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EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Assessment in single-structure education

Bosnia and Herzegovina

5.Single-structure primary and lower secondary education

5.3Assessment in single-structure education

Last update: 27 November 2023

Pupil Assessment

The student is assessed in all subjects and behaviour. Evaluation of pupils is public. A pupil must be assessed in each subject at least three times during one semester, and at the end of the first and second semester in conduct. The overall success of pupils is assessed at the end of the first and the second semester. In the first triad pupil’s knowledge and outcomes are followed-up and evaluated numerically and descriptively. Minister promulgates the rules of assessment of pupils in primary school. The subject teacher assesses the subject teaching pupils. From the fourth to the ninth grade pupils are assessed by subject teachers, and the class council determines the final grade at the end of the first and second semester upon the proposal of the subject teachers. Behaviour grade is determined by the class council upon the proposal of the classroom teacher and class homeroom.

The success of pupils in a particular subject is assessed descriptively and numerically as follows:

a) Excellent (5),

b) Very good (4),

c) Good (3)

d) Sufficient (2), and

e) Insufficient/fail (1).

Fail (1) is not a passing grade.

Pupils’ behaviour is assessed descriptively: a) Exemplary, b) Good, c) Satisfactory, and d) Bad.

The overall success of pupils is determined based on the grade point average (GPA) in all subjects, including electives.

The overall success of a pupil is: a) Excellent (5), b) Very good (4), c) Good (3) d) Sufficient (2), and e) Insufficient/Fail (1).

The pupil overall score is:

a) Excellent (5), if GPA is at least 4.50,

b) Very good (4), if GPA ranges from 3.50 to 4.49,

c) Good (3), if GPA ranges from 2.50 to 3.49 and

d) Sufficient (2), if GPA ranges from of 2 to 2.49.

Children with moderate and severe mental retardation, autistic children and children with multiple disabilities are assessed with descriptive marks, as follows:

a) Outstanding,

b) Good and

c) Satisfactory.

The behaviour assessment does not affect the overall success of pupils.

External verification of the achievements of ninth grade students in the Republic of Srpska has been conducted since 2013, while the experimental small graduation exam was held for the first time in 2018. In the first year, young high school graduates in 21 primary schools were tested, until 2019, ninth grade students in 93 primary schools took tests in Serbian language and mathematics.

School 2020/21. year, the obligatory small matura will be introduced in the ninth grade of primary schools in mathematics and the Serbian language.

In the Federation of BiH, the external matura has been conducted in the Sarajevo Canton since the school year 2012/2013. years. Students take an exam in six subjects (three compulsory and three elective). External matura is conducted for the purpose of evaluating the knowledge, skills and abilities that students, based on curricula, acquired during primary education. The manner, procedure and duration of the matura exam are adjusted to the student with learning difficulties, in accordance with the individual curriculum.

External examination of students' knowledge at the end of the final grade of primary school in Tuzla Canton is a standardized external examination of school achievements at the end of primary education. External testing of students' knowledge is performed by an objective type test from all subjects, which final grade students listen to together, during primary education.

Due to the pandemic COVID -2019 school year 2019/2020. The external matara was not held in the Sarajevo Canton or in the Tuzla Canton.

Progression of Pupils

A pupil who excels in learning and behaviour is praised or rewarded. Teachers' Council determines the kind of praise and rewards, as well as the conditions for their award. A pupil who is particularly successful in the educational process and other activities at school may be awarded commendations and rewards according to criteria established by the school. A pupil may receive a praise for the results achieved, by: a) Class teacher, b) Class council, c) Teachers’ Council and d) The principal.

Commendations are inscribed in grade reports, the certificate and class and register books. During schooling, a pupil can obtain a diploma for outstanding overall success, or a diploma for outstanding success in mastering the curriculum in certain subject areas or subjects. The Minister determines the type of diploma, method and conditions for their awards. At the end of the nine-year education the school proclaims a pupil of the generation. Minister promulgates the Rules on election and proclamation of a pupil of generation in primary school.

Certification

The school maintains: a) Register book, b) The record of issued certificates, c) Diary of educational activities (class books) d) Records of examinations, e) Records and documents of professional development of teachers, professional associates and educators and f) School yearbook.

The school keeps for permanent: a) Register book, b) Yearbook and c) Record of issued certificates of completion of primary school.

Diary of educational activities (class book) is kept for ten years, as well as records of examinations. Public documents issued by the school include: a) Pupil’s report book, b) Certificates of completed primary school or grade, c) Transfer logs, d) Certificate of examination from foreign languages and e) Certificate of completion of the level of primary education for pupils with special needs.The Minister adopts the Ordinance on the content and manner of keeping records and documents and forms of public documents in primary school. School issues the pupil’s report book with entries of the assessment of success in learning and behaviour at the end of the semester and at the end of each grade, except triads for the pupils who obtain descriptive and numeric grades on completed grade entered at the end of the school year. School issues to the pupil a certificate of completed primary education. A pupil who has not completed primary education and whose obligations of attendance terminated as well as a pupil who goes abroad receives a certificate of the last completed grade.