Students assessment

In vocational upper-secondary education, a 10-point grading scale is used to evaluate education and training achievements in subjects, practical lessons as well as the final national examinations:

• High level of acquired skills and knowledge: outstanding – "10", excellent – "9";
• Optimum level of acquired skills and knowledge: very good – "8", good – "7", almost good – "6";
• Medium level of acquired skills and knowledge: satisfactory – "5", almost satisfactory – "4";
• Low level of acquired skills and knowledge: poor – "3", very poor – "2", very, very poor – "1".

Practice for qualification and tests assigned in the education programme are evaluated with "pass" or "fail".

National tests take place at the end of vocational upper-secondary education. Qualification examinations are centralized and should be taken in the state language.

Progression of students

Progression to the next year is automatic if the student has fulfilled all the requirements set by the education and training programme. There is no repetition of the year foreseen because of the special status of vocational education - the organization of the vocational education acquirement is like the one in higher educational institutions, where there is a possibility either to fulfil the requirement of the year (with the chance to leave some un-passed courses to next year) or to leave the school.

Certification

Students have to complete and pass the assessment (not less than "4" - almost satisfactory) in all courses, practical lessons and the practice for qualification prescribed by the chosen programme, as well to pass national examinations in order to finish vocational school or vocational secondary school. The mark received in the qualification examination should not be less than "5" (satisfactory) both for vocational secondary school and vocational school students. If the student accomplishes all requirements of the educational programme, but fails to pass the qualification examination, he may receive only an achievement sheet.

National examinations in vocational upper-secondary schools include the qualification test and four examinations in subjects determined by the education and training programme (the same centralized examinations as in general upper-secondary schools).

Qualification test consists of two parts: test on theory and tests of practical skills. The National Centre for Education (subordinated to the Ministry of Education and Science) organizes the development of examinations on theoretical knowledge and their assessment in professional associations.  

Students receive a diploma on vocational upper-secondary education diploms par profesionālo vidējo izglītību on the completion of accredited education and training programme together with an achievement sheet sekmju izraksts. A certificate on professional qualification profesionālās kvalifikācijas apliecība confirms the received professional qualification profesionālā kvalifikācija.

Latvian Qualifications Database contains information about the Latvian education qualifications referenced to Latvian and European Qualifications Framework.

The State Education Development Agency, together with the co-operation partners - Latvian Employers' Confederation, Latvian Free Trade Union, the National Education Centre and the State Education Quality Service - has implemented the European Social Fund project “Establishing a sectoral qualification system and improving the efficiency and quality of vocational education”. As part of this, the content of professional qualification examinations and alternative forms of assessment of learning outcomes for 32 professional qualifications has been developed.