Assessment Development in Hong Kong September, 2006 Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority 1

2 Need of Hong Kong Community … we must address the inadequacies within the existing education system to enable the majority of Hong Kong people to achieve lifelong learning and all-round education. All-in-all, despite the huge resources put into education and the heavy workload endured by teachers, learning effectiveness of students remains not very promising, learning is still examinations-driven and scant attention is paid to learning-to-learn. [1] [1] [1] Learning for Life, Learning through Life, Education Commission, September 2000, p4.

3 Need of Hong Kong Community The ultimate purpose of assessment should be to provide information that helps promote learning and teaching, and form part of the teaching process. However, in reality, tests and examinations have become the baton directing learning and teaching … In short, teachers students, parents and society in general should shake off their traditional concept of assessment and embrace the new assessment culture. [1] [1] [1] Ibid, p70

4 Major Changes Amount of testing What is assessed How it is reported Assessment for learning Assessment processes

5 What is assessed One less exam = more time for learning Greater emphasis on thinking skills and application of knowledge Greater use of SBA to assess a wider range of important outcomes Validity Reliability Positive backwash effects

6 SBA Significant trimming in requirements of SBA Significant reduction in weightings for many subjects Phased implementation

Chinese Language 35 30%Compulsory Part: Coursework and Other Language Activities combined. Marks to be submitted reduced from 10 to 4 English Language 30 20%Elective Part: Reduced to one mode only (oral assessment) and number of tasks reduced from 3 to 1 Maths15%Number of assessment tasks reduced from 3 to 2 Liberal Studies 30 20%Course performance deleted Economics20 15%Internal test/exam deleted Geography15% Chinese History 30 20%Internal test/exam deleted ERS30 20%Continuous assessment deleted History30 20%Course performance and internal test/exam deleted THS30%Test/exam deleted, weighting on elective part adjusted to 20%, course performance replaced by two course assignments Biology20%Min. number of practical related tasks (Area A) reduced from 4 to 3 Chemistry20%Min. number of non-practical related tasks reduced from 4 to 1 7

Physics20%Min. number of non-practical related tasks reduced from 2 to 1 Science20%Min. number of practical related tasks (Area A) reduced from 3 to 2. Min. number of non-practical related tasks reduced from 4 to 3. BAFS20%Course test/exam deleted. Enterprising Experience now optional. Group assessment cancelled. ICT25 20%Core skills assessment incorporated into project work DAT40% HMSC30% T&L30%Number of lab report/practical tasks reduced from 3 to 1 Chinese Lit.35%Compulsory part: Number of creative writing pieces reduced from 6 to 4, reading reports reduced from 3 to 2 Lit. in Eng20% PE30% Visual Arts50% Music20% 8

9 Category A : Subjects with SBA in current HKCEE/HKALE - Implementation in 2012 HKDSE

10 Category B : Subjects having a heavy practical component / a part of the exam assessing similar tasks - Implementation in 2012 HKDSE

11 Category C : Subjects totally new in SBA – Phased Implementation

12 Statistical Moderation To iron out possible difference among schools in marking standards Moderate SBA marks with reference to public exam results The rank order of students determined by school will remain unchanged

Statistical moderation Moderated SBA Mark A DCBDCB QPONMQPONM LKJIHGFELKJIHGFE TSRTSR VUVU Z XWXW Y Number of Students Number of Students Raw SBA Mark A DCBDCB QPONMQPONM LKJIHGFELKJIHGFE TSRTSR VUVU Z XWXW Y B GFDGFD ECAECA TSMKVTSMKV RPOJIRPOJI QNLQNL ZWYZWY XUXU H Exam Mark Number of Students

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15 How it is reported Standards referenced levels 1-5 Use of 5* and 5** to denote highest performers Standards maintained over time using secure monitoring tests

16 Draft

Maintaining the standard Monitoring test Monitoring test CE 2007 HKDSE 17 Chinese Language English Language

18 Assessment processes Automated processes Scanning of scripts Onscreen marking Oral assessment records Online assessment

19 Implementing 334 Sept – Oct 2006: 3 rd round of consultation, focusing on assessment Early 2008: Final round of consultation on Chinese Language and English Language 2008/09: Sample papers and descriptors for HKDSE subjects; in-service training International benchmarking of standards

20 The challenge Assessment development is a global phenomenon in response to the challenges of preparing young people for life in the information society Hong Kong cannot afford to be left behind It involves deep-seated cultural change