DIPARTIMENT GĦALL-KURRIKULU, DEPARTMENT FOR CURRICULUM,

TAGĦLIM TUL IL-ĦAJJA U IMPJEGABILITÀ LIFELONG LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY

FLORIANA VLT 2000 FLORIANA VLT 2000
MALTA MALTA

Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes

Tel: 2598 2425 / 2598 2426 / 2598 2427 Email: gaetano.bugeja@ilearn.edu.mt

LETTER CIRCULAR
Information: X Date: 6th July 2018
Action Required: X Ref: DLAP 184/2018
To: All Heads of State Primary Schools and Sections
From: Director, Learning and Assessment Programmes
Subject: Continuous Assessment in Primary Years 4, 5 and 6, for scholastic year 2018-2019
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Heads of Primary Schools are kindly asked to inform teachers of Years 4, 5 and 6 that following the
training/feedback sessions held during April and May 2018 with teachers, the following
recommendations for continuous assessment are being forwarded.

As per earlier Letter Circular DLAP 054/2018 entitled ‘Teaching, Learning and Assessment
following the New Sectorial Agreement 2017’, dated 19th February 2018, half-yearly examinations in
Years 4 to 6 are being replaced by continuous assessment during the scholastic year. Moreover, the
Annual Examinations in Mathematics, English, Maltese and Science for these years will continue to
be held and provided by the Education Assessment Unit. The End of Primary Benchmark in Year 6
will remain unchanged. Continuous assessment will not form part of the End of Primary Benchmark
for scholastic year 2018-2019.

At the end of the scholastic year, parents/guardians of children in Years 4 and 5 will receive a
continuous assessment mark, an annual examination mark and a total mark for Mathematics, English,
Maltese and Science. The total mark will consist of the continuous assessment mark (carrying 40%
of the total mark) and the annual examination mark (carrying 60% of the total mark).
Parents/guardians of children in Year 6 will receive a continuous assessment mark only for all
subjects except Science, which will have an annual mark too. Parents/guardians of children in Years
4, 5 and 6 will also receive a continuous assessment mark for Religion/Ethics and Social Studies.
Other subjects assessed by peripatetic teachers will be conducted in the same way as is current
practice. In February, parents/guardians of children in Years 4, 5 and 6 will receive only the
assessment mark for all subjects.

It is important to note that there are no changes in the subject syllabi for Years 4 to 6 in the next
scholastic year.

Continuous Assessment
Continuous Assessment is intended to provide an opportunity for learners to be assessed through
different modes. It is an opportunity to assess knowledge, skills and competences. It is
recommended that continuous assessment consists of routine activity in the classroom.

Evidence of students’ work, part of continuous assessment, is to be found in the students’

files/copybooks. Teachers are encouraged to collect a minimum of evidence of students’ work for
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERU GĦALL-EDUKAZZJONI U X-XOGĦOL – MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
their own records. Moderation of such work will be carried out throughout the year by Education
Officers of respective subjects.

Mathematics
Several types of continuous assessment are being suggested. These include Maths Trail, Quiz, Test,
Show & Tell, Low Floor High Ceiling Task, Integrated Task, Journal, superTmatik challenge, Maths
club, and other projects which may be suggested by class teachers. Teachers are asked to choose up
to 4 types of continuous assessment for the scholastic year. Further information is available at
http://primarymaths.skola.edu.mt/.

Malti
Matul is-sena, l-għalliema huma mitluba jassessjaw 6 siltiet ta’ qari, 6 eżerċizzji ta’ smigħ, 2
sessjonijiet ta’ taħdit u 6 biċċiet ta’ kitba (3 qosra u 3 twal). Aktar tagħrif jinsab fuq is-sit
www.maltiskola.edu.mt. Fis-sit hemm ukoll siltiet ta’ smigħ irrekordjat bil-lest.

English
3 listening tasks and 3 speaking tasks, 6 reading assessment tasks and 6 writing assessment tasks (3
short and 3 long) are recommended as continuous assessment during the scholastic year in Years 4
and 5. In Year 6, it is recommended that 2 Listening and 2 Speaking tasks, 4 Reading tasks and 4
Writing assessment tasks (2 short and 2 long) are recommended as continuous assessment.

Science
Two hands-on investigations will be conducted during the scholastic year. One of these
investigations will be led by the classroom teacher and one investigation will be led by the science
peripatetic teacher. Further information is available at www.primaryscience.skola.edu.mt.

Religion
The filling-in of selected pages of the present workbook together with two write-ups make up the
continuous assessment throughout the scholastic year. Further information is available at the
Religion Fronter Room.

Ethics (conducted by teachers of Ethics)

One show and tell activity, one group work task and one individual writing task constitute the
continuous assessment.

Social Studies
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One handout per theme as per syllabus for each year, together with the fieldwork/project constitute
continuous assessment. Further information is available at www.primarysocialstudies.skola.edu.mt.

Any questions / request for clarifications can be emailed to the Learning Outcomes helpdesk at
dg.dcle.mede@gov.mt or to respective subject Education Officers.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Gaetano Bugeja
Director, Learning and Assessment Programmes

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MINISTERU GĦALL-EDUKAZZJONI U X-XOGĦOL – MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT