Assessment

The Gimnazije Act (sl) and the Vocational Education Act (sl) lay down the rules of examination and assessment in upper secondary schools, and more specifically, the Rules on assessment in upper secondary schools (sl) by the Minister of education. Based on those rules, each school draws up its own assessment rules. The rules are then discussed by the assembly of teachers and finalized by the head teacher.

Teachers in upper secondary general education assess students in all subjects of the timetable; in short upper secondary vocational and upper secondary technical education, in all subjects and technical modules of the timetable. In practical training, employers assess students, and report the grades to schools. In apprenticeship, students have their skills assessed at the end of year two. They have to demonstrate the competence required with the relevant apprenticeship plan. The assessment is organized by the competent chambers. Employers get feedback and guidance on how to continue with the practical training of the apprentice.

Teachers assess informally students to determine if they have achieved the learning objectives, namely after they have discussed the relevant learning material and before a written exam or formal assessment.

Teachers assess students with oral and written tests, they assess papers, artistic and other work, seminar and project papers, performance, as well as services provided.

Mandatory assessment methods (written, oral, etc.) for each individual subject or technical module are indicated in the education programme. The school working groups coordinate the assessment criteria based on subject-curricula or knowledge catalogues.

The assessment is made public. Students learn about learning objectives, learning content, forms and methods, as well as criteria and times of assessment. They also know all about learning tools and aids they can use. Teachers notify students of grades publicly during instruction and allow them to view graded written exams. The student’s parents or educators at the residence hall in which the student is staying may also ask to see the graded written exams.

Normally, the assessment of knowledge and final grade in the subject is given by the teacher of that subject. The head teacher can appoint another teacher to do the assessment, but only for valid reasons. If two or more teachers teach the same subject, they determine in advance the grading scale for the final assessment. If cannot agree on the final grade, the assembly of teachers has the final word, namely on the recommendation of the head teacher. In apprenticeship, both teacher and mentor with the employer do the assessment. Once the student has fulfilled all the obligations required by the programme, the assembly of class teachers determines the final learning outcome on the recommendation of the form teacher.

Students get number and descriptive grades. The grading scale: 1 (insufficient), 2 (sufficient), 3 (good), 4 (very good) and 5 (excellent). Grades 2 to 5 are pass grades.

Students who fulfil the obligations of compulsory options and interest activities, as well as practical training receive “pass” or “failure”.

The overall learning outcome may be sufficient, good, very good or excellent.

At the end of each assessment period, with the exception of the final year, students receive a copy of grades, findings and obligation fulfilled. At the end of each year, students receive an annual school certificate. If they fail to complete all obligations, they receive a notice of achievement.

Another method of assessment in upper secondary education is final exams:

• on knowledge or talent
• on specific subjects
• supplementary exams, and
• remedial exams.

Upper secondary students may decide to take:

• exams on specific knowledge or talent to fulfil specific entry requirements (talent or abilities)
• subject exams to want to (exceptionally) faster, improve a final grade in the subject or enrol in another education programme
• supplementary exams to receive a grade or sufficient grades in a specific subject, or
• retake to correct a negative grade in a subject at the end of the programme.

Progression

Studentst progress to a higher year if, at the end of the school year, they have been assessed with positive grades in all subjects and has fulfilled all obligations under the programme. Students can retake if they have got negative final grades in up to three subjects at the end of instruction.

Students who have not fulfilled all the obligations under the programme by the end of the school year may repeat year once. Students with special educational needs, students who are in parallel education in another programme, promising students and top athletes, and students who have not fulfilled all their obligations due to parenthood, exceptional social and family circumstances and sickness or other valid reasons, may repeat several times the same year.

The head teacher can decide that a student who has not fulfilled all the obligations for valid reasons may continue to the higher year. In that case, the head teacher determines conditions and time limit to fulfil the missing obligations.

Students can complete the programme within shorter time. This right is decided by the school assembly of teachers. Students take subject exams to fulfil their school obligations.

Certification

Upper secondary general education

At the end of the upper secondary general education, students take matura and receive a certificate of matura (final examination) governed by the Matura Examination Act (.doc, en) and the Minister’s Matura examination Rules (sl). The educational documents are governed by two Minister’s instruments: rules on school documentation in upper secondary education (sl) and rules on official document forms in upper secondary education (sl).

The matura is a national external examination (spring and autumn term). Students sit exams in five subjects: three mandatory (Slovenian (or Italian and Hungarian in ethnically mixed areas in Slovenian Istria and Prekmurje), mathematics and foreign language), and two options from the list of matura subjects. The list of subjects is defined by the Council of experts of the Republic of Slovenia for general education on the recommendation of the National matura committee and in agreement with universities and independent higher education institutions.

