Examination System

Setting and Pretesting

1.1 Selection of Materials

Test items are set by a working group which convenes twice a year. The group is led by the Chairman of the Examination Working Group and includes Chief Subject Examiners for each qualification. Other members of the team are experienced teachers of Welsh for adults, including oral examiners, with expertise in item writing. Working group members are asked to select material from a range of different sources, including newspapers and magazines, advertisements, radio and television items and original material.

The choice of materials is guided by the following criteria:

• skills to be assessed
  
  
• linguistic complexity
  
  
• subject matter
  
  
• item types
  
  
• cultural and dialect considerations
  

1.2 Test Item Writing

Items are written by individual team members and then subjected to editing by the whole working group, the Chief Examiner and an external Reviser. The setting of examinations is overseen by the Welsh for Adults Examinations Officer. Detailed discussion is given to each item in team meetings in order to standardise examination questions and maintain consistency.

1.3 Pretesting

Owing to the limited number of candidates, no formal pretesting of materials is held at present.

2.1 Marking

All aspects of the examinations are marked externally. All oral interviews are recorded and assessed independently. These and other examination papers are sent to experienced markers for assessment in accordance with the specification for each level and marking schemes agreed at team meetings. The recorded oral interviews and other examination papers are sent for moderation to the Chief Examiner of each qualification.

2.2 Training

Regular coordination sessions are provided for markers of oral interviews. Training is also provided for oral interviewers for each level, by the Welsh for Adults Examinations Officer. In-service training for tutors preparing candidates is provided as required.

2.3 Checking

Examination proofs are sent for revision to an external reviser in accordance with the ACCAC Code of Practice, and the Chief Examiners are responsible for moderating - 10% of examination work is re-marked by the Chief Examiners. Clerical checks are also in practice to ensure reliability.

Results

Results are sent to each individual candidate approximately six weeks after the date of the examination. They are given a breakdown of marks for each component. Grades are awarded as follows:

A, B, C, (Pass) D, F (Fail)

For the Entry level examination (A2) candidates are awarded with Pass / Fail, not grades.

Certificates are sent to each individual candidate approximately eight weeks after the date of the examination.

Security

Every stage of the examination procedure is controlled to ensure security. 'Live' examination papers are securely kept and delivered to examination centres by special delivery. Each centre is required to follow strict procedures regarding the administration and conduct of the examinations and the centre organiser is responsible for security and return of scripts and recorded interviews.