1378 Independent schools students to sit for senior school exit exams from May 25

For the second consecutive year, at least 1378 twelfth grade Independent school students will participate in the Qatar Senior School Certificate exit exams administered by the Supreme Education Council’s Evaluation Institute beginning May 25 through May 29, 2008. The tests in four subjects – Mathematic, Science, English and Arabic – measure the basics and abilities acquired by student during their schooling and are based on the curriculum standards set by the SEC.

The tests incorporate both internal school and external test information (50% allocation to school evaluations and the remaining 50% for test conducted by the Evaluation Institute) for grade 12 students in the Independent schools. The tests comprise both multiple choice and short–answer questions in the easy range, with a majority being moderately difficult while others are really challenging. Apart from the Arabic, all the tests will be in English language but Arabic translations for Mathematics and Science tests will be available for students’ reference. Students are free to answer in the language of their choice.

A team of specialists will monitor the process and follow-up on the cumulative and the final evaluations and the additional achievement of students besides accrediting schools’ results in accordance with the evaluating criteria, which arbitrators will follow during school visits. The Evaluation Institute will also apply the internal evaluating criteria for assessing schools after providing them the assessment assessing criteria.

The certificate has four main components: an overall indicator of academic performance (Qatar Overall Senior School Score - QOSSS); scale scores in each of the four main curriculum areas (termed the Senior Schooling Scores in Arabic, English, mathematics, and science; a full listing of all school areas of study (Senior School Subject Assessment - SSSAs); and Additional School Accomplishments (ASAs) of student’s relevant non-academic related accomplishments. The last two components come directly from each school, whereas the first two components come from careful and proper combination of school assessment information and information from externally devised and administered senior tests.