Untitled - Umalusi

Chapter 7
Conclusion
Umalusi has, in the last year and a half, been grappling with the issue of
standards in the Senior Certificate Examination. This serious attempt to
The processes used by Umalusi to quality assure examinations are
the following:
determine the quality and standard of the Senior Certificate Examination
came about partly as a result of Umalusi’s own internal review processes
but also from public concerns about the standards of this examination.
The rising pass rates were interpreted to mean that standards in the
examination were declining.
1. Moderation of question papers
2. Moderation of continuous assessment
3. Monitoring the conduct of examinations
4. Moderation of marking
5. Standardization of assessment outcomes
Umalusi conducted an investigation in 2004 to determine the standard
and quality of the Senior Certificate Examination. This study yielded very
valuable lessons for Umalusi. Among other things, it pointed out the need
to strengthen processes in place for the quality assurance of assessment.
It also underscored the need to give attention to the cognitive challenge
in question papers. This research culminated in concerted efforts to
sharpen, streamline and strengthen the quality assurance of assessment
processes used by Umalusi. In addition to all these efforts, Umalusi
conducted an intensive evaluation of all assessment bodies’ Examinations
and Assessments Directorate in 2005. This has given Umalusi detailed
As a result of all the efforts that Umalusi has put into sharpening the tools
it uses to monitor standards, the 2005 examinations were conducted in
line with relevant policies and regulations and the quality and standard
was beyond reproach. The cognitive demand in examination question
papers in general, and the nationally set ones in particular, increased
considerably. Question papers included more questions requiring higher
order thinking skills. However, Umalusi still has concerns about the
standard and quality of back-up papers and the quality and rigor of
internal moderation of question papers in general.
knowledge and insight into each of the 11 assessment bodies, systems
and processes related to examinations and assessment.
Umalusi also reviewed and strengthened its processes and procedures for
the quality assurance of continuous assessment (CASS). As a result of this,
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