UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18622, 5 February 1935, Page 6

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE

EXAMINATION MARKS A UCKLAND TEACHERS' VIEWS According to a recent Press Association message, school authorities in Chiistchureii are complaining that, although papers set in the last university entrance (matriculation} examination were simple, candidates who apparently had every chance of passing failed to qualify. "By many it is thought that die marking has been too drastic," the nessage stated,, "and in' some schools the list of unsuccessful candidates has been as high as 50 per cunt.. At one large secondary school only 53 of 127 pupils who sat were, successful." Secondary school teachers in Auckland are of the opinion that, while a lower percentage of passes indicates a demana iOf a higher standard than formerly by examiners, the matter is of less concern than the tenor of the Christchurch message seems to warrant. <

"As far as our school is concerned, the position is very much the same as last year, and we are quite satisfied, - ' said Mr. 11. D. Mahon, headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School. "Good results were obtained by pupils from the four matriculation forms, but a number of pupils entered for the examination who, it was considered, were not up to examination standard."

Mr. Mahon considered that failures in English could be attributed to a paper more difficult than usual. It was anW type of examination, requiring powers-of interpretation and expression. Satisfaction with the, results of the examination was expressed by Mr. F. W. Gamble, headmaster of the Mount Albert Grammar School.

"One aspect that had to be considered in relation to failures was the number of pupils who entered for the examination without the qualification to secure a pass. This was accounted for by the fact that a number who were candidates for the school certificate examination also entered for the university entrance test, the same fee covering both examinations.