INCA Education around the world
Spain : Assessment arrangements
6.4.1 Control
6.4.2 Purpose(s)
6.4.3 Participation
6.4.4 Nature
6.4.5 Administration
6.4.6 Grading process
6.4.7 Consequences
6.4.8 Use of results
6.4.9 Output statistics
6.4 Fourth phase: Post-reform post-compulsory upper secondary, age 16 - 18 [see 3.2.4]
This section describes the current system of post-compulsory upper secondary education in Spain as introduced by the LOGSE legislation. Details of pre-LOGSE secondary education are provided in Appendix 1.
6.4.1 Control
At national/state level, the Government prescribes the minimum content for the various bachillerato courses available and consequently also determines the criteria for assessment. Individual institutions however, whether state or private sector, are responsible for carrying out student assessment, and for awarding the corresponding certificates.16,21
Bachillerato
There are currently four kinds of bachillerato:
- arts,
- natural science and health,
- humanities and social studies, and
- technology. 16
There is no final examination for the bachillerato, but students are subject to continuous assessment.16 Successful completion of the course results in the bachiller diploma.29
Changes are being introduced to the bachillerato, following the passing of the 2006 Law on Education (LOE). These include:
- students will choose one of three bachillerato streams (instead of the previous four) from:
arts
humanities and social sciences
science and technology - all bachillerato streams will include a new compulsory core subject entitled 'Science for the modern world'; and
- students who elect to follow the arts bachillerato stream will be able to choose one of two routes: focusing either on image, sculpture and design, or on the new option of studies in music, dance and drama. 90
The changes will begin to be implemented from the 2008/09 school year. 90
Specific vocational training
As in all other levels of education, assessment in specific vocational training is continuous and is carried out separately for each of the modules/subject areas. It attempts to take into account the competencies required for final certification, as well as the maturity of students.21
6.4.2 Purpose(s)
Bachillerato
Successful completion of the bachillerato course grants access to advanced level specific vocational training or to university. In order to enter university, students must currently, in addition, pass a national admissions/entrance examination which, in conjunction with the results of the bachillerato, provides objective proof of the student's academic maturity, as well as his or her level of acquired knowledge.16,18
The Spanish Government is planning to abolish the national university entrance exam and to allow individual Spanish universities to set their own entrance exams or use other means to select their intake. The scheme will mean that students may have to sit exams at several universities to make sure they get a place. The Government will continue to limit the number of places on popular courses such as medicine or telecommunications engineering.44
6.4.3 Participation
Bachillerato
All students on bachillerato courses are assessed by subject.16
Specific vocational training
All students following intermediate level specific vocational training courses are assessed.
6.4.4 Nature
Bachillerato
Students on bachillerato courses are assessed according to criteria established (by the Ministry of Education) for every subject in relation to the educational aims of the bachillerato. This comprises continuous assessment throughout the learning process and final assessment at the end of the school year.16
Assessment at this level is carried out collectively by all the teachers responsible for a group of students, coordinated by the group's class tutor, with the advice of the school's educational guidance department.18
Every year, teachers hold at least three assessment meetings; the final qualification in the different subjects being determined at the last meeting. In September, an extraordinary assessment meeting is held for those students who did not pass all the subjects in the final year assessment. Teachers are required to consider all the subjects taught in the relevant school year, and the academic maturity of students in relation to the objectives of the bachillerato and their potential for progressing in further studies.16
Specific vocational training
Student assessment is continuous and by vocational module, and teachers must consider the entire range of modules corresponding to each training cycle when making their assessments. Assessment of the practical training module in the workplace involves the collaboration of the teacher assigned by the workplace responsible for the student's training. A student must pass all the modules in the cycle.16
6.4.5 Administration
Bachillerato
Assessment criteria are decided by the national government in Madrid (through the Ministry of Education), as they are incorporated into the decree which regulates the minimum contents of the various bachillerato courses. However, implementation of the continuous assessment which currently leads to the awarding of the bachiller diploma on successful completion of the course, and accreditation of the diploma are the responsibility of the individual institution.21
6.4.6 Grading process
Bachillerato and specific vocational training
Students on bachillerato courses are assessed according to criteria established for every subject in relation to the educational aims of the bachillerato.16 On both bachillerato and specific vocational training courses, assessment results are expressed in a numbered scale from 1 to 10, with no decimals, where, from 5 upwards, they are considered a pass.21
6.4.7 Consequences
Bachillerato
Currently only students who have passed their assessment in all subjects receive the bachiller diploma, entitling them to access to advanced level specific vocational training or university studies, subject to the national university entrance examination - Pruebas de Aptitud para el Accesso a la Universidad - PAAU, commonly known as "selectividad".16 This is a universal, standardised examination that all would-be students must pass, even if they are planning to attend one of Spain's few private universities. Students are assessed by a team of university professors and high school teachers. Some 85 per cent of students pass this examination. It is important to note, however, that upper secondary schools effectively carry out a previous screening operation. Only students with positive assessments in all disciplines of the bachillerato are allowed to sit the university entrance examination. In practice, this excludes between 30 and 40 per cent of students (sometimes more) every year.)23 There may also be subject-specific requirements associated with different university courses.29
The Spanish Government is planning to abolish the national university entrance examination and to allow individual Spanish universities to set their own entrance examination or use other means to select their intake. The scheme will mean that students may have to sit examinations at several universities to make sure they get a place. The Government will continue to limit the number of places on popular courses such as medicine or telecommunications engineering.44
Students who fail more than two subjects in the first year of the bachillerato course, or more than three subjects in the second year, must repeat the year. Students who fail up to three subjects only repeat the subjects in which they have failed. Students may not remain on a bachillerato course longer than four years. All those teaching a student participate in the promotion decision.29
Specific vocational training
Students who successfully complete intermediate level specific vocational training courses, receive the qualification of "Técnico" (technical specialist) in the relevant trade. This grants direct access to certain related option streams in the bachillerato. The qualification of senior technical specialist ("Técnico Superior") is obtained upon successful completion of advanced level (post-bachillerato) specific vocational training courses and grants direct access to related university studies.16,29
Students on two-year courses who, at the end of the first year, have completed at least 75 per cent of the total class time for all modules for that year progress to the second year, but must take any remedial measures required. Those who have completed less than 75 per cent must repeat the vocational modules they have not yet completed/passed. Students may repeat a given vocational module up to three times, and they may take the final examination for any given module (whether at ordinary or extraordinary examination sessions) a total of four times. All those teaching a student participate in the promotion decision.29
6.4.8 Use of results
The individual institution, whether it is state or private sector is responsible for student assessment, and for awarding the corresponding certificates.16
6.4.9 Output statistics
In post-compulsory upper secondary bachillerato courses, the percentage of students repeating a year varies between 18 and 25 per cent, depending on the course. 23
Of the students on bachillerato courses taking the (current) entrance examination for university entrance (see section 6.4.7), around 85 per cent are successful.23
In the 2000/01 academic year, the net schooling rate for students aged 17 was 77.7 per cent. This compares with 59.2 per cent in the 1988/89 school year.67
A EUROSTAT report shows that the number of people completing upper secondary education has increased over time. 87 per cent of those aged between 25 and 29 years of age in 1999 had completed upper secondary education, compared to 66 per cent of those aged between 50 and 64 years of age.47
