SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.696

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

14th April 2023

LEGAL NOTICE 86 of 2023, as amended by Legal Notices 170 of

2023, 247 of 2024 and 246 of 2025.

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Secondary

Education Certificate Examination Regulations.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

-

"the Examination" means the Secondary Education Certificate

Examination; and

"the MATSEC Board" means the Matriculation and Secondary

Education Certificate Examinations Board.

(3)

The MATSEC Board retains to itself the interpretation of

the regulations and syllabuses relating to its examinations.

(1)

These regulations shall apply to the Examination

held from January 2025 onwards.

(2) The Examination shall also be subject to the Conduct of the

Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Examinations

Regulations, 2013, published as Legal Notice 132 of 2013, and to

any other relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the

University.

There shall be two sessions of the Examination: the Main

Session and the Supplementary Session. There shall also be

continuous assessment as specified in the syllabi and learning and

assessment programmes approved by the MATSEC Board.

(1) In the Main Session the subjects offered shall be the

following

As from January 2025 onwards

Accounting, Agribusiness*, Arabic, Art, Biology, Business

Studies, Chemistry, Chinese, Computing, Core Science, Dance,

Design & Technology, Economics, English Language, English

Literature, Engineering Technology*, Environmental Studies, Ethics,

European Studies, Fashion and Textiles*, French, Geography,

German, Graphical Communication, Greek, History, Hairdressing

and Beauty*, Health and S ocia l Care*, Home Economics,

Hospitality*, Information Technology*, Italian, Latin, Maltese,

Maltese as a Foreign Language, Mathematics, Media Literacy

Education*, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious

Knowledge, Retail*, Social Studies, Spanish and Theatre.

And as from January 2027 onwards

Accounting, Agribusiness*, Arabic, Art, Biology, Business

Studies, Chemistry, Chinese, Computing, D a n c e , Design &

Technology, Economics, English Language, English Literature,

Engineering Technology*, Environmental Studies, Ethics, European

Studies, Fashion and Textiles*, French, Geography, German,

Graphical Communication, Greek, History, Health and Social Care*,

Home Economics, Hospitality*, Information Technology*, Italian,

Latin, Maltese, Maltese as a Foreign Language, Mathematics, Media

Literacy Education*, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious

Knowledge, Social Studies, Spanish and Theatre.

(2)

In the Supplementary Session, subject to the provisions of

paragraph (2) of regulation 5, the subjects offered shall be the

following: English Language, Maltese, Mathematics, and, subject to

the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 5, Biology,

Chemistry and Physics.

(1)

No subject may be taken concurrently in both the

Secondary Education Certificate Examination and the Matriculation

Certificate Examination at Advanced or Intermediate Level.

(2)

Candidates are eligible to register for the Supplementary

Session in any of the subjects in paragraph (2) of regulation 4 only if,

in the Main Session of that same year, they had obtained a Level 2 or

lower, or if they were absent in Paper II, except for Biology, Chemistry

and Physics which are regulated by paragraph (3) of this regulation.

(3)

In the Supplementary Session, candidates may sit for only

one examination in either Biology, or Chemistry or Physics, provided

that they had not already obtained a Level 3 in any of these three

subjects.

(1)

With the exception of Greek and Latin, candidates

may register for the Examination as school or private candidates.

Candidates may only register for Greek and Latin as private

candidates.

(2)

With the exception of the subjects marked with an asterisk

in paragraph (1) of regulation 4

(a)

the Examination in all other subjects shall consist

of two papers: Paper I and Paper II as specified in

the respective syllabi;

(b)

Paper I for school candidates shall consist of

unmoderated school-based assessment that is to be

set and assessed by the school;

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

(c)

Paper I for school candidates may be tiered at either

levels 1-2-3 or levels 1-2 according to the

respective MATSEC syllabus;

(d)

Paper I for private candidates shall be a controlled

assessment and shall mainly focus on the learning

outcomes marked in the respective syllabi as

suggested for school-based assessment;

(e)

Paper I for private candidates shall be a controlled

assessment assessing Levels 1, 2 and 3 as described

in the respective syllabus and set and marked by

MATSEC;

(f)

Paper II shall be a controlled assessment set and

marked by MATSEC and is common to school and

private candidates;

(g)

With the exception of Mathematics, all Paper II

controlled assessments shall be tiered at two levels

levels 1-2 and levels 2-3;

(h)

Paper II for Mathematics shall be tiered at three

levels: levels 1-2, levels 2-3 and levels 3-3*;

(i)

Candidates shall be required to indicate on their

application form whether they wish to sit for their

Paper II assessment at levels 1-2 or levels 2-3 or

levels 3-3* (for Mathematics only); and

(j)

In the Supplementary Session, only levels 2-3 shall

be offered for Paper II and as indicated in

paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 5.

