In the optimal level centralized exam in mathematics, one in five or 22.03% of high school students scored 10 19%, while the average student performance was rated at 35%, which is the lowest score among all exams in Latvia, as reported by National Centre for Education (VISC) director Liene Voroņenko.
12 609 students took the optimal level centralized exam in mathematics. 8.71% of them failed, 19.01% exceeded the 20% barrier, their score reaching 20-29%.
Voroņenko said the optimal level exam results are 3-4% below last year’s level,
which can be explained with the fact that a large proportion of students with a high level of competence in this subject passed the highest level examination. This level was taken by 2 591 students whose average score reaches 60%.
She said it is important to consider ways to increase the number of students that pick higher level mathematics exam option, because it is possible some student may have been deterred from it by concerns about their potential score.
In the optimal level Latvian language exam, the performance of Latvian students was better. Every fifth or 20.74% of the students’ performance in the optimal level of the Latvian language exam was evaluated with a score of 50-59%, 19.39% of the students passed with a score of 60-69%, and 18.19% – as score of 40-49%.
Of 12 185 students, 3.48% scored under 20%. 1.03% of students scored less than 10% and failed.
Exam results show that some students had the biggest problems with reading comprehension – reading tasks, understanding the text and using appropriate reading strategies.
“Often the score is lower for students who approach tasks with a more general approach,” said Voroņenko, adding that a screening strategy does not work for exams.
It can also be said that some students do not have appropriate skills in describing cultural facts or have an insufficient vocabulary, but this largely applies to national minority students.
Voroņenko said the need for a verbal part in the optimal level exam remains topical.
Students had a similar score in the higher level Latvian language exam – 23.77% of 2 589 students scored between 50% and 59% and 20.74% of students scored between 60% and 69%.
According to reports from exam observers, in the higher level exam students did not always understand what they were expected to do – there were papers submitted in which each text was analysed separately and lacked detailed understanding about culture and Latvian history.
Problems with argumentation were also observed for students who picked history and social sciences exams. Exam results in these subjects showed some of the lowest average results among all higher level exams – the average score of 540 students who picked history exam reached 38%, whereas the score of 1 603 students who picked social sciences reached 39%.
Voroņenko also mentioned that students with weak Latvian language skills had problems in the social sciences exam.
Exam observers mention that students picked this exam based not on individual interests or knowledge, but rather stereotypes, thinking they will be easier than mathematics or natural science exams. “This strategy does not always work because higher level exams require in-depth knowledge,” said Voroņenko.
Students’ score was good in optimal and higher level foreign language exams.
In the optimal level English level exam, which was taken by 11 010 students, every fifth or 19.67% of students scored between 80% and 89%, 16.61% of students scored between 70% and 79%. In the higher level English language exam, which was taken by 5 642 students, 23.17% of students scored between 70% and 79%, 21.75% students scored between 60% and 69%, and 18.21% scored between 80% and 89%.
In the optimal level French language exam, the average score was 81%, while for German language exam it was 49%. On the other hand, in the French language exam, the average performance was 69%, while in German it was 68%. In the highest level examination in Russian, students scored an average of 75%.
Voroņenko explained that these exams were taken by a small number of students. This is why each student’s score affects the average score.
In the highest level exam in natural sciences, the biggest number of students was traditionally for biology and chemistry – 2 106 and 804 students respectively.
Physics exam was taken by 747 Latvian students.
The biggest number of drop-outs was in the geography exam – of the 401 students who took it, 1.25% failed to get even 10%. Director of VISC explained that this could be linked to the late mastery of the geography information system – a large number of students mastered it at the very end of the school year or final stretch. 0.8% of students failed physics exam, 0.33% failed the biology exam, and 0.25% failed the chemistry exam.
Approximately 54 000 secondary education certificates were issued this year. Approximately 1 000 students in Latvia have failed their exams.
To pass a centralised exam, students have to score at least 10%. For the 2024/2025 school year it is planned to increase this bar to 20%.
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