As students, we all strive for academic success, and one important factor that determines our success is our examination results.
In Ghana, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a critical examination that students take to qualify for admission to tertiary institutions or secure employment.
The WASSCE Marking Scheme is an essential aspect of the examination that students and educators must understand to improve their performance.
We will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the WASSCE Marking Scheme in Ghana and how it affects the grading system.
What is the WASSCE Marking Scheme?
The WASSCE Marking Scheme is a grading system used to determine the performance of students who have taken the examination.
The grading system is designed to ensure fairness and consistency in the marking of scripts. The WASSCE Marking Scheme is based on a range of factors, including the number of questions answered correctly and the level of difficulty of the questions.
The WASSCE Marking Scheme comprises of two sections: Objective Test and Theory Test.
Objective Test
The Objective Test is a multiple-choice test consisting of 50-100 questions. The Objective Test accounts for 30% of the total mark for each subject.
The questions in the Objective Test are designed to test the students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
Each question has four options, and the students are required to select the correct option.
Theory Test
The Theory Test is the written part of the WASSCE examination. The Theory Test accounts for 70% of the total mark for each subject. The Theory Test consists of essay questions, problem-solving questions, and other types of questions that test the students’ understanding of the subject matter. The grading of the Theory Test is based on the content, relevance, and coherence of the answers.
Grading System
The grading system used in the WASSCE Marking Scheme is based on the raw scores obtained by the students in the Objective and Theory Tests.
The raw scores are then converted into standardized scores using a statistical formula. The standardized scores are then used to determine the final grades.
The grading system in the WASSCE Marking Scheme uses a nine-point scale, with A1 being the highest and F9 being the lowest.
The grades are further subdivided into numerical values, with A1 being equivalent to 1 and F9 being equivalent to 9.
The following is the grading system used in the WASSCE Marking Scheme:
- A1 – Excellent (75% – 100%)
- B2 – Very Good (70% – 74%)
- B3 – Good (65% – 69%)
- C4 – Credit (60% – 64%)
- C5 – Credit (55% – 59%)
- C6 – Credit (50% – 54%)
- D7 – Pass (45% – 49%)
- E8 – Pass (40% – 44%)
- F9 – Fail (0% – 39%)
The grading system is designed to ensure fairness and consistency in the marking of scripts. The grades are used to determine the students’ eligibility for admission to tertiary institutions or secure employment.
Factors That Affect the WASSCE Marking Scheme
Several factors can affect the WASSCE Marking Scheme, including:
- The level of difficulty of the examination
- The quality of the questions in the examination
- The ability of the students
- The experience and expertise of the examiners
- The level of adherence to the marking scheme by the examiners
- The accuracy of the statistical formula used to convert raw scores to standardized scores.
Source: Mckpage.com
