State exam ease: one point out of hundred will do

Photo: Jassu Hertsmann

School-leavers of Estonia, rejoice! Starting next spring, state exams can be passed by just a point out of the hundred available. On the other hand, however: a mandatory school examination will be added, the content thereof decided single-handedly by school.

As you read this story, leaflets are being distributed to last-graders at Estonia’s gymnasiums, telling them the spring-time gospel. Those who fear math have, by now, probably grasped that though the feared exam will be obligatory, it may be navigated by just one point. Hopefully, they did not go to upper secondary school just to get a good laugh.

For, Ragne Toompere, a 12^th grader at Tartu Miina Härma Gymnasium, the looming math exam still struck a minor chord. «I don’t like not having options regarding state exams any more,» said the young lady. Ms Toompere was aware of the one-point-possibility, naturally not aiming at such a result. «I want to go to university, you see. These guys are counting the points!»

The three musts

This past spring, the state math exam felled a whopping 5.9 per cent who failed to achieve the 20-points level. In all probability, more will be getting those kinds of points under the new system.

Amendments are many, actually. Last spring, the really eager student may have done up to two school exams, voluntarily, in addition to the three state ones. Of state exams, only Estonian was compulsory, the rest were picked by the kid him/herself. No more choice, except for the tongue regarding the foreign language exam.

Thus: Estonian language, foreign tongue and maths are «stately» and a must. In math, however, one may choose between a hard and easy one (dubbed «broad« and «narrow»). The narrow meant for those who are hoping to use as little maths as possible in independent life. Whatever version they had opted for, in upper secondary studies, for exam an opposite version may be selected (like: narrow test after a broad preparation).

In foreign language also, various versions are on offer. Of all kids, 90 per cent have English as primary foreign language. 50–74 points award B1 language level, 75–100 points grant B2.

Whoever falls under the 50 points level will pass, yet without certificate. And: the year after, anyone may show up to have another try to get a better «state result», if not satisfied with original.

B2 language level is the quite good one as expected of entrants by University of Tartu and many a European university.

From now on, those studying English may also opt to switch the usual state exam for an internationally recognised one like a TOEFL-test, doing it for a fee at some local university. Such tests are required by various topmost Anglo-American universities.

According to Ain Tõnisson of education ministry, exams for Russian, French and German are taken according to internationally recognised standards, offering the corresponding certificates; even so, for English we use our own local version – for a simple reason: «It is expedient for us to use exams prepared abroad, if possible; even so, teaching English is such a big business in this world that purchasing a well-known English exam would be too expensive for the state,» said Mr Tõnisson.

International tests

By January 20^th, 12^th graders must make their math and English exam choice known. Whoever will be opting for the international foreign language exam, must by that date present the corresponding certificate.

For Urve Lõhmus, headmaster of Alatskivi upper secondary school of Tartu County, the one-point threshold poses a problem: «One point means they have passed. Even so, only 20 will be satisfactory. To graduate from the school, one point is all it takes. Yet, when applying someplace and presenting the documents, 20 will be treated as satisfactory.»

Earlier, whoever got less than 20 missed the graduation certificate and had to retake the state exam next year. «I just can’t understand how it is possible to pass an exam at unsatisfactory and graduate from a school,» wonders Ms Lõhmus.

Still, Ms Lõhmus sees how the one-in-hundred option may help those not too good at math. «The selfsame young person may be excellent at natural sciences or humanities. For him, the math exam may not mean much in the big picture of life – for such kids, the system may prove advantageous. Still, they could’ve kept the current 20 points threshold, this being low enough.»

As far as Ms Lõhmus can remember, in the entire state exam history at Alatskivi Gymnasium, only one student has failed – at Estonian. 

As assured by Ain Tõnisson, with school exams the latter now have full freedom. «I believe many will [even] go for multiple-type ones, exams composed of various subjects,» he said.

According to Mr Tõnisson, state exams first and foremost provide for a full overview of the state of education in the country. «The function of entrance into universities is secondary, here,» said he. «Sadly, so far we failed to gain sufficient information due to some exams having very low levels of participation.»

In addition, said Mr Tõnisson, some schools tried to pump up results by pressurising weaker students not to take some certain exams. In extreme cases, in some gymnasiums the ranks of 12^th graders have strangely thinned out right before state exams. «Therefore, it is easier to stick to a single and clear model,» added Mr Tõnisson.

While, for a while, state exam results began to be treated as the main, even sole criterion for entrance into universities, this will now change. «Graduating from a gymnasium, for a person, is a milestone. Entering someplace else is an event altogether different,» explained Mr Tõnisson.

School network untouched

Mr Tõnisson went on to explain that state exams will not be directly impacting decisions related to the schools network.

Even so, the data will be carefully reviewed. «We still should have [only] these schools operating which show reasonable results,» thinks the man.

Math the Dangerous

In spring of 2013, most failures were recorded at the math state exams. Anyone with points less than 20 out of 100 flunked; next year, their exams will be declared as passed.

•    Mathematics – 5.9 % flunked, out of 3,416.

•    English language – 0.2 % flunked, out of 6,562.

•    Estonian language (mother tongue) – 0.3 % flunked out of 7,931.

•    Estonian language (as secondary tongue) – 5.4 % flunked out of 2,595.

•    In German (taken by 183), Russian as foreign tongue (268) and French (14) no-one showed a sub-20 result.

Source: Innove