ASSESSMENT and EXAMINATIONS
Assessment & Examinations
These will vary depending on the age, ability and learning needs of the students. Below is a list of internal examinations and standardized tests that students would write during the academic year.
We aim to:
- ✓ Provide diagnostic tests for all new students who enter the school.
- ✓ Diagnose specific strengths and areas for improvement for all students for English, Maths and the sciences and Arabic Language.
- ✓ Assist in the prediction of future attainment and target setting.
- ✓ Ensure all departments are consistent in their approach to assessment.
- ✓ Use student evaluation to inform teachers’ planning so that it responds to the needs of the students.
American School of Kalba (ASK) recognizes that teaching, learning and evaluation of learning are fundamentally interdependent. Student evaluations take place regularly to better inform our students, parents and teachers of the students’ progress and achievement.
End of term Exams: Students will write term 1, 2, 3 exams at the end of each term. These exams are set by teachers. Each semester’s exam covers the terms work covered or taught throughout the term. End of term report cards are issued at the end of each term.
Continuous Assessment: Our teachers always assess students’ classwork, homework, projects, and these marks are included in each term’s exams totaling 100%. Classwork, homework, projects, and other continuous assessments carry 60% marks while the exams carry 40%. The minimum marks every student must attain at the end of each mid-term and end of term exam is 60%. Marks below 60% are considered as a failed mark and students will be re-tested.
“What To Study” Letters: Teachers will create a ‘What to study’ document TWO weeks before the exams start. Details about textbook chapters and page numbers. Revision sessions will be organized for all subjects to help the students understand what they must focus on in preparing for the exams. Please note NO Revision Packs or sample exams will be provided. Our students are taught to make their “study notes”.
Parents Consultation Evenings: After each term’s exam, parents are invited to school (following all covid protocols) or Zoom meetings are held; to discuss their ward’s progress and any interventions the school may put in place to support any student who may have fallen behind. Parents can raise any concerns at the meetings after which they must sign and receive a copy of the report.
Standardized Tests and International Examinations: All students in the UAE must write standardized tests at some stage in their school career. These tests are international benchmark tests that are designed in line with UAE National Agenda and Vision 2021. Students in the UAE would meet international standards in Maths, science and verbal and non-verbal reasoning and problem solving. These tests are mandatory for all students in the UAE. SAT, MAP, CAT 4 and IELTS are mandatory yearly exams. The table below is an illustration of the exams, the grade level, and timescales for these exams.
|
Exam Type |
Grade Level |
When administered |
Subject |
|
NWEA Measure of Academic Progress MAP |
7-9 |
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Semester |
English, Maths, Science |
|
CAT 4 |
7-9 |
1st Semester |
Aptitude Tests, English and Maths |
|
PISA |
10 |
Every three years |
Science & Maths |
|
IELTS |
12 |
Yearly |
English |
|
Pre SAT |
10, 11 & 12 |
Yearly |
English, Maths |
|
IBT Arabic |
7-11 |
1st Semester |
Arabic |
|
TALA ARABIC |
7-11 |
1st and 3rd Semester |
Arabic |
The school provides support, revision packs and extra classes for MAP, CAT4, PISA, IELTS and SAT. Those taking MAP and CAT 4 are registered by the school and the tests are administered online.
SAT
Grade 10’s will write the PreSAT exam at the end of the year. SAT is used by most American universities and colleges as an entrance requirement and as a predictor of academic success in university. Scores on each part of the SAT range from 200-800 and are reported separately for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math. Grade 11 & 12 will write SAT repeatedly until their highest score is achieved.
Our school is registered with the College Board as a SAT Test center therefore students must register online themselves with advice from the academic advisor and their teachers, and they must take the SAT tests at our school. Results would be sent by the College Board directly to the students, who can submit it for their equivalency and when applying to universities and colleges of their choice.
MAP Standardized Assessments
- ✓ Giving information about students’ strengths and weaknesses shared with parents; teachers must identify possible solutions and interventions.
- ✓ Help identify those students that may need additional support or more challenging teaching.
- ✓ Enables meaningful, achievable targets for individuals, classes, and the school by combining attainment data, measures of ability, and powerful predictions.
- ✓ Gives ASK independent, objective information to evaluate our school’s performance and to act as our school’s key performance indicators (KPIs).
3.3 Graduation Requirements & Equivalencies
At the end of grade 12, students are awarded a high school diploma and a behaviour conduct form. Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 based on 27 credit hours to be able to graduate. Credit hours are calculated on the number of periods a student attends classes every term; it also includes the amount of time spent doing homework, projects, and extra-curricular activities. The total credit hours are used to calculate the Grade Point Average. Students who do not meet the total credit hours will not be allowed to graduate.
Therefore, it is important for students to attend all classes and complete all assigned classwork, homework, and projects.
Students completing grade 12 must attest and submit their grades 10, 11 and 12 final school reports to the Ministry of Education to obtain equivalency to attend UAE universities or international universities. Students would receive their high school diploma and transcripts from AiAA, the school’s accreditation board, based on satisfactorily achieving the required pass mark, credit hours and GPA scores.
The table below is an illustration of what parents and students would see on their end of term and mid-term reports and academic transcripts.
|
Letter Grade |
A+ |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
F |
|
Percentile |
96-100 |
91-95 |
86-90 |
81-85 |
76-80 |
71-75 |
68-70 |
66-67 |
64-65 |
62-63 |
60-61 |
<60 |
|
GPA |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
Steps for Attestation
- ✓ All required documents including reports, transcripts etc. should be submitted to the school administrator.
- ✓ Upload all documents on Tamam (Sharjah Private Education Authority Friend website).
- ✓ Friend fees should be paid online through the primary insurance card, which can also be submitted to the executive to process the payment.
- ✓ After verification and approval from SPEA it will be received via email.
Steps for Equivalency
- ✓ Visit the Ministry of Education website and make sure you fulfill all the terms and conditions for obtaining the equivalency, which are shown on the Ministry of Education website.
- ✓ Ensure all academic certificates for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 are attested.
- ✓ Parents / students must upload all the attested certificates on the MoE website.
- ✓ After verification and checking from MoE, the equivalency will be sent to the email registered on the student’s account on the MoE website.
College & Career Readiness
Our older students are involved in various activities including the Al Najar Program: a UAE university fair that supports students choosing universities and colleges within and outside the UAE. They are also supported by NAPO – National Admission & Placement Office – who monitor ARMY (National Military Service) registration and Tertiary Studies.
The curriculum also focuses on the skills, knowledge and understanding students need to prepare them for higher education and future employment.