Section 6: Assessment Mechanism
(1) Basic Competency Assessments
Target
Basic Competency Assessments (BCA) are comprised of the Student
Assessment and the System Assessment. In line with the curriculum
reform, the Student Assessment provides an effective tool for use
at the discretion of schools in combination with other internal
assessment methods. It will help teachers understand the learning
needs and problems of students, so that timely assistance can be
provided to enhance their learning effectiveness. The System Assessment
will provide the Government and school management with useful information
on students' standards in Chinese, English and Mathematics at the
levels of Primary 3, Primary 6 and Secondary 3 on a territory-wide
basis.
Last Year's Progress
- Based on the curriculum, the relevant committees under the
Curriculum Development Council initially mapped out a set of proposed
'Basic
Competencies' which Primary 3 students should attain in Chinese,
English and Mathematics. In parallel, the Curriculum Development
Institute is developing the remedial packages.
- The Hong Kong Examinations Authority is developing a computer
system as well as the assessment items in the learning areas of
Chinese, English and Mathematics at the Primary 3 level.
Tasks Ahead for the Coming Year
- The Curriculum Development Council will consult the education
sector on the tryout version of the proposed "Basic Competencies"
for Primary 3 students in the areas of Chinese, English and Mathematics.
- The pilot run of the Prototype of the Student Assessment at
the Primary 3 level will be conducted in a number of schools in
mid-2002. It will be extended gradually to more schools and the
scope of the Prototype will be expanded to pave the way for the
full launch of the Student Assessment at Primary 3 to 6 levels
in June 2003.
(2) Public Examination Reforms
Public examinations provide a fair and objective assessment mechanism
for certification and selection purposes. However, they do have
limitations as they do not assess the abilities and performance
of students in a comprehensive and continuous manner. Therefore,
the Hong Kong Examinations Authority (HKEA) strives to improve the
public examination system with a view to making it more flexible
and more comprehensive so as to tie in with the curriculum reform
Last Year's Progress
- Extension of the Teacher
Assessment Scheme (TAS)
Preparatory work for extending the Teacher Assessment Scheme to
more HKALE subjects (including Physics, Engineering Science &
Art) in 2004 is now underway.
- HKCEE Core-competence Initiative
The HKEA and the CDI are currently preparing for the implementation
of the core-competence
approach in the HKCEE English Language examination. The implementation
of this approach for other subjects, including Chinese Language,
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, is still being considered.
- Allowing S6 Students to Sit the HKALE
The HKEA has decided to allow S5 students who perform well to
take the HKALE in S6 as private candidates. It is now considering
how to apply this scheme to those subjects having a TAS component
(such as the Chinese Language and Culture subject) in order to
enhance its effectiveness. The implementation details are being
worked out. It is estimated that the proposal will be implemented
in the 2003 HKALE at the earliest.
- Abolition of Fine Grades in HKCEE and HKALE
The HKEA has announced that fine grades [i.e. the approach of
sub-dividing students' Grade A to F results into 12 fine grades
from A(01) to F(12)] would be abolished with effect from the 2002
HKCEE and HKALE.
- Mounting an Independent English Language Proficiency Test
The HKEA will work out the implementation details for mounting
an English language proficiency test which is independent of the
HKCEE and HKALE English language examinations and can meet the
needs of society. This test will specify different levels of grading
according to clear criteria for assessing candidates' English
language proficiency. The test will be open to all members of
the public, including students, who wish to obtain certification
for their English language proficiency for employment or study
purposes.
- Conducting the HKCE CEM Examinations Twice a Year
After careful consideration, the HKEA has decided not to implement
this proposal at the present stage as the benefits it could bring
to students are limited. The HKEA will focus its resources on
other projects which are expected to exert a more significant
and positive impact on teaching and learning.
Tasks Ahead for the Coming Year
- To implement good practices for setting questions in order
to support the curriculum reform
The HKEA will enhance the relevance of the examination questions
to the daily life experiences of students. The format of the questions
will also be improved to provide more room for students to demonstrate
their creativity and critical thinking, rather than encouraging
them to learn by rote. Markers will be encouraged to exercise
their professional judgement to accept logical and relevant answers,
instead of taking marking schemes as absolute.
- To work closely with the CDI in developing combined curriculum
and assessment guides.
- To continue implementing the various reforms of public examinations.
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