams Nt2 Diploma is officially recognized by the government. The tests are all computer based and are usually scheduled all year round, but this year all the tests were cancelled from March until June 16th.
  CvTE has taken a number of measures, for instance hygiene measures and measures to secure a 1,5 m distance, and is following the guidelines by the RIVM, the national institute for public health and environment. More details and updates: https://www.staatsexamensnt2.nl/item/state-exams-dutch-as-a-second

See also:
https://www.cvte.nl/actueel/nieuws/2020/09/16/coronavirus (Dutch)
https://www.examenblad.nl/nieuws/20200911/maatregelen-coronavirus-en-de/2021  (Dutch)
https://duo.nl/particulier/measures-coronavirus/exams-and-diplomas.jsp  (English)

(updated: 25 November 2020)

WASSCE

• The international WASSCE, which was scheduled to start in April, has been postponed indefinitely since March 20.
• All unscheduled aptitude/selection tests and other tests conducted on request on behalf of local and international institutions or corporate bodies have been suspended.

National Technical Certificate (NTC)

National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE)

D

• The skill-based, school leaving certificate examinations for students in Science, Technical, Vocational and Business Schools in Nigeria which were earlier scheduled to commence from 4th May to 5th June, 2020, have been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. Arrangements are being made to reschedule and conduct the examinations as soon as government’s directive on closure of schools is lifted and registered candidates are allowed to go back to their respective colleges to sit for the certificate examinations.
• NCEE is for students seeking admission into Federal Science and Technical Colleges and State Government Technical Colleges in Nigeria. The examination for the 2020/2021 academic session scheduled on 2nd May, 2020 was, also, adversely affected by the pandemic. It will be rescheduled and the examination conducted once students are allowed back to school.

Director, Aga Khan University Examination Board Chairman, Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Federal Ministry of Education and Training, Government of Pakistan

Dr Naveed Yousuf (naveed.yousuf@aku.edu)

Associate Director, Aga Khan University Examination Board

Upon extensive consultation at the national level, all universities, colleges, schools and technical vocational institutions were closed by March 13, 2020 for health and safety of students, teachers and school administrative staff. The education institutions are to remain closed till July 15, 2020 according the earlier notification. The government is currently in consultation at national level to decide on re-opening of schools.

All national examinations were cancelled (May 14, 2020). Robust and evidence-based promotion guidelines (prepared by Inter Board Committee of Chairmen IBCC, Federal Ministry of Education and Training, Government of Pakistan and Aga Khan University Examination Board) were issued to ensure progression of children to the next academic level due to cancellation of examinations.

Due to COVID -19 and as per the directives of the government, the schools are expected to restart on September 15, 2020. The delayed re-opening of schools in Pakistan highlights another unique challenge of completing the curriculum within the short academic year, leading to unmanageable academic load for both students and teachers. Governments and educational institutions in many parts of the world are taking measures to rationalize the syllabus to maintain standards while reducing academic load according to their own contexts. In the same spirit, AKU-EB has also taken several steps to ensure that the educational activities effectively continue at our affiliated schools while maintaining standards in face of this uncertainty.  Please note that the Government of Pakistan is in a planning stage and may differ slightly from AKU-EB’s approach

For the academic year 2020-21, the AKU-EB plans to ensure its commitment for high academic rigor and standards in assessment and examination to our affiliated schools. The academic year will end in March 2021 and the annual exams will be held as per the schedule. AKU-EB has rationalized its syllabus. The rationale for this syllabus rationalization in this short and uncertain academic year is to:

•  Ensure that the academic content is manageable, yet maintaining academic rigor for the students.
•  Ensure that assessment is valid yet feasible considering the SOPs suggested by the government to ensure safety of students and school staff.

Hence, some major decisions includes:

• The syllabus content for academic year 2020-21 has been rationalized and essential and important concepts will be assessed in the Annual Examinations 2021.
• There has been a reduction of 20-30% content in the academic year. The decision is based on reviewing the pacing guides of several schools (urban, rural and remote setting).
• The Annual Examinations 2021 will consist of MCQs only (except for examinations of languages and art where extended questions have been retained) to minimize contact during conduct of examination and E-marking.
• Practical exams will be replaced with Alternate to Practical (ATP) papers (MCQs-based) to minimize contact during the academic year and exam conduct and to ensure teaching continues r emotely in case we see further delay in opening of schools or re-closure.

