FOR INFORMATION ?
SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
Sio .........
SENATE
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From
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ISSION
BOARD
Subject
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RQVINCtAL. .4JMTIQN5.................
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Date ......... QçTOER ..6198.
Commencing January, 1984, the
B.C.
Ministry of Education will hold
compulsory Grade 12 examinations in the 13 academic courses. The
attached information has been extracted from a Ministry Policy Circular
dated September 21, 1983.
The University has expressed its intent to use final grades (i.e. school
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ades plus ê inTgrãde) fôradmission purposes-,
- but --"Dogwood-"- -statements
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are not expected before mid-August, creating some potential timing
problems for Fall admission. At present, the Ministry is working on
ways of alleviating these time constraints by reporting grades directly
to the universities and colleges.
A decision has been taken jointly by the three Provincial universities
that the minimum interim grade point average which will be accepted for
"Early Processing" will be raised from 2.5 to 2.75. This will not affect
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the admission grade point average which remains at 2.5, as determined by
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Senate.
Early Processing takes place annually in May and applies only to Fall
Semester entry of B.C. Grade 12 students. The final grades of applicants
are projected by the secondary schools and the documents are sent to us
direct from the schools. Approximately 1500 students applied this way
in 1983.
It should be noted that some of the four courses accepted for admission
purposes will not be examined in 1983. These are:
Western Civilization 12
Geometry 12
Probability and Statistics 12
SUAB is concerned that, at present, the Ministry has no plans to make
the exams available to independent (non-Group II) schools. This is under
review (see attached p.7, para 21). Presently, it appears that some of
the potential benefits to the University of the exams will be lost if the
so-called "visa" schools are excluded.
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Attach.
NH: aj
11
IMPORTANT DATES FOR MINISTRY INITIATED TESTING ACTIVITIES
October 12-14
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Reading Assessment - pilot testing - one hour
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selected schools.
November 15
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Grade 12 Provincial & Scholarship Examinations -
Registration deadline for January sittings.
January 23-31
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Grade 12 Provincial and Scholarship Examinations -
Administration.
February 22
Grade 12 Provincial ?
Examinations - Schools and
Students receive results.
March 15
Grade 12 Provincial ?
and Scholarship Examinations -
Registration deadline for June sittings.
May 3-7
Reading Assessment - One hour test for all
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students
in grades 4,
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7, ?
and 10.
June 21
Grade 7 Provincial Mathematics Achievement Test -
One hour Administration.
June 22
Grade 7 Provincial Reading Achievement Test - One
hour. Administration.
June 14-22
Grade 12 Provincial ?
and Scholarship Examinations -
Administration.
July 23
Grade 12 Provincial Examinations - Results sent to
Schools, Students and requested Post-Secondary
Institutions.
August 3
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. Grade 12 August Provincial Supplemental Examinations ?
- Registration deadline.
August 15
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Scholarship Examinations - Results announced.
August (T.B.A.) ?
Grade 12 Provincial Supplemental Examinations -
Administration.
September 1
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Reading Assessment Results for Grades 4,7, and 10
sent to districts.
September 14
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Grade 12 August Provincial Supplemental Examinations
- Results sent to schools and students.
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FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRADE 12 PROVINCIAL EXAMINATION PROGRAM.
1.
WHAT ARE THE PROVINCIAL EXAMINATIONS?
The examinations will be keyed to the provincial curriculum and will be
administered to all students in Public and Group 2 Independent Schools who
are registered in the following courses:
English 12, Literature 12, French 12, German 12, Spanish 12, Latin 12,
Algebra 12, Biology 12, Geology 12, Physics 12, Chemistry 12,
Geography 12, History 12.
Those students who have already completed any of the above courses In
1982-83 will be exempt from the examination and their course credit will
stand;
The exams will be administered in January, June. and AUgust 1984. '(August
will be for supplementals only).
2.
' WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROVINCIAL EXAMINATION PROGRAM?
The purpose of this program is to ensure that grade 12 students meet
consistent provincial standards of achievement in the academic subjects.
