I want to understand more about the state of assessment and testing in South African schools. As learners switch from their mother tongue as a medium of instruction to English or Afrikaans after grade three, I wonder whether teachers use language assessment formatively. Language assessment is a tool to identify student needs in terms of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Language assessment harkens to the larger issue of testing in general. I need to learn more about testing views and practices in South Africa. South Africa has participated in the TIMMS, however, I would like to know about additional testing. South Africa uses the National Senior Certificate examinations (“matric”) in 12th grade as a culminating exam, which appears to be a combination of short answer and essay. During my time here I would like to research three aspects of this exam: 1) reliability, 2) validity evidence, and 3) use of the results.
-Tim Guetterman
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