(3)

In all subjects marked with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of

regulation 4

(a)

the assessment for school candidates shall consist

of three components. Paper I shall consist of

unmoderated school-based assessment that is set

and assessed by the school, a coursework

component which shall be set and assessed by the

school and moderated by MATSEC and Paper II

which shall consist of a controlled assessment set

and marked by MATSEC and is common to school

and private candidates;

(b)

Paper I, Paper II and the coursework component

shall be set at levels 1-2-3; and

(c)

Candidates may register as private candidates if they

would have already registered for the same subject

in a previous Main Session. In such cases the

candidate’s Paper I mark and coursework mark are

transferred from the previous session.

(1)

The attainment in Paper I for school candidates,

Paper II and an overall level shall be reported. In all subjects marked

with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, the coursework

mark shall also be reported.

(2)

Candidates may qualify for an overall level at Levels 1, 2,

or 3, with Level 3 being the highest level. The level shall be

determined by the cumulative score of candidates in Paper I and

Paper II and the coursework component in the subjects marked with

an asterisk in paragraph (1) of regulation 4. The results of candidates

who do not achieve at least Level 1 shall not have a level awarded

and shall be reported by ‘NA’ which denotes Not Attained.

(3)

Paper I shall carry a weighting of 30% of the final overall

level. The mark achieved by school candidates in Paper I shall be

reported out of 30 marks, with the highest mark being 30 and lowest

being 0, denoting that the submitted work by the candidate was not

awarded any marks. The letters ‘np’ shall be reported for candidates

who do not submit any work. With the exception of all subjects

marked with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, private

candidates shall have the letters ‘PC’ reported representing ‘private

candidate’ instead of the score for Paper I.

(4)

With the exception of all subjects marked with an asterisk

in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, school candidates who would have

done their school-based assessment, or part of, at levels 1-2 and sit

for their Paper II at levels 2-3 shall have their school-based

assessment mark weighted at 60% of its value for the computation of

an overall level. In such cases the weighted value shall be reported.

(5)

Paper II shall be graded on an eight-point scale, grades 1

to 8. Grade 1 shall be awarded for the highest level of achievement.

(6)

Grades in Paper II shall be awarded in accordance with

the following criteria

Grade 1: Indicates an overall excellent grasp of the subject and

the level of attainment that is expected of the ablest candidates.

Grade 2: Indicates a very high level of achievement overall.

Grade 3: Indicates a high level of achievement but falls below

this level in certain sections of the examination.

Grade 4: Indicates a good overall level.

Grade 5: Indicates a good level, but not overall, and is the

minimum level acceptable for further studies in the subject.

Grade 6: Indicates a general grasp of the subject but not a

sufficiently deep understanding of it.

Grade 7: Indicates a basic level of attainment.

Grade 8: Indicates a very low level of attainment.

(7)

With the exception of Mathematics and all subjects marked

with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, candidates sitting for

Paper II at levels 2-3 may qualify for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. The

results of candidates who do not obtain at least Grade 7 shall remain

unclassified and shall be denoted as U.

(8)

Candidates sitting for Mathematics Paper II at levels 2-3

may qualify for Grades 4, 5, 6 or 7, whilst candidates sitting for

Mathematics Paper II at levels 3-3* may qualify for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 or

5. (9)

With the exception of all subjects marked with an asterisk

in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, candidates sitting for Paper II at levels

1-2 may qualify for Grades 6, 7 or 8. The results of candidates who do

not obtain at least Grade 8 shall remain unclassified and shall be

denoted as U.

(10) Candidates taking the subjects marked with an asterisk in

paragraph (1) of regulation 4 may qualify for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

or 8 for their performance in Paper II. The results of candidates who do

not obtain at least Grade 8 shall remain unclassified and shall be

denoted as U.

(11) In subjects marked with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of

regulation 4, the coursework component shall carry a weighting of

30% of the final overall level. The mark achieved by school candidates

in the coursework shall be reported out of 30 marks, with the highest

mark being 30 and lowest being 0, denoting that the submitted work by

the candidate was not awarded any marks. The letters ‘np’ shall be

reported when candidates do not submit any work.