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The examination program will also ensure that graduating students from all
schools in the province will be treated equitably when applying for
admission to universities and other post-secondary institutes.
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An
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additional purpose of this program is to respond to strong public concerns
for improved standards of education.
3.
HOW LONG ARE THE EXAMINATIONS?
With 'the exception of English 12, all 'Provincial Examinations will be two
hours long. English 12 will be a three hour examination to allow time for
students to do the required writing and reading of selections.
Students writing for a scholarship will write respective Provincial
Examinations followed by a short break and then write the Scholarship
component which will be a one hour. test. Those students writing for a
French 12 scholarship will have an additional one hour auditory
examination.
Scholarship marks will be derived by combining the scores from the
Provincial and Scholarship component of the examination.
4.
WHAT
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DO STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ENGLISH 12 PROVINCIAL FINAL
There is no English 12 Scholarship Examination.
5.
Provincial Scholarship candidates will be required, however, to achieve at
least a 50% on the English 12 Provincial Examination.
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There will be no
opportunity to rewrite this examination for provincial
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scholarship?
purposes, although students can rewrite for the purpose of improving their
course standing.
Students registered in English 12 (M.E.) will not write the Provincial
English 12 Examination. The M.E. designation may be assigned by the
principal (for this year only) at any time prior to the examination.
Principals are reminded, however, that final marks in English 12 (M.E.)
are to be given on a pass/fail basis only and that not all post-secondary
institutions will accept students with M.E. designation.
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Refer to Schools
Department Circular No. 23 (22.8.77)
The English 12 Examination will use sight passages for Literature and
Reading. ?
None of the sight passages will be taken from the prescribed or
authorized learning resources.
HOW DOES STUDENT REGISTRATION TAKE PLACE?
Students will register for both Scholarship and Provincial Examinations
on the same form. Some important dates are:
November is deadline for mailing of Student Registration Forms by
principals of semestered schools for January sittings
of both Provincial and Scholarship Examinations;
March is
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deadline for mailing of Student Registration Forms by
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principals of full-year and semestered schools for June
sittings
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of
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both ?
Provincial
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and ?
Scholarship
Examinations.
It is the responsibility of the school principal to ensure that the students
are fully informed of the registration requirements and the deadline dates.
Registration forms for the August Supplemental Examinations will be
available from any school board office in the Province. Students may wish
to write the August Supplementals in an attempt to either pass a 'failed'
course or to improve their mark in any course. The deadline for mailing of
registration forms is August 3, 1984.
6.
WHO SETS AND MARKS THE EXAMINATIONS?
The examinations will be set and marked by committees of experienced
classroom teachers. The Ministry will select these teachers from those who
make application to serve on the committees.
Application forms will be sent to all schools in September.
2.
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HOW WILL THE STUDENT'S FINAL MARK BE CALCULATED?
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The final course mark will be a combination of the school mark and the
eiaminatiOfl mark:
. the school will submit a mark between 0% and 100% based on the year's
work;
• the Ministry will provide a mark between 0% and 100% obtained from the
results of the Provincial Examination;
• the results of the Provincial Examination will in some cases be adjusted
scores to control for variation in examination difficulty;
• the final mark expressed as a percent will be the average of the school
mark and the Provincial Examination mark;
• percentage scores submitted by schools -and reported by the Ministry will
be equated to letter grades as follows;
A = 86% to 100% Excellent Achievement
B = 73% to 85% Very Good Achievement
C+ =
67% to 72%) Satisfactory Achievement
C = 60% to 66%)
S ?
p = 50% to 59% Pass
F = below 50%
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Fail.
8.
WHEN WILL SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS RECEIVE PROVINCIAL EXAMINATION RESULTS FROM
HE MINISTRY?
Results will be made available on the following dates:
• February 22 (for the January Examinations);
• July 23 (for the June Examinations);
• September 14 (for the August Supplementals).
