IeBT MATHEMATICS

7 November 2024 

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Feedback to schools from past learners indicated the increased use of multiple-choice as a regular assessment methodology in tertiary education.
 

Furthermore, the IEB, in partnership with the Australian Council for Educational Research, offers benchmarking tests in mathematics from Grade 3 to Grade 10. Given that IEB schools have appreciated the benchmark offered by these tests in respect of their learners, the IEB realised the importance of a curriculum-based benchmark in Grade 11.

 

Against the backdrop of an expressed need for a minimum threshold of standards at Grade 11 as well as the expressed importance of developing skills in answering multiple choice items in high stakes assessments, the IEB introduced the Grade 11 Benchmark Test (IeBT) in Mathematics in 2012.

The purpose of the IeBT is to assess Grade 11 learners’ performance in the Grade 11 Mathematics curriculum. The results serve as both a benchmark in competence with the Grade 11 Mathematics syllabus but also an indicator of areas of concern i.e. a growth-related tool before Grade 12.

The multiple choice assessment methodology is already an integral and well-established part of examining worldwide and, for learners in South Africa, the importance of this assessment methodology has grown. Competence in how to deal with this methodology is a skill that learner need to develop.

It is not only important for learners to have an opportunity to experience multiple choice methodologies; it is also a key professional development area for teachers. The IEB arranges workshops for teachers to equip them with the skills and understanding required to set good multiple-choice questions. In addition, they become equipped with the understanding of interpreting the statistical analysis and hence use that information to improve question setting in Mathematics.

 

 

IeBT PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Physics            Friday 8 November 2024

Chemistry      Monday 11 November 2024

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Learners writing their final IEB NSC Physical Sciences examinations have, in the past, had no means by which to benchmark their performance against that of the rest of the IEB cohort until their results are released. In addition, they all must answer multiple choice questions in the NSC examinations, and yet many of them have limited practice in answering this style of question. The Physical Sciences IeBT introduced in 2013, offers Grade 11 learners the opportunity to benchmark them, as well as to gain practice in answering multiple choice questions.

Given how well this assessment was received by IEB schools, the IEB will continue to offer the IeBT, and will also further train teachers in developing skills to set good multiple choice items in Physical Sciences.

 

Click here for more information about the ACER International Benchmark Tests