(12) With the exception of subjects marked with an asterisk in

paragraph (1) of regulation 4, candidates are to fulfil the set criteria in

Paper I and Paper II to obtain a level higher than Level 1.

(13) For subjects marked with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of

regulation 4, candidates are to attempt all assessment components and

fulfil the set criteria in the coursework component and in Paper II to

obtain a level higher than Level 1.

(1)

Only candidates who have completed their studies

in Year 11 (Form V) of secondary education or who attain the age of

sixteen by 31 December of the year of certification shall be allowed

to register for the Examination.

(2)

Registration for the Main Session of the Examination, on

the appropriate application form and accompanied by the relevant fee

(if applicable), must be made by the closing date as published in the

notice for registration. Applications submitted after the closing date

but by the published date for late applications shall be accepted if the

relevant fee for late registrations is paid.

(3)

The Executive Director may, at his/her discretion, accept

applications for registration for the Main Session at a later date

against the payment of an additional fee.

(4)

Registration for the Supplementary Session shall be made

during the dates published by MATSEC. Candidates shall be allowed

to register for the Supplementary Session only if they registered for

the Main Session of the examination in the corresponding year and

subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 5.

(5)

The Executive Director may, at their discretion, accept late

applications for the Supplementary Session after the closing date if an

additional fee is paid.

(6)

The Executive Director may, at his/her discretion, accept

alterations to the application form by the candidate, subject to the

same conditions and additional fees applicable for late registration.

The marking of papers, the assessment of school-based

assessments and coursework, and the results shall be final and binding

for all candidates, and the MATSEC Board shall not, except in its

absolute discretion, enter into correspondence about results with

candidates or anyone on their behalf or any other person.

(1)

In terms of regulation 10 of The Conduct of the

Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Examinations

Regulations, 2013, candidates who are not satisfied with the grade

awarded to them in any of the subjects for which they sat, may

request a review of their examination scripts by a reviewer appointed

by the MATSEC Board, within the period specified by the MATSEC

Board and against a fee as determined by the University.

(2)

Following the review of the examination scripts, the

candidate’s result may be confirmed or upgraded. The revised result

shall be final.

(1)

A certificate showing the level obtained in each

subject, together with the criteria for the award of the level as laid

down in paragraph (2) of regulation 7, shall be issued once only to

candidates who obtain Levels 1, 2 and 3. The certificate shall also

show the attainment mark of Paper I and the grade obtained in the

Paper II in the respective subject/s. In the subjects marked with an

asterisk in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, the certificate shall also show

the attainment mark of the coursework component.

(2)

With the exception of all subjects marked with an asterisk

in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, for subjects being taken privately, the

certificate shall show the letters ‘PC’ instead of the Paper I mark.

(3)

An authenticated copy of the result may be obtained from

MATSEC against a fee as determined by the University.

The conduct of the examination will be regulated by the

MATSEC Examinations Candidate Guidebook, in force at the time,

as approved by the MATSEC Examinations Board and Senate, as

well as The Conduct of the Matriculation and Secondary Education

Certificate Examinations Regulations, 2013, published as Legal

Notice 132 of 2013 and any statutory or regulatory provisions

consolidating, amending, substituting, replacing, supplementing or

interpreting Legal Notice 132 of 2013.

(1)

School-based assessment is any type of assessment

of a candidate made by the school relevant to the respective

Secondary Education Certificate syllabus that contributes to the final

level awarded in the subject.

(2)

The attainment of school-based assessment shall only be

accepted from schools approved by the MATSEC Board.

(3)

The school-based assessment shall be marked out of 100

each year (9, 10 and 11). The assessment for each year will

contribute to 10% of the overall mark and will be reported to

MATSEC by the school in Year 11. Therefore, each year will equally

contribute to the final mark of the school-based assessment.

(4)

The school-based assessment shall reflect the MATSEC

syllabus covered in Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11.

(5)

With the exception of all subjects marked with an asterisk

in paragraph (1) of regulation 4, school-based assessments shall be set

at either levels 1-2 only or levels 1-2-3. The highest level shall have a

larger allocation of marks.

(6)

In all subjects marked with an asterisk in paragraph (1) of

regulation 4, school-based assessments shall be set at levels 1-2-3

and shall assess the set criteria.

(7)

The school-based assessment results awarded by the

candidates’ schools and the respective level at which this was set

must reach MATSEC by the date specified by the MATSEC Board.