SchOlarship Examination results will be announced as outlined in the
policies and procedures document on Provincial Scholarships that is
distributed to schools each fall.
9.
WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL DO WITH THE RESULTS?
Upon completion of courses in examinable subjects the students' letter grade
marks are to be entered on their Permanent Record cards In pencil.
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Upon receipt of examination results from the Ministry, a school should enter
a Composite Letter Grade Only on the P.R. card in ink.
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Public schools
should follow their normal procedure for issuing Dogwood Certificates.
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A
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student's final standing
in
those courses passed should be recorded as a
letter-grade.
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Independent schools will follow normal procedure for the
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issuance of their own graduation certificates.
If students request that their results be forwarded to post-secondary
institutions, a copy of a student's P.R. card shoul.d be sent to the
institution.
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The P.R. card should be signed by the principal and marked
'interim' copy.
10.
HOW DO POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS GET PROVINCIAL GRADE 12 EXAMINATION
RESULTS?
On the registration form the student can indicate up to three British
Columbia post-secondary institutions to which the student wishes the
results to be sent. The Ministry will issue the student's Provincial
Examination mark, the school mark and the final standing. Additional copies
of student results will be the responsibility of the School.
11.
WHO HAS ACCESS TO PROVINCIAL EXAMINATION INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY?
The Ministry will provide individual student data to the Post-Secondary
Institutions only when requested by students at the time of examination
registration.
The district, individual school, and pupil results will be made available to
School Superintendents. In the case of Group 2 Independent schools, the
principal will receive school, and individual student results.
Release of district and/or school results will be an option of the
district.
Except as noted, individual student results will remain confidential.
12.
WHAT IF A STUDENT FAILS AN EXAMINABLE COURSE?
If a student fails an examinable subject, there are two options available.
The student could rewrite the examination at a subsequent sitting or, the
student could repeat the course and take the examination again.
It should be noted that:
• if the student does not repeat the course, his previous school mark will
remain the official school mark,
• if a student does repeat the course and rewrites the examination, he will
receive an entirely new set of marks,
40
For semestered schools, it is recognized that final marks will be issued
after the start of the second semester.
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For those students who fail and
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wisp to repeat a course, schools will need to make appropriate timetable
adjustments
UOfl
receipt of final marks.
13.
WHAT IS THE APPEAL PROCEDURE FOR STUDENTS?
If public school students disagree with the marks, awarded by schools on any
course they can. go through the local appeal procedure as described in the
Administrative Handbook (page 517-g-1). Appeal procedures in Independent
schools, for marks awarded by those schools, will be established by each
independent authority.
In view of the stringent marking and checking procedures established there
will be no re-marking of individual examinations.
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However, if students question the results on the Provincial Examinations
they may request that the .-princi-pal submit a written appeal to the
Provincial Board of Examiners.
14.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS?
A Board of Examiners will be established in accordance with Section 17(d) of
the School Act. The Board will provide consultation to the Ministry on the
matters related to Examinations and will adjudicate any special requests or
appeals regarding Grade 12 Provincial or Scholarship Examinations.
15.
WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS HANDICAPPED STUDENTS OR ILLNESSES?
Special circumstances fall into two categories; those that are predictable
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such as a sight-impaired student who the principal knows will require
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special consideration, and those that are unpredictable such as a death
in the family or sudden illness.
In either case the following procedure is required:
1)
The principal of the school is to send a letter to the Ministry
requesting that the Board of Examiners adjudicate the concern;
Board of Examiners
Ministry of Education
Scholarship and Student Assessment Programs
Parliament Buildings
VICTORIA BC V8V 2M4
2)
The letter should include a description of the problem or disability
and include any supporting documentation;
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3) As well, a recommendation should be outlined for the consideration
of the Board of Examiners;
In the circumstances that are predictable, the information should be
submitted at the time of registration.
For those special circumstances that are unpredictable, the principal is to
forward the letter, documentation, and recommendation as soon as possible
after the examination.
16.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY?
