Change to proportion of exam, grades?

Press, 1 July 1986, Page 2

Change to proportion of exam, grades?

The Education Department may change the proportions of grades allocated in School Certificate this year if many pupils do not sit the examination because of increased fees. Last week the principal of Porirua College, Mr John Moir, said, he would advise about two-thirds of his fifth form pupils not to sit the examination, because the cost of failure was too high. Some Christchurch principals said they might also advise some pupils against sitting the examination, if asked for their opinion. The department’s assistant director (examinations and assessments), Mr Lyall Perris, said the

proportions of grades would be changed if large numbers of low achievers did not sit the examination.

Mr Perris said that every year the number of School Certificate entries was compared with the third form intake three years before. For several years that had been very close to 70 per cent, he said. If that changed, then the allocation of grades would also be changed. When the new grading system was ' announced, the proportions were set at: AL, 13 per cent; A2, 22 per cent; 81, 22 per cent; 82, 26 per cent; Cl, 22 per cent; C2, 11 per cent, and D, 2 per cent.