Profiles of educational assessment systems worldwide

Abstract

This paper explores ten common themes concerning assessment practice in Australian education across the six states and two territories. The themes are: (1) a strong curriculum base influencing assessment, (2) the incorporation of school‐based assessment in all certification, (3) preference for standards‐referenced assessment, (4) respect for teacher judgement, (5) increasing vocational education delivery within schooling, (6) multiple pathways to future study and careers, (7) school‐based assessment in the compulsory years of schooling, (8) moves towards outcomes‐based frameworks, (9) issues relating to national benchmark data, and (10) equity issues.

Notes

* Corresponding author: School of Cognition, Language and Special Education, Faculty of Education, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111 Australia. Email: [email protected]

The terminology of ‘moderation’ is used here as it appears in the literature. However, in Queensland the term ‘moderation’ is used to refer only to a process whereby student performance is moderated against expressed standards.

www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/assessment/index.html

www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/index.html

www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/assessment/index.html

Random sampling is an after‐the‐fact quality check resulting in a report. The yearly reports are available at www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/Review.html

See ModerationOfAchievements.pdf at www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs11_12/mod/index.html

Australian Quality Training Framework, see www.anta.gov.au/aqtfWhat.asp

www.acaca.org.au/guide.htm

See www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/acaca/

www.education.qld.gov.au/etrf/

www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs1_10/kla/hpe/syllabus.html

Board of Studies (New South Wales) K‐6 Outcomes. (k6–outcomes.pdf http://www.bosnsw‐k6.nsw.edu.au/english/english_index.html ).

www.education.tas.gov.au/ocll/currcons/publications/values.htm

www.education.tas.gov.au/ooe/curriculumconsultation/publications/values.htm

www.education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics

www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/csf/GeneralInfo/csfII/overview.htm

see www.discover.tased.edu.au/netlearn/courselst.htm for teacher‐developed modules; www.education.tas.gov.au/ooe/curriculumconsultation/publications/values.htm#LearningTeaching for Learning, Teaching and Assessment Principles.

www.education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics

see www.qsa.qld.edu.au/publications/1to10/index.html#kla, ‘Assessing and Reporting Issues’ for a discussion paper on the differences between the two.

Similarly, league tables for school performance on end of Year 12 results are not consistently available. According to The Australian (2002) in South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania, the names of top students are released. In ACT a performance index for each school is published. In Western Australia, results are provided for a fee to newspapers which can publish the information. In Queensland, no data are made publicly available. From December 2003, Victoria will publish Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) performance of schools.

www.acaca.org.au

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. Joy Cumming *

* Corresponding author: School of Cognition, Language and Special Education, Faculty of Education, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111 Australia. Email: [email protected]