The ASD-N High School Exam Guidelines document is designed to ensure a fair, consistent, and respectful assessment environment that supports learner success and upholds academic integrity.
I. Introduction
In alignment with our district focus on learner success and readiness, ASD-N is committed to revisiting the purpose of final assessments at the high school level. This guidelines document represents the consensus of a collaborative working group of administrators and educators from ASD-N. Each of our eight high schools was represented by at least one administrator, along with members of the district leadership team. All high schools will be expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in this document.
II. Definitions and Concepts
Exam Week The district-identified week in the school calendar occurring at the end of each semester.
Incentives The opportunity for a final exam to have an adjusted value to reward absenteeism of 7 or less periods per class.
Practical
Exam A demonstration, performance, project, or interview used to compliment, not replace, a written exam.
Career-Connected Cluster Courses located in the career-connected cluster within the EECD High School Companion Document.
Good Academic Standing
A student is in good academic standing when all assignments and work is completed to the satisfaction of the classroom teacher.
III. Scheduling
· Exams are designed to be two hours in length, with learners remaining for a minimum of 90 minutes.
· The exam schedule will be determined by the school, based on its own needs but must fall within the parameters of exam week.
· Doubling up of exams (one in the AM and a second in the PM) should only occur once and at the beginning of exam week.
· Place of writing and the supervision schedule is at the discretion of the school.
· There may be occasion when part of a final exam is administered prior to exam week (interviews, projects, presentations, performance). However, a portion of the final exam must be administered during exam week.
· Courses that have a practical exam included in their final assessment must also include a written portion of the exam to be administered within the exam week.
· Exams will not be required for 45h courses at the Grade 9 level.
· Alternative Education sites will not be required to have a final exam schedule at this time.
· ICE Centre courses will also follow these guidelines.
· Micro-courses will not require a final exam.
IV. Format
· All exams will have the same value unless an incentive is applied.
· Essential Skills Achievement Pathway may use the Capstone Project in lieu of a final exam.
· We encourage common exams among subject area teams and common exam conversations amongst high schools in certain subject areas.
V. Protocols for Accommodations, Adjustments and Exemptions
· As per the Provincial Assessment Program Protocols for Accommodations and Exemptions, “universal accommodations are those strategies, technologies or adjustments (good teaching strategies) that enable a student to reach the prescribed outcomes and can be used as needed.” (p. 2)
· Learners who require the universal accommodation of extra time should be identified prior to the exam and must have a file-based document uploaded in ESS-Connect. This designation should have been in place for the duration of the course. However, in certain cases, extra time (not exceeding double time) may be granted at the discretion of the teacher, based on professional judgment and the needs of the student.
· A learner on a PLP-ACC, PLP-ADJ should have their exams align with their personalized learning plan.
· Learners on PLP-IND (in lieu of curriculum) are not required to complete a final exam.
VI. Course Outlines and Evaluation Values
· All courses will have a course outline prepared at the beginning of the semester with the evaluation breakdown, including the exam.
o PowerTeacher Pro will reflect the same evaluation breakdown
VII. Leadership Review of Exams
· The school will develop a process for leadership review of exams.
· Exams will be reviewed by SPRs, school administrators or both.
· Periodic audits will be conducted by district leadership.
VIII. Professional Learning
· School administration will promote professional learning around the creation of final exams.
· District leadership will also provide opportunities for professional learning to teachers as well as school administrators.
IX. Incentives and Attendance
· When a learner has 7 or less absences in a class, and are in good standing, they will qualify for an academic incentive.
o If the learner qualifies for an academic incentive, the value of the exam will be adjusted to 10% or 40%, depending on which application provides the higher final grade for the course.
· Three reported tardies is equivalent to one absence (per class).
· Bereavement is the only reason an absence will be excused while still allowing the learner to qualify for an incentive.
X. Learner Expectations and Behaviour
· All learners are required to attend their scheduled exams.
· If a learner does not participate in their exam, they are considered to not be in good standing and will receive a ‘0’ on the exam and if an incentive was earned, will be removed.
o Bereavement and a serious medical condition are the only reasons for a learner being excused from an exam and will be applied at the discretion of the administration.
· Learners who need to be removed from an exam writing area due to inappropriate behaviour, including academic dishonesty, will receive a mark of ‘0’ on the exam and incentive removed (if applicable).