I can assess myself: Singaporean primary students' and teachers' perceptions of students' self-assessment ability

Abstract

Student self-assessment engages the students in purposeful reflection about what they are learning and how they are learning it. This study investigated the perceptions of students and teachers towards the students' self-assessment ability in two Singapore primary schools. A total of 75 students were taught how to use self-assessment. Eighteen students' self-assessments were randomly selected and compared with an independent panel of teachers' assessment. The results revealed both differences as well as similarities between the students' and teachers' perceptions of students' self-assessment ability. The findings and the implications for students are discussed in concluding the article.

Keywords:

• self-assessment
• primary school
• Singapore
• students
• teachers
• formative assessment

Notes

1. The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is a national examination that is conducted in Singapore annually, which students have to take at the end of the final year of their six years of primary school education.