Security procedures for the Provincial Examinations will parallel those
currently in effect for Scholarship Examinations. The Superintendent or
designated Independerit schools authority has the overall responsibility to
ensure that security procedures are in place.
Within the school, the principal assumes the responsibility for examination
procedures. The principal may, however, appoint a "Supervisor-in-charge".
Instructions about specific procedures will be sent to superintendents and
principals at a later date.
All invigilators must be certified teachers but may not, however, be
teachers of the subject under examination.
17.
WHERE WILL THE EXAMINATION CENTRES BE?
All public schools enrolling Grade 12 will act as examination centres in
January and June.
Selected, funded (Group 2) Independent schools may also be designated as
examination centres.
Examination centres and dates for supplenientals in August will be decided at
a later date.
18.
WILL COPIES OF THE JANUARY EXAMINATIONS BE RELEASED?
In February,resource sets of the Provincial Examinations will be made
available to all schools.
6.
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7.
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19. DO CORRESPONDENCE STUDENTS WRITE THESE PROVINCIAL EXAMINATIONS?
An examination schedule is already an integral part of the correspondence
program.
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With correspondence students there will be no change from the
present policy. Since students will continue to write the Grade 12
Provincial Correspondence Examinations,, they will not be required to write
the new Provincial Examinations. However, if a correspondence student wants
to write for a scholarship, the student would have to write both the
Provincial and the Scholarship Examinations (as the scholarship mark is a
composite of the two tests) in addition to the regular correspondence
examinations.
20.
WILL ADULT SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS BE INCLUDED?
For this year, students enrolled in the Adult Secondary School Program
(Adult Interrupted Program) will not be elligible to write Provincial
Exa mi -
nations.
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Adults enrolled in regular day school classes in a secondary school will be
required to write respective examinations.
Day school students electing to
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enrol . in a, night school class will be
required to write the respective Provincial Examination.
21.
WILL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BE INCLUDED?
As previously stated, students enrolled in Group 2 Independent Schools are
required' to write the Grade 12
p
rovincial Examinations. . A final decision
has not been made as yet as to whether or not students registered in Group 1
and nonfunded Independent Schools will be permitted to write Provincial
Examinations. A clarifying statement will be made in the near future.
22.
CAN STUDENTS USE CALCULATORS?
For Algebra', Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics only, students are
permitted to use silent, handheld, non-printing calculators which do not
have the
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capacity to process, alpha-numeric strings.
The intent of this regulation is to permit the use of aids for numeric
calculations but to prohibit the use of micro-computOrS and electronic
translators which allow input, storage and/or retrieval of written
information.
Students should be made aware of these regulations sufficiently
in
advance
to allow them to obtain a suitable calculator if they so desire. It
should be noted that all examinations are developed with the intent that
calculators are not required In order to successfully complete the
examination.
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EXPANDED TABLES OF SPECIFICATIONS
FOR GRADE 12 PROVINCIAL AND SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS
that teachers of the
nt of each Examination..
content and weighting
examinations. Where
and circular No. 06
The purpose of this attachmentiS to ensure
examinable subjects are informed about the cont€
Included is an expanded description of the
information about each of the forthcoming
differences occur in the present circular
(83.09.02), the present circular prevails.
The following should be noted:
•
p
rovincial Examinations are two hours long with the exception of
English 12 which will be three hours long;
• students writing for French Scholarships will have an additional
one hour auditory examination;
• scholarship marks will be derived by conbining the scores from the
Provincial and the Scholarship component of the examination;
• students should be made aware of the regulations about calculators
outlined in Attachment 3 of this circular. It should be noted
that all examinations are developed with the Intent that
calculators are not required
in
order to successfully complete the
examination;
• in all language courses except for Latin special consideration must
be given to the weighting in the school mark since it is not
possible to measure all communication skills on a paper and pencil
examination. The school mark should therefore reflect appropriate
weightings for achievement in speaking and listening.
• new examinations will be produced for each sitting; however, the
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Table of Specifications attached will remain consistent for 1984.
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Ai sws.