(8)

School-based assessment results shall be retained for the

Supplementary Session.

(9)

School-based assessment results may be retained for not

more than five subsequent years from the Examination it was

submitted for, unless the respective syllabus states that the set

school-based is no longer valid. Candidates are to make a formal

request to MATSEC should they wish to retain their school-based

assessment mark for subsequent sessions.

(10) Private candidates are not expected to present school-

based assessment. Private candidates shall sit for another controlled

paper to make up for the school-based assessment component .

(1)

Marks obtained in the oral component of an

examination during the Main Session shall be retained for the

Supplementary Session.

(2)

Coursework shall only be accepted if the coursework is

designed and marked as per MATSEC syllabi and regulations. Fair

marking necessitates the use of marking schemes.

(3)

A Supplementary Session in the oral component shall be

made available to all candidates who are marked absent for a justified

reason in the Main Session of the oral examination, provided that they

are either covered by a medical certificate indicating that the

examination by the medical professional was not done later than the

day of the assessment and submitted to MATSEC on the day of the

missed examination or they are absent for a reason deemed valid by the

MATSEC Board. Candidates who are absent for the oral examination

in the Main Session without a valid reason shall not be awarded any

marks and shall not be entitled to a supplementary oral examination.

(4)

Coursework shall be marked out of 60 marks each year

(Years 9, 10 and 11). The assessment for each year shall contribute

10% to the overall mark and shall be reported to the MATSEC Board

by the school in Year 11. Therefore, each year shall equally

contribute to the final mark of the coursework component.

(5)

Coursework must be available for moderation as

instructed by MATSEC.

(6)

Candidates may be called for an interview relating to their

coursework.

(7)

The coursework assessment results awarded by the

candidates’ schools must reach the MATSEC Board by the date

specified by the Board.

(8)

Coursework assessment results may be retained for five

subsequent sessions of the Examination unless the respective

syllabus states that the set coursework is no longer valid.

(9)

Private candidates shall not be allowed to submit

coursework.

(1)

Marks obtained in the oral and aural components of

an examination during the Main Session shall be retained for the

Supplementary Session.

(2)

Candidates who re-sit an examination in subsequent years

shall be required to re-take the oral and aural components of that

examination.

(3)

A Supplementary Session for the oral/aural components

shall be made available to candidates who are marked absent for a

justified reason in the Main Session of the oral/aural examination,

provided that they are either covered by a medical certificate indicating

that the examination by the medical professional was not done later

than the day of the assessment and submitted to MATSEC on the day

of the missed examination or they are absent for a reason deemed valid

by the MATSEC Board. Candidates who are absent for the oral/ aural

examination in the Main Session without a valid reason shall not be

awarded any marks and shall not be entitled to a supplementary oral/

aural examination..

(1)

No texts or dictionaries are permitted in the

examination room unless specifically indicated in the syllabus.

(2)

The use of non-programmable, non-graphical electronic

calculators is permitted unless otherwise specified in the related

syllabi. Calculators or devices that can connect to the internet are not

allowed.

(3)

Scientific and mathematical formulae shall be provided by

the MATSEC Board where appropriate.

(4)

All work submitted in connection with the Examination,

including any written work, shall remain the property of the

MATSEC Board, but may be returned to the candidates at the

MATSEC Board’s discretion.

(1)

Candidates with special needs may be given the

option to be exempted from being examined in a particular

component of the examination, such as an oral or a practical

examination. When candidates accept the option and their mark is

prorated to compensate for the missing component, their certificate

shall be endorsed as follows

‘Special arrangements were made to enable the candidates to be

assessed in this subject. Details may be obtained from the Executive

Director.’

(2)

Such certificates shall only be issued as a last resort when

ways cannot be found of supporting candidates with special needs to

satisfy examination requirements.

(3)

Applications requesting special arrangements shall be

made on the appropriate form, within the date stipulated by the

MATSEC Board, and must be endorsed by the Head of the

candidates’ school and supported by appropriate medical or other

professional evidence issued within the two years previous to the

examination.

Candidates are expected to bear in mind the necessity for

clarity of expression and orderly presentation in their examination

answers.

The language/s in which the questions are set shall be

indicated in the syllabus of each subject. Candidates are required to

answer in the language the questions are set, unless otherwise

specified in the examination paper.

The Secondary Education Certificate Examination

Regulations, 2014, published as Legal Notice 389 of 2014, shall be

deemed to cease to be in force as from 31st December 2024.