External Evaluation of the European Baccalaureate (Annexes)

Class examinations, at the end of the first semester, if studying advanced maths, there will be a class
examination at the end of each semester and an arithmetical average of all scores will give the B mark
Total marks available 25 out of 40 marks
As before, the Oral exam is optional at the higher level EB
Oral Examination
Advanced maths requires an oral examination. These last 20 minutes and students are required to draw
by lot an envelope containing a number. They will then get a question corresponding to that number.
Students may reject the first question picked, but will automatically lose 20 % of the marks awarded for the
second question chosen. Some preparation time is given and note may be taken. The student then has to
set out his/her ideas on how to solve the problem. If the student is incapable of taking the initiative the
examiner make ask questions to start/form a dialogue. Two examiners are used, one is the class teacher
and the average score from the two examiners determines the final mark. Examiners mark out of 10 as a
raw score.
Total marks available 24 marks out of 100
Marking is done by two examiners. The class teacher marks first then an external examiner marks the
paper. If there is a difference of more than 3 marks, a third examiner is called in to mark.
Criteria for success
A final mark of 60% or more will indicate a pass
Students scoring at least 57% and less than 60 % will have their results reviewed and if they have
achieved 6/10 in three of the five written exams may be awarded a pass.
Students scoring 59 to 59.99% must have obtained a satisfactory result in two of the five exams to be
awarded a pass.
There are obvious contrasts between the two qualifications. OCR GCE is an exam only qualification,
whereas the EB has the class work element. The EB is examined at the end of the two-year course and
predominantly on the year 7 syllabus. The GCE is split into two sections, with a formal qualification
available at the end of the first year of advanced study made up of three modules. The EB is a pass/fail
qualification. The OCR GCE allows re-sits of each module to improve scores. The EB diploma requires
students to be secure in all aspects of the syllabus and has penalties built in, should students pick a
question for the oral exam which may not play to their strengths. The choice of a second question invokes
a penalty of 20%. The OCR GCE allows students to study more than one option and then choose the one
that achieves the highest score, to be aggregated into the final grade for the A level.
Comparison of Marking Procedures
It is not possible to compare the three qualifications in terms of expectations, marking procedures. There
are no IB scripts to use to assess. Looking at The EB and GCE scripts, there is little common material
available to compare objectively, between the two. There are differences in the make up of the papers, the
GCE paper is a series of short questions, the EB has short questions from each of the main headings,
then the optional long questions. The GCE has no optional questions and no long questions.
In terms of the examiners role, the EB diploma has teacher involvement, GCE does not. The EB has a
very rigorous checking system to ensure accuracy in marking of every script; the GCE has moderators
checking samples of work to ensure consistency. The IB uses external examiners and no individual
feedback is available for students, only an examiners report that highlights strengths and weaknesses of
all candidates sitting the HL exams.
59