CrawfordSchools™ has a panel of professional educators who constantly evaluate the examinations written by the CrawfordSchools™ candidates. They implement change according to changing curricula and the demands of education.
The general aim of assessing students is for growth, development and support. The purpose of assessment is to monitor a student’s progress so that decisions can be made about the best way to facilitate further learning in terms of expected knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. The purpose of assessment is not only about promotion, but also about progression.
Various tools are used for assessment. They include self-assessment, interviews, group assessment, observation and portfolio work. Examinations are one of the methods used to assess a student’s progress, allowing for national and international benchmarking of Crawford students. While students are taught study methods for such formal assessments, they are also taught to work co-operatively in a range of less formal areas, such as shared research, observation and reporting.
Overview of Examinations
The following examinations are offered:
National Senior Certificate (Matric)
VCAA (Equivalence Examination)
GAT (General Achievement Test)
SIAT (Schools International Assessment Tests)
National Senior Certificate
Grade 12 students write the Senior Certificate examination as their final Matric examination. On application at universities in South Africa, the only academic criteria for entrance are the symbols achieved by the student in this examination. This certificate is currently used by all provinces and examining bodies.
No examination body is able to claim that its papers are of superior standard. One statutory body is responsible for all accreditation in South Africa, and all matriculation certificates carry only national certification. Standards of examination papers conform across all examination authorities because of moderation performed by the national authority, Umalusi. The South African Senior Certificate stands on its own, providing access to overseas universities.
VCAA
Grade 12 students write the VCAA Equivalence Examinations as their Preliminary Examinations in August and September. The examinations are based on the South African Department of Education’s national syllabus. The examinations are set by a panel of external and CrawfordSchools™ examiners, the standard of the examinations and the marking being moderated by the VCAA. The VCAA Certificate of Equivalence gives the students the advantage of leaving school with an internationally benchmarked certificate.
Europe: France (Engineering School of Information Technology and Management)
United Kingdom: Oxford, Leeds and St Martins School of Art
United States of America: Harvard, Southern Illinois, New York, Case Western Reserve, Lynn, Florida State University, Stanford and Princeton.
GAT
In June of each year, Grade Twelve students write the General Achievement Test. The GAT, which is written by students throughout Australia and is prepared by the VCAA, is officially recognised by education departments throughout the world. The test assesses general knowledge and skills in a broad range of fields, including Written Communication, Mathematics, Science and Human and Social Sciences. It is broadly similar in approach to the American SAT assessment.
Parents receive a comprehensive report on the student’s general achievement. Furthermore the student is ranked in terms of performance against the full cohort of Australian and Pacific Ring candidates.
SIAT
CrawfordSchools™ students from Grade 3-12 have the opportunity to write the Australasian Schools’ Competitions which are marketed nationally under the SIAT umbrella. The competitions are constructed by the Educational Testing Centre of the University of New South Wales in Australia. The tests are used extensively throughout Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Italy, China and India. They are conducted in English, Mathematics, Science and Computer Skills. It is compulsory for students in Grades 4, 6, 8 and 10 to write the Mathematics and English tests, thereby benchmarking the schools internationally each year. The cost of these examinations is included in the school fees.
The reporting system of the tests is exceptionally comprehensive. Analyses of the following are provided:
The school’s performance in each question.
Evaluation against national and international scores.
Individual student assessment of strengths and weaknesses.
Each student receives a certificate of achievement and a comprehensive report of his or her results. Medals are awarded per subject to the top national performer.
