Imbalance in some S.C. pass rates

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 8

Imbalance in some S.C. pass rates

Means analysis, or “scaling” was introduced for the School Certificate examination in 1968 when the shift was made from over-all passes to passes in individual subjects. Before then, candidates passed by gaining a minimum of 30 per cent in English and an aggregate of 200 marks or better in English and three other subjects. Because marks were aggregated it was necessary to ensure that a mark at any level in a given subject was equivalent to the same mark in other subjects, and so “scaling” procedures were introduced to ensure comparability in three respects — between the many markers in a subject, from year to year, and between subjects. Until 1968, all subjects were scaled so that the average mark fell between 46 and 49. This was widely criticised at the time as unfair for testing candidates

against one another rather than against a standard. It also made it harder for candidates to gain a pass mark in chemistry, physics, French, or Latin than in English, geography, woodwork, or home economics. To meet the barrage of criticism levelled at the scaling system, the School Certificate Examination Board recommended a wider range when the new system was introduced in 1968.

This meant that subjects such as chemistry, physics, Latin, French, and German, which were sat by candidates of higher than average academic ability, would have higher average marks.

Scaling could have taken a number of forms. The one adopted was based on the analysis or results of a “typical” candidate. It provides a basis for ranking average marks in all subjects in relation to one another, uses the over-

all performance of “typical” students taking a given subject to decide the ranked position of that subject, and ensures that no average mark falls below 47 for “typical” candidates. Changes have been made over the years, but this basic system still works. Pass rates have been designed to fall about the 50 per cent level, and certainly not lower than 48 per cent for “typical” candidates. However, a review begun by the board last year found that pass rates in six subjects — clothing and textiles, engineering shopwork, home economics, human biology, Maori, and woodwork — have fallen below this level. .

An analysis by the Education Department, however, found that on the basis of the performance of these candidates in their other subjects there has been almost no change in the calibre of the candidates being examined.