Parents and guardians are expressing concern over the recent release of the BECE results, with many questioning the grading system used to assess their wards.
To address these concerns, an explanation of the new grading system is necessary.
Transition from CRT to NRT
The BECE has transitioned from a Criterion-Referenced Test (CRT) to a Norm-Referenced Test (NRT).
The CRT evaluates candidates against established curriculum standards, with predefined score ranges translating into specific grades.
For instance, a score of 80% or above might constitute a grade of 1, while scores ranging from 75% to 79% would result in a grade of 2.
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Conversely, the NRT assesses candidates based on their performance relative to their peers.
This means that students are graded not solely on their individual scores but on how those scores compare to the results of other candidates who have taken the same test.
The Stanine System
The BECE employs a grading format known as the stanine system (standard nine), which utilizes scores that range from 1 to 9.
A stanine score enables the comparison and scaling of a group of scores against one another.
It is important to note that these scores are reflective of a group and cannot simply be applied to individual performance.
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How Stanine Scores Work
For example, in the grading of Mathematics paper, all candidates’ scores would be evaluated against each other(all the candidates that sat for such a paper).
The top scorer would receive a stanine score of 1. Grading follows a predefined distribution: only the top 4% of the candidates can achieve a score of 1, while subsequent percentages correspond to scores of 2 through 9.
Thus, even if a candidate scores 90 or 89, they may not receive a grade of 1 if their score does not rank within the top 4% of test-takers.
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The distribution is as follows:
- 4% receive a stanine score of 1
- 7% for 2
- 12% for 3
- 17% for 4
- 20% for 5
- 17% for 6
- 12% for 7
- 7% for 8
- 4% for 9
A Shift in Perspective
This means that even if your child is a top student in their class, their BECE score might not reflect their usual performance.
So, while parents may be worried about the grades their wards received, it is essential to understand the system being used to assess the candidates and how it differs from the previous Criterion-Referenced test.