Untitled - Umalusi

5. 2 Cognitive skills
In History, moderators found that differentiation into Higher Grade and
Standard Grade was clear and in line with the guidelines. The same was
the case with Biology. Physical Science moderators, on the other hand,
observed that there was a very clear distinction between the Higher
Grade and the Standard Grade examination question papers. This, they
stated, could be determined through content selection and the weighting
of items demanding high-level thinking skills.
The purpose of this criterion is to establish what conceptual constructs are
being tested by the examination question paper. It also seeks to find out the
challenge or difficulty level of the examination question paper. In addition,
the criterion investigates the extent to which the examination question paper
is in line with the best and latest developments in the teaching of that particular
subject. Lastly, it examines the extent to which the examination question
papers differentiate between Standard Grade and Higher Grade.
The testing of cognitive skills refers to the challenge or difficulty levels at
which examination questions are pitched. This is central to the standards
The moderators for national subjects – History, Biology, English Second/
Additional Language, Physical Science, Accounting and Mathematics –
found that the 2005 Higher Grade examination papers were set in line
with the latest developments in the teaching of these subjects, at least in
the Higher Grade.
of the examination. The overwhelming finding by the moderators in the
majority of subjects – Mathematics, Biology, History, Physical Science,
Accounting and English Second/Additional Language – was that the
examinations contained a satisfactory weighting of questions that required
the deployment of higher-order thinking skills.
The History moderators applauded the 2005 Higher Grade examination
question paper in the following observation:
The foregoing discussion points to a general trend towards setting more
questions that are regarded as cognitively more demanding.
“Three years ago we set ourselves a goal to achieve – we are there now.
I’m proud of the standard of this paper.”
15