When students are anticipating Grades 8, 10 or 12 examinations (and results or selections) it is perhaps useful to estimate their marks. This post aims to show parents, students, teachers and stakeholders how to estimate the grades of students.
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| Percentage based grading - an example |
There are two benefits of knowing the likely grades of students - and especially the grade 12 students - before they sit the national exams based on percentages ranking (shown below).
- Firstly, this will help students to revise well and teachers to prepare their students properly for examinations.
- Secondly, this can help students to make suitable choices on School Leavers Forms (SLF).
Exam & School-based Test Results
Suppose the total marks in an 'external' examination is out of 100 marks, a student who sits the exam can get a mark ranging from 0 to 100. The student is then graded accordingly. The final grading takes into account the student's performances in both the external examination and internal school-based tests/assessments for that particular subject.
The collating of marks is called Standardisation. This stage uses the student's MARKS from both the external (exam marks) and internal (school-based) performance results. Usually, the internal marks have less weight than the external marks.
The examinations are very important. The student will not be graded or go through the selection process if they do not sit the national examinations. Therefore as mentioned, exam plays a crucial part in the standardisation of student's marks. And, eventually selections to higher institutions.
In retrospect, exactly how the standardisation of results (and percentage composition of Internal vs external marks) in PNG is done is NOT available in the public domain. But, general inferences of marks and grading can put students in better positions. Especially, in a great position to prepare for exams and make informed choices on SLF.
So far, the post places emphasis on external exam performance. Yes, an exam is important in all scheme of things. In fact, exams results are the culmination of all the work that has been done over time, at different grade levels. The exams marks are barely the reflection of school-based learning.
The collating of marks is called Standardisation. This stage uses the student's MARKS from both the external (exam marks) and internal (school-based) performance results. Usually, the internal marks have less weight than the external marks.
The examinations are very important. The student will not be graded or go through the selection process if they do not sit the national examinations. Therefore as mentioned, exam plays a crucial part in the standardisation of student's marks. And, eventually selections to higher institutions.
In retrospect, exactly how the standardisation of results (and percentage composition of Internal vs external marks) in PNG is done is NOT available in the public domain. But, general inferences of marks and grading can put students in better positions. Especially, in a great position to prepare for exams and make informed choices on SLF.
So far, the post places emphasis on external exam performance. Yes, an exam is important in all scheme of things. In fact, exams results are the culmination of all the work that has been done over time, at different grade levels. The exams marks are barely the reflection of school-based learning.
Percentage-based Grading
The example of the breakdown in marks below can help you rationalise how the process works. Note that this is for guidance purposes onlyFor example, in Maths B a student's grades could be awarded on a percentage-based criteria as follows:
A = top 5 %
B = 25%
B = 25%
C = 40%
D = 25%
F = bottom 5%
So if a student wants to get an A in the Maths B exam (out of 100 marks) they MUST score 95/100 or more in the examination.
Schools Overestimating Internal Marks
There is always the temptation for schools to manipulate student's internal marks. Such practise should not be encouraged. It had little or no effect on student's overall performances and grading. It does the student no good.Schools must record students marks (and estimates where a student missed tests) according to the student's performance.
In reality, if a student combines this 'guesstimate with the Internal School Assessment result, he/she will be in a better position to revise well prior to the exams and also make an informed choice on the SLF.
If you have any questions or find this post useful, please leave a message at the bottom and I'll respond in due course.
One main advantage of my internal marks.
ReplyDeleteHow exactly is our GPA calculated? Will the internal marks contribute some portion towards the final certification grading or not? I heard some teachers saying 50% comes from external and 50% from internal. Some say our internal is just there to balance or standardise our grades. I need immediate response. I am a gr12 attending Waigani Christian College.
ReplyDeleteHi Millan, your internal marks are as important as your external marks. You should aim to do well in your internal school assessment - this will be reflected in your exam marks. Here is HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR GPA
ReplyDeleteI'm currently doing year 12 and I would like to know if I can still make to university if my year 11 internal mark is low.
ReplyDeleteMy this year 12 internal marks are Hight.
Would I still have a chance to make it to university or colleges?
If my grade 11 marks are low and my grade 12 marks are high would I still make it to university or colleges.?
ReplyDeleteThe best thing to do is to do well in Grade 12. But know that the students who do well in Grade 11 will definitely have an advantage over you as far as your internal Grade 11 marks are concerned.
ReplyDeleteIf I do really well in my external marks but my internal marks are low will I still be able to get a distinction?
ReplyDeleteIf a student did not do well in internal but does well in external, will he still get selected to a university ??
ReplyDeleteI just want to know, in terms of percentage, which weighs more, internal marks or external marks; or if they're equal. I've asked my teachers but, they're always not sure. Your answer would really help relive a lot of stress and pressure. Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know the percentage difference between the external marks and internal marks. I've asked my teachers, but they couldn't give a confident answer. Your answer would relive a lot of pressure and stress. Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteIs the exam results our final results?will they add our internal marks too i heard some teachers said 60% comes from external marks and 40% from internal marks....Are the gradings final or will they standardise our internal and external marks again
ReplyDeleteIs the exam results our final results?will they add our internal marks too i heard some teachers said 60% comes from external marks and 40% from internal marks....Are the gradings final or will they standardise our internal and external marks again
ReplyDeletePlease just answer me straight - Are my internal Marks and external marks standardized to give me my 2023 final grades that appear on my certificate and online that I saw? Please answer Yes or No only.
ReplyDeleteJoseph
Dear, Please relating to several comments above about standardizing the internal and external marks, please be blank clear on us students and parents whether the 2023 internal and external marks were standardized to give the final 2023 grades that were posted on line for viewing.
ReplyDeleteWhy because some students performed well in internal but their external(online Grades) dropped and vise versa. Please give us a clear answer Yes or No.
thanks
concern Parent