2011-2012 - Bavarian International School

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH (ACER)
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT – GRADES 7 AND 9
In October, the Upper School will administer a series of benchmark assessments to all Grade 9
students. These benchmark assessments are based upon internationally endorsed reading and
mathematical literacy frameworks developed by the Programme of International Student
Assessment (PISA). These assessments contain a broad cultural base and will measure student
performance in the areas of Reading Literacy, Mathematical Literacy and Writing. The results of
these assessments will provide parents and teachers with valuable information on each individual
student’s level of achievement and identify areas of strengths and weaknesses and diagnose gaps in
the above-mentioned areas. This important information will help teachers meet the academic needs
of individual students which will result in the improvement of student learning. Further, the results
of these assessments are normed which means that BIS will be able to compare the performance of
our students with those students who attend other international schools throughout the world. BIS
will be able to use this assessment data in its aggregate form to evaluate curriculum and instruction
in relation to objective evidence of student performance.
IGCSE AND IB MOCK EXAMINATIONS
In early January, Grade 10 students will take IGCSE Mock Exams and Grade 12 students will take
IB Mock Exams. The major aim of administering mock exams is to prepare students to take the
actual exam at the end of the school year. The resulting scores on the mock exams will provide
students, teachers and parents with valuable information about each student’s strengths and areas
that need improvement for each subject. This information will enable students and teachers to work
together effectively to prepare for the actual exams at the end of the year. Further, mock exams
afford students the opportunity to practice completing actual “past papers” under proper exam
conditions.
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT: IGCSE AND IB
During the months of May and June, Grade 10 students will take scheduled external exams in each
subject prescribed by the IGCSE to complete the requirements of a two-year course of study. Also
in May, students in Grade 12 will take scheduled external exams in each subject prescribed by the
IB to complete the requirements of a two-year course of study.
END OF THE YEAR INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
During two weeks in May and June, students in grades 9 and 11 will sit an internal assessment for each
of their courses. The BIS Internal Assessment Week has been scheduled with three aims in mind. First,
BIS wishes to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate important subject-specific
knowledge and skills that they have been working to develop throughout the year. Secondly, by having
a series of examinations, students will also develop the important habit of revision. Thirdly, BIS believes
in the importance of providing students with the experience of taking a series of subject-specific
examinations under exam conditions to prepare them for public examinations such as the IGCSE, the IB
or other external examinations. Teachers will report examination results on each student's final grade
report.
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