As a part of the validation for the rationalization of the syllabus, a review of the rationalized syllabus was done by a representative sample of teachers from our affiliated schools.

We have received very positive response from our schools as they all understand the unique challenges everyone is experiencing. They are also very appreciative that while AKU-EB is making sure to address the situation, at the same time the Board is making sure that the quality and academic rigor is not compromised.

(updated 31 August 2020)

WASSCE,

BECE,

NPSE

• The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2020 was conducted across the sub-region from August 3 to September 12, 2020. Meanwhile, the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020 – Second Series has been scheduled for November 14 – December 17, 2020.

National examinations were conducted or have been scheduled:

• National Primary School Examination (NPSE) August 3, 2020;
• Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) September 14 – 22, 2020.

(updated 1 October 2020)

National Assessment of Knowledge in Primary School (6th, 9th grade)

General and Vocational atura

Foreign Language Exams for Adults

E

E

suzana.bitenc@ric.si

• Assessments have been canceled. All schools were closed in March with teaching and assessment moved online. School grades in 7th, 8th and 9th grade will serve as the basis for secondary school admissions.

• The General and Vocational Matura exams are proceeding this year with minor modifications.
  All schools were closed in March and the teaching process moved online. In May, students returned to schools.
  The first exam was postponed from May to June but other exams will be administered as planned.

• National foreign languages exams are scheduled three times a year. They will be administered in June as planned.

National Senior Certificate (NSC) – state system and Independent Examinations Board (IEB)

The strategy adopted by our Minister of Basic Education to recover the teaching time that has been lost as a result of the lockdown so that the full curriculum of the NSC qualification will have to be covered in teaching is still in place.  Schools that are able to, have limited the face to face return of learners by using remote teaching strategies, while others are employing strict hygiene strategies and enforcing social distancing.

The next set of grades i.e. Grade 11, 6 and 1 returned to school on 6 July, amid substantial protests, given the upsurge in positive cases across the country but in particular in the 3 epicentre areas of   Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western Cape.  At some universities, final year students have returned while the remaining students are participating in remote teaching strategies. Given the inequalities in access to signal and data, there is much unrest.

What is clear however is that the 18^th century practice in education of full reliance on a teacher through face to face teaching has been substantially challenged during this period of Covid-19. The necessity for learners to learn from home has challenged teachers in how to teach and how to assess under these circumstances. Teachers, being the creative people they are, have risen to the challenge and developed a number of very effective strategies – it is very doubtful that education will return unchallenged to the “ways of doing” as it was  in March 2020.  Certainly, in some schools in South Africa, this is highly unlikely.  Given sporadic outbreaks of the virus, some schools have been forced to close and deep clean their premises. Hence the situation is still very fluid.

(Updated 7 July 2020)

The main school-leaving and university entrance examinations, at the end of Grade 12 i.e. the National Senior Certificate, has been scheduled to be written from mid-November to mid-December in state schools.  IEB examinations will start towards the end of October and continue until the end of November. Given Covid-19, examinations that were scheduled to take place during May/June 2020 did not take place and those candidates have been included in the examinations that will be written later this year.  The late completion dates of examinations means that marking and processing of results will be delayed. The intended date for the release of the 2020 NSC results is February 2021.

Because commencement of the academic year after the lockdown at universities has been delayed, the 2020 academic year will extend well into 2021.  It is expected that the academic year for first year students will only commence in March 2021 to accommodate the late release date of the NSC results. Universities rely on these results to confirm placement offers to students.

Covid-19 has seen a spike in the establishment of distance education especially in the form of online schools.  The authorities are grappling with the phenomenon in an effort to decide how they should be regulated.

All grades have returned to school, with parents having the choice of whether to register their child as a “home-schooler” or to allow the child to attend school in person.
.(updated august 2020)

Amended Senior Certificate (SC(a)

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

National Certificate Vocational (NCV: Levels 2 – 4)

National Technical Certificate (NATED: N1 – N3)

General Education and Training Certificate (GETC: ABET Level 1)

The greatest impact of the Covid-19 on Umalusi, as with assessment bodies, is the change of dates of all exams which were scheduled to be written from April onwards. While the Department of Basic Education (which assesses the NSC) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (responsible for assessing the NCV, GETC, and NATED) represent two public assessment bodies, there are three private assessment bodies accredited by Umalusi to assess particular qualifications. The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) assesses the NSC and GETC; South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) assesses only the NSC, whereas Benchmark Assessment Agency (BAA) currently assesses the GETC.