The National subject testing committee develops the subject examination catalogues that specify the methods and forms of examination in individual subjects:

• written
• oral and written
• written and practical
• written, oral and practical
• only practical, or
• exam presentation.

Written exams are assessed externally by experienced teachers, retired teachers and higher education teachers. Their grade represents 80 percent of the total outcome in each subject. The school internal assessment (oral part, work performed, seminar paper or exam presentation) represents 20 percent of the total outcome. Exams in some subjects may be taken at two different levels of difficulty.

The matura exams are assessed in points and percentage points. Points are then converted to grades according to the criteria laid down by the National matura committee.

Grading scale:

• grade 1 (insufficient)
• 2 (sufficient)
• 3 (good)
• 4 (very good), and
• 5 (excellent).

Grade 1 is failure; others are pass grades.

The grading scale for exams at higher level of difficulty is converted to point grades from 1 to 8.

The National matura committee nominated by the Minister of education administers the matura examination. At individual schools, matura is administered by the School matura committee with the head teacher as a president. The National Examinations Centre provides the technical and professional support in the development of the examination material.

Students who pass matura in the spring term receive the relevant certificates in July; the autumn term students in September. The matura certificate gives students the right to apply for university study programmes and all other tertiary education programmes.

Upper secondary technical and vocational education

Upper secondary technical education

At the end of the upper secondary technical education, students take the vocational matura and if they pass, they receive the certificate of vocational matura. The completion of the education programme is governed by the Matura Examination Act (.doc, en) and the Minister’s Vocational matura Rules (sl). The educational documents are governed by two Minister’s instruments: rules on school documentation in upper secondary education (sl) and rules on official document forms in upper secondary education (sl).

Students take the vocational matura before the school examination committee. The committee includes teachers and it may include external professionals on the recommendation of the competent chambers or representation trade union.

The vocational matura is a two-part final examination:

• mandatory written and oral exam in core subject Slovenian (or Italian or Hungarian in ethnically mixed areas of Slovenian Istria and Prekmurje respectively), and written and oral exam in a core technical subject, and
• optional written and oral exam in core subject foreign language or mathematics and seminar paper or product or service with defense (proof of vocational competence).

The grading scale for how well students do in vocational matura:

• grade 1 (insufficient)
• 2 (sufficient)
• 3 (good)
• 4 (very good), and
• 5 (excellent).

Grade 1 is failure; others are pass grades.

The grading scale for exams at higher level of difficulty is converted to point grades from 1 to 8.

The Minister of education nominates the National vocational matura committee to coordinate the vocational matura. At all schools, matura is administered by the School vocational matura committee with the head teacher as a president. The National Examinations Centre provides the technical and professional support in the development of the examination material.

Students who receive pass grades in all vocational matura exams receive a certificate of vocational matura. It gives them the right to apply for higher professional education programmes and short-cycle higher vocational education programmes. Students can apply for certain university programmes, as well but only if they have taken and passed a supplementary exam in one compulsory general matura subject.

Upper secondary vocational education and short upper secondary vocational

At the end of the programme, students take final examination and if they pass, they receive a certificate of final examination. The completion of the education programme is governed with the Minister’s rules on final examination. Also, all schools have their own rules in place laid down by the head teacher after the school assembly of teachers has given its opinion of it. The educational documents are governed by two Minister’s instruments: rules on school documentation in upper secondary education (sl) and rules on official document forms in upper secondary education (sl).

Students take final examination before the school examination committee. The committee includes teachers and it may include external professionals on the recommendation of the competent chambers or representation trade union. The Minister of education nominates the National Final Examination Committee to coordinate the organization and implementation of the examination. The technical support and administration is provided by the National Examinations Center.

Upper secondary vocational education

At the end of the programme, students take two-part final examination:

• oral and written exam in Slovenian (or Italian or Hungarian in ethnically mixed areas of Slovenian Istria and Prekmurje), and
• product and oral defense or service and oral defense.

The grading scale for how well students to in the final examination:

• grades 1 (failure), and
• 2 to 5 (pass).

Only students with pass grades in both parts receive a certificate of final examination. It gives them the right to apply for vocational-technical education programmes and after a few years of work experience a right to take the craftsman master exam

Short upper secondary vocational education

At the end of the programme, students take the final examination:

• product and oral defense, or
• service and oral defense.

The grading scale for how well students do in the final examination:

• grades 1 (failure), and
• 2 to 5 (pass).

Only students with a pass grade receive a certificate of final examination. It gives them the right to apply for year one of the upper secondary vocational or upper secondary technical education programme.