the preliminary results of the mathematics intermediate tests will be recalculated and will improve

After the commission formed by the Ministry of Education reviewed the tasks of the intermediate mathematics tests, it was found that they were more difficult than they should be, so the students’ results will be recalculated with a more favorable assessment.

“The tasks of the mathematics intermediate tests – both A and B level – were more difficult than the description of the mathematics task requires,” the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (ŠMSM) announced on Tuesday about the commission’s findings. – For students, the scores for the tasks will be indexed, recalculated with a more favorable rating for them. Student results will improve as a result.”

The commission revised the mathematics mid-term tests after receiving criticism from the public and schoolchildren due to the overly complex tasks.

In mid-March, the National Education Agency (NEA) only published the results of the maths A-level test – the average did not exceed half of the maximum possible marks. He aimed for 8.5 out of a possible 20. NŠA said that it will publish information about the B-level results after the commission’s conclusions.

This Tuesday, the experts concluded that the test contained tasks whose wording made it difficult to understand the condition, provided contextual information that was not necessary for solving the task, and the statements for choosing answers were long, so students could spend more time trying to understand what needs to be done in a specific task.

“Some of the tasks require students to perform multi-step calculations, but after completing them, students receive only 1 point, or require 3 correct answers and are awarded only 2 points (1 point is awarded for 2 correct answers, and 1 correct answer is not is not evaluated at all)”, the ministry indicates.

According to her, the commission also found that there are tasks in the test that are evaluated with only 2 or 0 points and there is no possibility to get 1 point, although part of the calculations may have been done correctly.

The experts also gave specific recommendations regarding the description of the mathematics task – at the stage of task preparation, it is necessary to ensure harmony between the tasks of mathematics B and A level intermediate tests. They must meet the requirements for the specific course.

The commission also suggests that more time should be allocated for the solution of the task, because when solving the tasks presented in the electronic testing system, their solution must be performed by rewriting the condition of the task or part of it, redrawing the drawing and the like, so students no longer have time to check their calculations, they cannot demonstrate actual knowledge and abilities in mathematics.

Keeping the same for 45 min. time for solving 15 problems, the problems must be simpler, faster and easier to read and solve.

In the Commission’s opinion, when constructing a task, there should be fewer tasks with given answers to choose from, and more tasks in which the students themselves need to write down the formula or part of it, and present the results of intermediate calculations.

According to experts, this would allow for a more objective assessment of whether students have really learned the subject.

The results of the mathematics midterm examination will be announced by the NŠA by April 9.