Opinion / Columnist
What's next after June exams?
16 Sep 2015 at 09:52hrs | Views
AFTER the June examination results are out, the question that many candidates ask is, "what does it mean for me and my future?"
Today we would like to examine the examiner and find out how the grading process occurs and how to interpret the grades. Last week we took a look at the marking process in detail, and as noted in this year's examinations, Ordinary and Advanced Level results were released timeously and concurrently, leaving the candidate with ample time to make plans for his or her future.
According to the Standard English Dictionary a 'grade can be defined as:
a. A level of academic development in an elementary, middle, or secondary school:
b. A number, letter, or symbol indicating a student's level of accomplishment
From this we can determine that grading is the process:
a. To determine the quality of (academic work, for example); evaluate, quantify
b. To give a grade to (a student, for example).
The process of grading is when we convert the numerical marks that candidates achieve on every exam paper into alpha grades. For Ordinary Level examinations the grades used to translate the candidates' examination performance are A, B, C, D, E and U. A basic interpretation would translate the grade A in Ordinary Level as very good and on a point system 5 points, B- good or four points, C- Average or three points, D- Weak or two points, E- Very Weak or one point and U-Ungraded At this level a pass is counted from Grade C and above.
Advanced level examination grades are A, B, C, D, E , O and F. Grade A is very good, C- Average, E- Pass, O-Ordinary Level pass and F- Fail.
The point system then applies to Grade A to E with five points being awarded to the highest grade, A, down to one point awarded to the lowest grade, E. With the above guidelines a candidate is able to make a choice of subjects when moving from Ordinary Level to Advanced Level or when making a choice of courses to be pursued at a Tertiary or Polytechnic College. Most candidates will want to consider their strongest subjects when making this choice so as to increase the chances of doing well at the next level.
For the candidate who has completed Advanced Level studies, the grades achieved will help in choosing the course or degree that one wishes to pursue. It is to the college or university's discretion as to what level of pass they consider when taking a student in. Students must also be aware of the right subject combination needed to be able to register for a course of their choice as it is not about the number of points attained only but a combination of the two.
Grades are likewise, also used by schools, universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as employers, to select from a range of candidates for a particular course of study or job. Grades may also be used as the basis for decisions about scholarships or other awards.
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Questions and remarks email: pr.infor@zimsec.co.zw, whatsapp: 0772148786
Today we would like to examine the examiner and find out how the grading process occurs and how to interpret the grades. Last week we took a look at the marking process in detail, and as noted in this year's examinations, Ordinary and Advanced Level results were released timeously and concurrently, leaving the candidate with ample time to make plans for his or her future.
According to the Standard English Dictionary a 'grade can be defined as:
a. A level of academic development in an elementary, middle, or secondary school:
b. A number, letter, or symbol indicating a student's level of accomplishment
From this we can determine that grading is the process:
a. To determine the quality of (academic work, for example); evaluate, quantify
b. To give a grade to (a student, for example).
The process of grading is when we convert the numerical marks that candidates achieve on every exam paper into alpha grades. For Ordinary Level examinations the grades used to translate the candidates' examination performance are A, B, C, D, E and U. A basic interpretation would translate the grade A in Ordinary Level as very good and on a point system 5 points, B- good or four points, C- Average or three points, D- Weak or two points, E- Very Weak or one point and U-Ungraded At this level a pass is counted from Grade C and above.
Advanced level examination grades are A, B, C, D, E , O and F. Grade A is very good, C- Average, E- Pass, O-Ordinary Level pass and F- Fail.
The point system then applies to Grade A to E with five points being awarded to the highest grade, A, down to one point awarded to the lowest grade, E. With the above guidelines a candidate is able to make a choice of subjects when moving from Ordinary Level to Advanced Level or when making a choice of courses to be pursued at a Tertiary or Polytechnic College. Most candidates will want to consider their strongest subjects when making this choice so as to increase the chances of doing well at the next level.
For the candidate who has completed Advanced Level studies, the grades achieved will help in choosing the course or degree that one wishes to pursue. It is to the college or university's discretion as to what level of pass they consider when taking a student in. Students must also be aware of the right subject combination needed to be able to register for a course of their choice as it is not about the number of points attained only but a combination of the two.
Grades are likewise, also used by schools, universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as employers, to select from a range of candidates for a particular course of study or job. Grades may also be used as the basis for decisions about scholarships or other awards.
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Questions and remarks email: pr.infor@zimsec.co.zw, whatsapp: 0772148786
Source - zimsec
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