Final exams 2021: choice of two tests per subject
Pupils can choose per subject next spring when they take their final exam: in the second half of May or in the second half of June. Thanks to this flexibility, students can prepare better for the exam, says Minister Slob.
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This school year, students can spread their exams over two periods. After that there will be a third period for the resits at the beginning of July. That is the most important measure for the final exams 2021, which Minister Arie Slob reported today in a letter to the House of Representatives.
According to the minister, the corona epidemic is demanding a lot from the students and teachers. 'Schools indicate that there are disadvantages.' Something that, incidentally, is also abundantly clear AObsurveys and out research of the Education Magazine.
We are very concerned about the delays that the students have incurred
School exams are currently largely on schedule, according to the minister. However, no data is available yet about what results the students achieve: the final grades are only provided just before the start of the central exam. At the AOb Signals are coming in that the results of the school exams are quite disappointing, and that teachers are being pressured by their boards to increase numbers.
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Slob wants to pass the central final exam 2021 as well as possible. Scrapping the exam, as happened last school year, is not desirable according to him. 'The final exam plays an important role for students as a benchmark for the knowledge acquired.' He has, however, taken a number of additional measures that should give students the opportunity to prepare for the exams as well as possible.
Earlier it was announced that the delivery period for digital, flexible exams in VMBO was extended, and the exam for the professionally oriented profile subjects was converted to a school exam. There are now additional measures for general subjects throughout secondary education, including the second study period. As a result, a student who is sick or in quarantine can still take the full exam during the first period.
A general relaxation of exam requirements affects the value of the diploma
Due to the extra period, a total of three final exams per course must be produced this year: one for the first period, one for the second period and one for the resit. All students in regular education and diploma candidates for the state exam also get an extra resit: they can therefore resit in two subjects.
The minister, he writes, does not opt for a generic alleviation of exam requirements. Such an adjustment affects the value of the diploma and thus the preparation of pupils for further education. However, the standards of the exams will be adjusted, on the advice of the Board for Tests and Exams (Cvte).
Subject teachers
'Normally, students' exam scores are set against the requirements of the subjects concerned,' writes the minister. This is also known as 'absolute standardization'. That is not technically possible this year, according to Slob. That is why the Cvte will use a more 'hybrid form' of standardization. In this, the scores of students are compared with the scores of fellow students, but also with the exam data for 2015-2019. The assessment of subject teachers on the difficulty of the exam taken is also included in the considerations.
Continuing to work during the summer holidays to correct the final exams must take place on a voluntary basis
De AOb reacts with mixed feelings to the measures. "A lot is being asked of the students and teaching staff - especially now that we are in a lockdown again," says daily director Henrik de Moel. "We are very concerned about the backlog of students. Because the online alternatives that are offered are innovative and innovative, but not enough to avoid falling behind for the entire school year.”
overlap
This year's resit will take place from 6 to 9 July. The result will follow on July 15. This creates an overlap in the North region with the start of the summer holidays on 12 July. “Possibly continuing to work during the summer holidays to correct the final exams must take place on a voluntary basis and be well compensated,” says De Moel. have been able to proceed.”
If, after the spring break, the situation is expected to look bad, the minister writes, then all educational parties will review whether the announced examination measures are sufficient.
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