Pupil assessment

Pupil assessment reflects the level of achieved results in respective subjects. It is performed continuously throughout the school year (formative evaluation) and overall, in the certificate (summative evaluation).Formative assessment provides pupils with feedback during the learning process and helps to adjust their future progress. Summative assessment is carried out at the end of the first and second terms.

The school may use a grading system, verbal assessment or a combination of both; the rules for individual subjects are set out in the school educational programme.

Assessment in individual subjects in the form of marks is performed on the following classification scale:

• 1 – excellent,
• 2 – very good,
• 3 – good,
• 4 – satisfactory,
• 5 – unsatisfactory.

Verbal assessment is an evaluative description of how a pupil met the education goals in a subject. 

Performance in the subjects listed in the framework teaching plans must be assessed. However, schools can decide in which subjects pupils will not be assessed. Thus, many schools do not assess pupils in subjects like music, arts, physical education, etc. If a subject is not assessed by a mark or a verbal assessment, the school report will include an appropriate statement confirming completion. The assessment of a pupil with special educational needs is tailored to their needs and may be adapted in an individual educational programme.

The teacher is responsible for assessment; the school sets out transparent criteria and informs the pupil and their parent. If there are doubts as to the accuracy of the overall assessment, the parent may request a review by a panel under the conditions laid down by law.

Teachers obtain the information for pupil assessment and marking mainly through monitoring the pupil’s performance and preparedness for lessons. For this purpose, they use various kinds of examinations (written, oral, graphic, practical, and physical skills), analyse different activities of the pupil, and interview the pupil and his/her parents. Basic school pupils must take exams in individual subjects in oral and written form or practically at least twice in a term. The teacher is obliged to keep a record of pupils’ marks. The weight of individual marks is defined in the school educational programme, usually based on the difficulty of the assigned tasks.

 
The summative assessment at the end of the first term and the second term reflect pupils’ assessment in subjects and assessment of their behaviour. Pupils’ summative assessment at the end of the first and second term is stated in the school report as follows:

• Passed with honours,
• Passed with merits,
• Passed,
• Failed.

In order for a pupil to progress automatically to the next year group, they must not receive a ‘fail’ mark in more than one subject.

The legislature defines the framework of rules for pupils’ conduct in and outside school; specific requirements are set by each school in its school rules. The code of conduct is defined by the Decree on Basic Schools (Vyhláška o základnej škole). School rules are issued by headteachers after discussion with school authorities and the pedagogical council. The rules are binding for all pupils. Pupils may receive commendation or reward for model behaviour or exemplary fulfilment of their duties or a courageous deed. Pupils who contravene the school rules may receive a reprimand or rebuke from the class teacher or headteacher or be conditionally expelled or expelled from the school. Pupils cannot be expelled during their compulsory school attendance.

External assessment

External assessment is based on nationwide testing. More information on external testing of pupils can be found in chapter Quality assurance in early childhood and school education.

Progression of pupils

A pupil’s assessment in individual subjects is carried out by the relevant teacher in accordance with the school’s assessment rules. The results of the assessment are discussed by the pedagogical board, which acts in an advisory capacity. A pupil who meets the requirements for progression at the end of the second term progresses to the next grade. If they fail to meet the requirements in no more than two compulsory subjects, the school head may authorise a resit examination. The examination takes place before a commission of at least three members, appointed by the school head. The result of the commission examination is final for the pupil’s assessment. A parent may be present during the examination. 

If a pupil fails more than two compulsory subjects, and is unable to be assessed during the alternative assessment period or fails the resit examination, they must repeat the grade within the period of compulsory school attendance.School legislation does not define how many times pupils in compulsory school attendance can repeat a grade. 

After completing the fifth grade of basic school, the gifted pupils are offered the possibility to continue their study in an 8-year programme at a gymnasium or an 8-year programme at a conservatoire. An exceptionally gifted pupil can be transferred to a higher grade by the headteacher without having completed the lower grade based on the commission examination results. Pupils can be transferred to a higher grade only with the parents’ consent.

Certification

The certificate issued by schools at the end of the second term of each basic school grade certifies the achieved education. The document is a public instrument. The school issues a transcript of marks for the first term; a report card for the first term is issued at the parent’s request.  On the last day of the school year (30 June), all pupils are issued a certificate that contains pupil assessment in individual subjects and behaviour for both terms of the respective school year. The certificate is issued by a school listed in the register of schools and signed by the school head. Certificates of completed education are issued on forms based on templates approved by the Ministry of Education for the various categories and types of schools and school facilities. The form templates are published in the Library of Templates for Educational Documentation and Certificates.

The certificates of achieved education are issued in the state language. Certificates issued by schools with the language of instruction other than the state language are bilingual, which means they are issued in the state language and the national minority language. Certificates issued by schools that provide bilingual education are issued in both languages of instruction or the state language and the foreign language. Certificates of achieved education issued by schools or classes which provide education according to an international programme are issued in the state language and another language of instruction.

The school report for the grade in which a pupil attains a level of education includes a supplement confirming the level attained. During the transition between curricula, primary education is completed after the final year of the first stage: after grade 4 under the 2015 National Curriculum and after grade 5 under the 2023 National Curriculum. Lower secondary education is attained in basic school upon successful completion of the final year of the second stage. No specific final examination is held to attain these levels; the results of learning in the relevant programme are decisive. If pupils complete compulsory school attendance in a lower than grade 9, their certificate with a supplement from the respective grade states that 'Pupil attained primary education'. 

The certificates must contain the school’s name, pupil’s name and surname, date and place of birth, nationality, class, grade, school year, citizenship, class record number, birth number, year of school attendance, Slovak qualification framework/European qualification framework level, behaviour, subjects, achievement in each term of the school year, summative assessment, supplement, missed lessons – justified and unjustified, date, class teacher’s signature, headteacher’s signature, and the school’s official stamp. Certificates in electronic form must be printed on special with the state emblem, protective elements, and a serial number.