Assessments & Pass Requirements
Assessment
Assessment in the GET and FET phases is based upon both examinations and a range of other activities including class and standardized tests, projects, activities and assignments required for the SBA (school based assessment) mark.
Examinations are taken very seriously. After all, one of the main functions of the School is to prepare the Grade 12s for their final, external examinations. SBA work is also important since failure to complete these activities could lead to pupils being required to spend more time in a grade. For the Grade 12s, failure to complete the SBA requirements could lead to incomplete results in the external finals, i.e. the WCED does not issue the candidate’s mark for that subject.
Work Submission Policies
SBA work is most cases not optional. In general, pupils are expected to complete and hand in all tasks. Pupils who miss a first deadline will be given a 48 hour extension (and a penalty of 10% per day). Failure to meet the second deadline will result in detention or internal suspension and could result in nought for the activity. The English Department, however, has a different policy: on missing a deadline, the pupil receives nought immediately, but the work may be submitted later, to count for the end of year only.
Some elements of SBA are done during school hours, e.g. standardised tests and practical assessment tasks (PATs).
As is the case with examinations, absence from any SBA, PAT activity or exam without a medical certificate will result in nought for that item.
Pass Requirements
General Education & Training (GET)
In the new CAPS curriculum, pupils need to achieve the following minimum standards in order to be promoted to the next grade:
50% in a Home Language (English)
40% in the First Additional Language
40% in Mathematics
40% in any three other subjects
30% in any two other subjects
The final mark is made up as follows:
Final examinations contributes 60% and the year’s SBA work contributes 40%
Further Education & Training (FET)
Although no minimum aggregate is required, a pupil must achieve 40% in their Home Language and in two other subjects. At least 30% is required in three of the remaining subjects. In effect, a pupil may fail one subject, provided that all SBA work has been completed.
The final mark is made up as follows:
Final examinations contribute 75% and the year’s SBA work contributes 25%
Matriculation exemption is now known as “admission to a Bachelor’s degree”. The minimum requirements are 50% in any four subjects other than Life Orientation. In reality, competition results in higher standards.
Examinations & Tests
In the first term, standardised tests take the place of exams in all grades.
The whole School writes comprehensive papers in the second and fourth terms.
While the matrics write full trial exams in September, the other grades write mini-exams.
The matrics start their final exams in October.
Reports
Reports with alpha-numeric BAW (Behaviour, Attitude, Work) ratings are prepared each term and made available to parents via the Parent Portal of the school administration programme, usually on the last day of term. Please make sure that you receive the reports and the accompanying material. In recent years the Parents’ Evenings have been held at the start of the new term. These are opportunities to meet the staff and discuss your child.