According to a circular by the department of basic education, learners in gr. 10 and 11 at the end of this year do not write older examinations, but rather “controlled tests” in their respective subjects.
This is due to the large-scale disruption that the overall nationwide isolation and the coronavirus had in the academic year.
According to the letter, teaching time was lost this year due to the schools being closed for four weeks after which learners took turns going to school to reduce their chances of infection. As a result, not all learners covered the same weight of the curriculum.
The department therefore decided that controlled tests should be set by the learners’ respective teachers and would only cover work that the learners had already covered. The test should cover a significant part of the curriculum, the letter explains.
Examination papers are usually set by the department and all learners write the same paper.
According to the letter, the tested tests will also carry less weight than an examination in a learner’s assessment, while school – based assessment will carry more weight. The weight for the exam, which will be written as a test this year, is now reduced from 75% to 40% while the weight for school-based assessment is increased from 25% to 60%.
According to the department, learners in gr. Write only controlled tests of one hour while gr. 11s will write controlled tests lasting two hours.
Although the number of tests in fundamental subjects such as mathematics and languages remains the same as in an examination, the time allotted to write the test will be reduced. Electives’ tests are limited to one test per subject.
The writing of these tests is still subject to the protocols regarding moderation to ensure that standards are met.
