Student assessment

Since the 2023–2024 school year, a revised Student Assessment system has been implemented. Among its key features are: (a) formative assessment as an integral part of daily teaching and learning, (b) emphasis on multiple forms and techniques of assessment, (c) authentic teaching, learning, and assessment, and (d) differentiation of instruction and assessment.
Specifically, the 2023 Regulations on the Operation of Public Secondary Schools (Amending) (No. 2) provide for the following:
(a) The abolition of the unified written assessment at the end of each semester and the introduction of a unified final written examination after the end of classes, during the May–June period.
(b) For subjects that are not assessed through a written examination after the end of classes, the annual grade is the average of the two semester grades. For subjects that are assessed through a written examination after the end of classes, the annual grade is the sum of the two semester grades, weighted at 35% for each semester, and the grade of the unified final written examination, weighted at 30%.
(c) The grade of each semester results from continuous (oral and written) assessment. It concerns the student’s performance during the semester, which is evaluated on the basis of tests, written assignments/projects, oral performance, and other alternative forms of assessment conducted in the context of achieving the intended learning outcomes in all subjects.
(d) The number of subjects examined in the 1st Grade of Gymnasium (Lower Secondary School) is reduced from four to two, which are Modern Greek and Mathematics.
The above improvements aim to increase instructional time and strengthen existing procedures, with the ultimate objective of implementing a comprehensive assessment system based on pedagogical principles and criteria.
Marks are awarded on a numerical scale of 1-20, both at the end of the first four-month term and at the end of the school year. Pupils' academic performance is defined according to the number grade they get:
 

• Excellent:      19-20
• Very Good:    16-18
• Good:             13-15
• Almost Good: 10-12
• Failure:            1-9
   

For the Lyceum, the subjects that are examined in written form after the end of classes for students of the upper secondary cycle of General Education are:

• In the 1st Grade of Lyceum, the examined subjects are Modern Greek, the two (2) orientation subjects of each Orientation Field, and one (1) additional subject per Orientation Field, as follows:
• 1st and 4th Orientation Fields.: Common Core Mathematics
• 2nd Orientation Field: Chemistry–Biology
• 3rd Orientation Field: Common Core History
   

It is provided that in the 4th Orientation Field, students who have secured a decision from the District Committee for Special Education and Training may, if they wish and upon written request by their parents/guardians, choose to be examined in Common Core History instead of the Orientation English subject.
In the 2nd and 3rd Grades of Lyceum, the examined subjects are Modern Greek, the four (4) Direction subjects, the three (3) or two (2) compulsory subjects, and one (1) or two (2) elective subjects, depending on the selected Direction. 

Progression of students

A pupil is promoted in June during the unified final promotion written examinations:

• When they achieve at least “Almost Good” (10) in each subject, or
• When they fail in one (1) non-examined subject, but the average grade of the examined subjects and the subject in which they fall behind is at least “Almost Good” (10).

A pupil remains non-promoted in June:

• When they fail in three (3) or more examined subjects, or
• When they fail in two (2) examined and two (2) or more non-examined subjects, or
• Due to incomplete attendance.
   

A pupil is referred to re-examination during the second ten-day period of June when their annual grade does not meet the criteria of the above two paragraphs. The pupil takes both written and oral examinations, conducted by a committee of two (2) teachers appointed by the school principal; the written examination precedes the oral, and the pupil is considered successful if the average of the written and oral grades is at least ten (10) and they receive at least six (6) in the written examination.
It is provided that these pupils are examined on the syllabus of both semesters.
For pupils who, for justified reasons determined by the teaching staff council, do not attend the regular first series of examinations, a second series is scheduled immediately after the first.
Pupils who justifiably miss both the first and second examination series, as well as students referred due to incomplete attendance, are examined during the June re-examinations.
It is provided that pupils who justifiably miss both the first and second series retain their semester grades.
It is further provided that pupils referred due to incomplete attendance or unjustified absence from the first and second series are examined only in written form, without retaining semester grades.
A pupil is promoted during the June re-examinations:

• When they achieve at least “Almost Good” (10) in each subject, or
• When they fall behind in one (1) non-examined subject but the average of the examined subjects and the subject in which they fall behind is at least “Almost Good” (10).

A pupil graduates:

• When they achieve at least “Almost Good” (10) in every subject,
• When they fail in one (1) non-examined subject but the average of the examined and the subject in which they fall behind is at least “Almost Good” (10),
• When they fall behind in one (1) examined subject with a grade no lower than eight (8), but the average of all examined subjects, including the one in which they fall behind, is at least twelve (12).

A student who does not graduate in June may, upon written request to the school principal, sit graduation examinations—written only—during the May–June or February examination periods within the next three (3) school years.

Certification

Students who are promoted or graduate receive at the end of the school year an Annual Performance Report (for Grades A and B) or a Graduation Certificate (for Grade C). The graduation certificate is printed on a special form determined by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The content of the graduation certificate includes:

• school details, student’s name, parents’ names, reference to the upper secondary or lower secondary cycle, Direction (where applicable), references to official school books, teaching staff council decision, etc.;
• student’s personal details, including a recent photograph in accordance with the specifications of the Civil Registry and Migration Department;
• the student’s performance in subjects as follows: 
   
  • overall annual performance (general grade),
  • performance in common core subjects taught in Grade C, including subject name, teaching periods per week, and annual grade,
  • performance in Direction subjects (compulsory and elective), with corresponding teaching periods and grades.

It is provided that for Direction subjects that also have an equivalent common core subject, performance is recorded as a single combined subject under the Direction category.
It is further provided that these provisions also apply analogously to the lower secondary school graduation certificate.
The certificate also records the student’s performance and/or extent of participation in the D.D.K. Programme during Grade C, evaluated using the following descriptors:

• Excellent 
• Very Very Good 
• Very Good
• Good
• Satisfactory
• Average

according to criteria determined by the competent authority.
The certificate includes notes regarding the grading system and the level of recognition it receives in Greece, as well as the principal’s signature, date, and school seal.
The overall annual grade is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the grades recorded for the common core subjects, the compulsory Direction subjects, and the elective Direction subjects. The same content applies to the Performance Reports for Grades A and B and the relevant annual performance documents.