Mathematics test for pre-university students does not count towards the exam

Tekst Karen Hagen - Redactie Onderwijsblad - 18 december 2017 - Minder dan een minuut om te lezen

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Since the 2015-2016 school year, the result of the arithmetic test counts towards obtaining a VWO diploma. Pre-university students must obtain at least a 5 to pass the math test. The arithmetic test was also one of the four core subjects together with Dutch, English and mathematics for which students were only allowed to get one 5. The math test did not count for students in VMBO, HAVO and MBO.

Abolish

In the coalition agreement the new cabinet reported last autumn that the arithmetic test will be abolished and an alternative is being worked on that should take effect no later than the 2019-2020 school year.

Nevertheless, it was still unclear for the VWO students taking the exam this year whether the test counts in the pass-fail scheme. While the budget treatment iIn the House of Representatives at the beginning of December, MPs, among others, Michel Rog (CDA) and Paul van Meenen (D66) asked for clarity and certainty for the VWO students at Slob. The minister said he was working on it, but that it was not yet final. Van Meenen, a former maths teacher, called it 'worth a party' if the test were gone.

Clarity

After about a week and a half, Slob does provide clarity. 'At the moment the arithmetic test only counts in VWO towards obtaining the diploma', he writes in his letter. 'That creates an unfair situation compared to other types of school. My first step is to not count the grade on the math test in VWO towards obtaining the diploma. '

The second step is that the minister, together with all experts and stakeholders, for example the Dutch Association of Mathematics Teachers, looks for an alternative. Mathematics teachers want to integrate arithmetic more into the different school levels and curricula.