Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

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L.N. 160 of 2015

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

The Conduct of the Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate

Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74 (5) and 75

(6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the University of Malta has

promulgated the following regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta

by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 75 (3) and 79 (b) of the said Act

Citation

These regulations may be cited as The Conduct of the Matriculation and

Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

and shall be read and construed as one with The Conduct of the Matriculation and

Secondary Education Certificate Examinations Regulations, 2013, published as Legal

Notice 132 of 2013, hereinafter referred to as “the principal regulations”.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to examinations held from January 2015

onwards.

Amendment to regulation 4 of the principal regulations

For sub-paragraph (a)(i) of paragraph (1) of regulation 4 of the principal

regulations there shall be substituted the following

“(a)

In the case of the Secondary Education Certificate Examination

(i) a Syllabus Panel shall be composed of representatives from the academic

staff of the University, the Directorate of Quality and Standards in Education of the

Ministry responsible for Education and Employment, the Malta College of Arts,

Science and Technology (MCAST), the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) and the

Private Schools’ Association, as appropriate;”

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Amendment to regulation 5 of the principal regulations

For paragraph (2) of regulation 5 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following

“(2)

Paper Setters’ Panel

(a) A Paper Setters’ Panel shall be responsible for the preparation of the

examination papers, a mark scheme in the subject, and other supporting documentation

requested by the MATSEC Board, for each session of the examination. The

examination papers must meet the requirements and assessment objectives and must

cover the subject content specified in the syllabus. The examination papers must

be submitted to the MATSEC Support Unit for printing by not later than the date

established by the MATSEC Board.

(b) In the case of subjects marked with an asterisk in regulation 4(1) of the

Secondary Education Certificate Examination Regulations 2014, the Paper Setters’

Panel shall set the controlled assessments and the synoptic tests as specified in the

syllabi. These assessments must be submitted to the MATSEC Support Unit for

printing by not later than the date established by the MATSEC Board.”

Addition of regulation 8 to the principal regulations

The following regulation 8 shall be added after regulation 7 of the principal

regulations

“Internal and External Verification

The assessment of subjects marked with an asterisk in the Secondary

Education Certificate Examination Regulations 2014 shall be subject to verification.

(a) For each of these subjects an External Verifier shall be appointed by Senate,

on the recommendation of the MATSEC Board.

(b) The role of the External Verifier is to ensure that the planning, delivery

and assessment of the programme meets the standard expected by the MATSEC

Board. The External Verifier shall also make suggestions about the improvement of

quality as necessary.

(c) Internal Verifiers shall verify that the assignments set by the teachers meet

the required standards and that their assessment decisions are fair and consistent. The

External Verifier shall monitor and report on the internal verification.

(d) The External Verifier shall chair the Paper Setters’ and Markers’ Panel for

these subjects. These Panels shall be responsible for setting the controlled assessments

and the setting and marking of the synoptic tests for each Unit as specified in the

syllabus.

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(e) The External Verifier shall moderate the results of the controlled

assessments and the synoptic tests.”

Renumbering of regulation 8 of the principal regulations

6. Regulation 8 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as regulation

Amendment to regulation 9 of the principal regulations

7. Regulation 9 of the principal regulations shall be substituted by the

following and renumbered as regulation 10

“Revision of Results

(1) (a) Candidates who are not satisfied that the grade awarded to them

in any subject represents their performance during an examination may request a

revision of their examination papers.

(b) In the case of subjects marked with an asterisk in regulation 4(1)

of the Secondary Education Certificate Examinations Regulations 2014, candidates

who are not satisfied with the mark awarded to them for a Unit may request a revision

of their assignments and controlled assessment.

(2) Such requests must be made to the MATSEC Support Unit, in line

with the instructions provided and within the period indicated in a notice issued soon

after the publication of the results. Requests shall be registered after the payment of

the established fee/s. In cases where the revised results are an upgrade, the fee paid

shall be refunded to the candidate.

(3) The revision of results shall be made by the original Markers’ Panel

together with a Reviser.

(4) The following procedure shall be followed in the revision of results

(a) a Reviser shall be appointed by Senate;

(b) the Reviser shall be provided with the mark scheme for the assessment

and shall go over the relevant script/s and if s/he agrees that the mark awarded is

justified s/he shall confirm the mark to the chairperson of the Markers’ Panel;

(c) if the Reviser feels that the mark should be changed, s/he shall inform the

chairperson of the Markers’ Panel. If the recommendation of the Reviser results in an

upgrade, the chairperson may call a meeting with the Reviser and, where applicable,

the marker/s of that part of the assessment which is in question to reach consensus

on the mark to be given. If no consensus is reached, a vote shall be taken by the

aforementioned persons; and

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(d) in every case where a revision of results is requested, the Reviser

shall draw up a brief report, a copy of which shall be sent to the candidate.”

Renumbering of regulations 10 to 12 of the principal regulations

8. Regulations 10 to 12 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as

regulations 11 to 13.

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