GROWING ORGANISATION Papers, Candidates, Scripts, Markers, Panels, Computer

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30911, 18 November 1965, Page 20

GROWING ORGANISATION Papers, Candidates, Scripts, Markers, Panels, Computer

This week and next the many hours of toil and preparation put into fifth form studies are being put to the test as thousands of candidates throughout New Zealand, and at many overseas centres, sit the School Certificate examination. They will all be pleased when it is over. However, for officers of the Department of Education, it is a continuing task and many long hours are worked to ensure its success, says an Education Department bulletin.

Preparation for this year’s examination commenced before the 1964 examination actually started. The examiners were appointed late last year. Reports of last year’s examination were distributed to schools and to new examiners so that all could benefit from constructive criticism. These reports covered every paper, question by question, and gave general comments on setting out, accuracy and other general points. The setting, editing and

printing of the examination papers went on throughout the year. During September and October assistant examiners (those who mark the scripts) were appointed. About 650 markers are employed this year in 37 subjects. With almost 38,000 candidates sitting English and each marker handling 350 scripts, about 120 markers are required for this subject. Geography has 82 and mathematics (two papers) 98. These panels are brought together for briefing and consultation and liaison between the panels is maintained by the chief examiner in each subject. Piles Of Papers

Early in the year supplies of all the material required by candidates were ordered and when delivered, assembled, packaged and distributed to examination centres. Approximately a quarter of a million answer books are used annually with many reams of drawing, graph and special paper's for candidates taking subjects with special requirements. Early in November the examination papers were dispatched by registered mail to 400 centres throughout New Zealand. As a number of examination centres are established outside New Zealand —this year there is one in Chile—the dispatch of papers for these places was done earlier to ensure delivery. With the closing of examination entries late in July the tempo increased. A total of 37,980 applications was received this year compared with 35,724 in 1964. All applications were sent to Wellington, and after checking, handed to the electronic dataprocessing division of the Education Department for the creation of basic records on a computer. These records will be used for the production of final results. Computer Records It is from these basic records that many statistics and other records are made—attendance schedules, lists of candidates for use of supervisors at centres, a complete alphabetical listing of candidates. Information is also obtained for comparison with previously-estimated figures to ensure that supplies of examinibn papers at all centres in all subjects are adequate. The computer also produces a punched card for every subject being sat by each candidate.

Examinations began last Monday. Additional staff are

employed to cope with the mountains of paper—answer books—which have to be moved from examination centre to marker and back to the examination centre for processing.

This year 36 people are employed in the four main centres to cope with the additional load. Six vans and seven cars are drawn into service to handle the immense volume of paper. In subjects where more than one panel of markers is employed the use of specimen scripts for discussion and briefing is of great value. These scripts, typical of the work of candidates at various levels of ability, are photographed by the Government Printer and dispatched immediately to marking panels. The panels mark some of these copies against the model answers as suggested by the chief examiner, and in association with a supervising examiner.

Then, in their own time, assistant examiners mark the remainder of the “guinea pigs” and attend a subsequent meeting of local markers to compare their marks, question by question, to achieve greater uniformity. Then each marker starts marking his scripts, to have them complete by late December. Scaling

After marking is finished the assistant supervising examiners and chief examiners report to the department on the work of each marker. This, with data supplied in the form of check marks, is the basis of the scaling process that now takes places.

A team of inspectors carefully considers each report and the accompanying data and decides what degree of and decides what degree of adjustment (if any) is to be made to the “raw” marks awarded. Adjustment may be necessary to achieve uniformity between markers, to maintain even standards between subjects and to maintain a reasonably even overall standard from year to year. The effect of scaling is just as likely to be the increasing as the reducing of “raw” marks.

As subjects are completed the mark from the script is transferred to a punched card. At this point the computer takes over. These cards are fed to the computer and the information later combined with the basic record previously made. When all information is received, the computer is able to produce a result for each candidate. In previous years the result notification has

been issued to all candidates about mid-January with the appropriate certificate following later. This year the certificate and the result will be sent out together. Simultaneously a newspaper list is produced for publication throughout the country. Pass Marks To pass the School Certificate examination, a candidate must obtain a total of 200 marks, or more, for English and his next three best subjects, with the proviso that each of these subjects scores at least 30 marks. A few candidates will sit for a Certificate of Attainment. This is a qualification which may be granted to candidates who cannot meet the usual requirement of three years’ secondary education at an approved New Zealand school or its equivalent at schools overseas. A pass for Certificate of Attainment requires a total of 250 marks in English, and the next four best subjects, each subject scoring at least 30 marks. Those candidates who do not pass the examination-may receive a Certificate of Education. This is issued to such candidates who gain 50 marks or more in one subject, and the certificate also records any other subject in which the candidate gained 30 or more marks. This certificate is also awarded to candidates who, having left school without completing a three-year course, may have entered for fewer than five subjects and so are not eligible for the Certificate of Attainment. Remarking The publication of results is not the finish of the exercise. Candidates who fail may apply for a remark in one subject by February 10. Remarking is no more and no less careful than the original. After the remarking of the paper a candidate will receive an interim advice of his success or otherwise and subsequently will be issued with a fresh result notice and certificate. While all this is going on preparations for the 1966 examination are well under way. The processing of examinations is a big business and is growing year by year. It has more than doubled in the last 10 years. At its present rate of growth, there could be 60,000 candidates sitting the examination by 1975.

Twelve Killed.—Twelve miners were killed and 39 injured when a lorry plunged off a mountain road on Monday.—Lima, Nov. 17.