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, all schooling-related exams which were scheduled to be administered in May/June have been merged with those normally written at the end of the year. In terms of the gazetted time-table, NSC-related examinations will run between 9 November and 18 December 2020. Although the time-table has not yet been published, indications are that GETC examinations will start around the 9^th November instead of the original date of 2^nd November. There is no doubt that the changed exam dates will have a knock-on effect on all Umalusi-related quality assurance processes which normally unfold pre- and post-administration of exams by the assessment bodies. Such processes include the auditing of the state of readiness for the system to conduct exams, monitoring of the writing of exams, monitoring of marking guidelines discussions, verification of marking of scrips, all of which culminate in the standardisation and approval of results. Online standardisation platforms have been created to enable the processes to be conducted remotely.

Accordingly, Umalusi has reschedule its exam quality assurance processes in order to synchronise them with the gazetted national exam timetable. The reality is that the quality assurance processes will be concluded in the first quarter of 2021.Given that the anchors of specific quality assurance processes are educationists, academics and researchers who are non-permanent staff at Umalusi, the new timetable could impose conflicting pressures on their diaries.

(updated 2 September 2020)

Advanced Placement (AP)

SAT

As schools and communities navigate these challenges posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, The College Board provided AP students with free, optional virtual learning opportunities and an at-home AP testing option. Online AP exams were given May 11-22 and make-up test dates took place June 1-5. The transition to an at-home testing option for 2019-2020 AP exams gave students the opportunity to earn the credential, college credit and placement they’ve been working toward all year. The vast majority of U.S. universities will award credit as they have in the past, and we have spoken with institutions worldwide who will use the results from the results from the at-home tests in admissions decisions this year.

SAT registration is open for the 2020-2021 academic year. The College Board had already committed to a new August international test date. As a response to limited testing opportunities in March, May and June, and the College Board is providing an additional SAT administration on September 26 as well as an added SAT Subject Tests administration in November. We will also add a test date in January 2021 if there is demand for it. The full SAT test calendar can be found here.

This year, many centers will have fewer seats because of social distancing guidelines and may encounter unexpected closures. While the College Board cannot directly control test center capacity and availability, the organization is working with global high schools, universities, and other sites to increase seating capacity in areas where registration is filling up.
Please visit https://pages.collegeboard.org/collegeboard-covid-19-updates for the most up to date information on all of our programs and offerings.

(updated 6 June 2020)

Graduation from upper secondary level

Entrance grade 10

Final exams of school years (primary, lower and upper secondary level)

https://tintucvietnam.vn/cu-the-nhung-thay-doi-cua-ky-thi-thpt-quoc-gia-2020–ky-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2020-d236602.html

Postponed to July 2020 (normally in June)

https://tuoitre.vn/nhieu-tinh-thanh-thay-doi-ke-hoach-thi-vao-lop-10-20200418085812311.htm

Postponed to July 2020 (normally in June)

https://vietnamnet.vn/vn/giao-duc/goc-phu-huynh/lui-thoi-gian-ket-thuc-nam-hoc-doi-lich-thi-thpt-quoc-gia-sang-thang-8-623943.html

(updated 19 May 2020)

1)  Graduation from upper secondary level: postpone to 8/8/2020 -10/8/2020 (normally in June) (https://kenh14.vn/lich-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-quoc-gia-2020-va-cac-thong-tin-si-tu-can-chu-y-2020080208425957.chn)

2) Entrance 10 grade: postpone in July (normally in June) (concrete date is different in each localities https://thi.tuyensinh247.com/lich-thi-vao-lop-10-nam-2020-tat-ca-cac-tinh-tren-ca-nuoc-c22a51962.html  )

3)  Finishing school years (primary, lower secondary level): July 2020 (normally in May) https://moet.gov.vn/ttbt/Pages/tin-hoat-dong.aspx?ItemID=6552

Updated 1 September 2020

Junior Secondary School Leaving

Primary School Leaving school

General Certificate of Education , GCE (Private Candidates)

Junior Secondary (Private Candidates)

Teacher Education Diploma Examinations

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Examinations Council of Zambia
mchilala@exams-council.org.zm

The Main Examinations which were scheduled for November, 2020 will be held in December, 2020.

The Examinations for private candidates which were scheduled for August, 2020 will be held in September, 2020.

The teacher education examinations have been postponed until further notice.