Pupil assessment

The evaluation and grading process is carried out in accordance with The Regulation on the Assessment and Grading of Learning Outcomes, Promotion, and Graduation in Primary and Secondary Education, approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The evaluation of learning results, at all levels of education, is done with marks from "10" to "1" and, by case, with the qualifications "excellent", "very good", "good", "satisfactory", "unsatisfactory", "admitted", "rejected" or by descriptors.

In secondary education, the passing results of the academic year are considered the marks from "1" to "10" and the qualifications "very good", "good", "satisfactory", "admitted";

The evaluation of the learning results is carried out rhythmically during the semesters or during the school holidays (for special situations).

Each semester include summative assessment activities carried out according to the learning units planned in the long-term didactic project in the school discipline, in order to establish the level of training of the skills acquired by the pupils.

At the end of each semester and at the end of the academic year, teachers have the obligation to complete the school situation of the pupils.

In organising the evaluation, the following principles should be respected: validity, reliability, equity, transparency, confidentiality, and respect for the participating parties.

The evaluation and grading of pupils with special educational needs is carried out based on the individualised educational plans.

The forms of assessment applied in the educational process in secondary education at the level of the pupil class are: oral, written, practical and laboratory. In the context of the given forms, traditional methods can be used (based on tests, oral/written/practical tests, laboratory works, semester theses) and complementary/alternative methods (investigation, project, portfolio, systematic observation of pupils' activity and behaviour and self-assessment).

The initial assessment for school subjects is organised in written, oral or practical form, the decision regarding the form of conduct belongs to the teaching staff depending on the specifics of the study subject.

The formative/continuous evaluation is carried out throughout the learning unit. The rhythmicity of the application of the continuous evaluation is established according to the number of hours, the specifics of the discipline, according to the curriculum documents elaborated by the Ministry of Education.

The number of summative assessments during a semester, for each school discipline, is equal to at least the number of learning units/designed modules. The specific design aspects of the summative evaluations are established annually by the methodological milestones for the organisation of the educational process, approved by the Ministry of Education.

When applying summative evaluations, teachers are responsible for developing evaluation tools: the specification matrix (for evaluations based on docimological tests), the content of the evaluation test, the correction scale, the scheme for converting scores into marks.

The final certification assessment of educational performance in secondary education is carried out through the national testing called “the national gimnazial graduation exams” („examenele naționale de absolvire a învățământului gimnazial”), organised and carried out in accordance with the regulation approved by the Ministry of Education.

The national secondary school graduation exams are mandatory for every pupil of this level of education.

The disciplines included in the national secondary school graduation exams:

• Romanian Language and Literature (for pupils studying in other languages than Romanian)

• Mathematics

• Language of Instruction

• Romanian and Universal History

The teaching staff has the right to select the forms of assessment applied in the educational process according to the provisions of the curriculum documents and the psycho-pedagogical particularities of the group of pupils.

The educational institution has the right to establish its evaluation forms and strategies, discussed within the methodical committees of the institution and approved by the Departments Council, respecting the provisions of the normative acts in force.

In the 5^th grade (first semester), in order to ensure the gradual transition from the criterion evaluation through descriptors (from the primary cycle) to the evaluation and grading system (from the secondary school):

• during the months of September and October, the learning results and the pupils' activity are evaluated without grades; teaching staff explain to pupils and their parents/legal representatives the correlation of the descriptors;

• during the months of November and December, teachers do not record in the school catalogue the marks from "1" to "4" in the summative evaluations, repeatedly taking the evaluation test, with the same degree of difficulty; respecting the principle of confidentiality in the process of matching the descriptors.

The number of grades awarded to the pupil in each school subject during a semester must be, at least, equal to the weekly number of class hours provided by the Education Plan-framework for the secondary school cycle, but not less than two.

The number of qualifications awarded to the pupil during a semester in the school subjects Music Education, Art Education, Technological Education and Physical Education is regulated, according to the curricular provisions.

The pupil in a situation of coregency should have at least two grades. The last grade is usually given no later than the last lesson of the semester.

The semester average for the school subject evaluated by grades cannot be calculated, if the pupil has been absent (motivated or unmotivated) for 50% or more of the total hours stipulated in the Education Framework Plan, being considered a deferred pupil for the given school subject.

For each school discipline, the semester average is considered correctly determined if it is calculated based on the number of grades/qualifications provided by The Regulation on the Assessment and Grading of Learning Outcomes, Promotion, and Graduation in Primary and Secondary Education.  

In the secondary school cycle, the semester average for all school subjects is the arithmetic average of the current grades/qualifications, obtained during the semester, calculated to two decimal places, without rounding.

In the subjects of Music Education, Art Education, Technological Education and Physical Education, in determining the qualification at the end of the semester/school year, the algorithms specific to each subject is respected, according to the curricular provisions.

In the school discipline of Physical Education pupils may be exempt from physical activity with the following notations: 

• "throughout the academic year", indicated in the school catalogue (subject page), and marked as "exempt" when registering the school situation; the medical document is kept by the medical assistant at the educational institution;

• "partially" (during one semester), when determining the annual school situation, the grade for the second semester is recorded; 

• or "partially, with the limitation of physical effort", according to doctors’recommendations, pupils are assessed by descriptors with qualifications, according to the curricular provisions. 

The type of activities during Physical Education hours is determined individually by the teacher, in coordination with the director of the institution.

In the discipline of Education for Society, the evaluation is based on the observation of the behaviours specified by descriptors that indicate the skills formed in pupils over a reasonable period of time (one year of studies) and manifested in different situations and contexts, according to the Methodology of Evaluation by Descriptors in the discipline, approved by Ministry of Education.

In the Personal Development discipline only absences and the "Subject of the lesson" column are recorded in the school catalogue, without homework. In the 9^th grade, the qualification "admitted", "rejected" is recorded in the school catalogue and in the personal file.

The semester/yearly average for school subjects is calculated in the final week of the semester/school year, as established by the Education Framework Plan, approved by the Ministry of Education, but not before the last scheduled lesson.

For 9^th grade pupils, the annual average is calculated in the last week of the academic year, as established by the Education Framework Plan, approved by the Minister's order, but no later than May 25.

The overall average of the annual marks in grades V-IX is calculated as an arithmetic average, to two decimal places, without rounding, based on the annual marks obtained in the compulsory and optional school subjects.

The semester average is calculated for all pupils, regardless of the result, and is recorded in the school catalogue.

Semester/annual marks obtained by pupils in the subjects: Education for Society, Music Education, Arts Education, Technological Education, Physical Education and Personal Development are not converted into annual class averages.

At the end of the academic year, the final qualifications in the subjects evaluated by descriptors/qualifications are recorded in the school catalogue (heading Record of Learning Results) and in the 9^th grade graduation certificate.

The following abbreviations written in capital letters is used to record the qualifications: "FB" for the qualification "Very Good"; "B" for the qualification "Good"; "S" for the qualification "Satisfactory"; "A" for the qualification "Admitted".

The arithmetic average of all the annual averages in the compulsory and optional subjects (recommended by the Ministry of Education) in the Education Framework Plan, calculated to two decimals, without rounding, constitutes the general average for secondary school pupils. It is calculated at the end of the courses/secondary cycle for all pupils. For pupils with incomplete school status in grades V-IX, the general average is calculated after passing the remedial and make-up exams.

The grades awarded are compulsorily communicated to the pupils and are recorded in the pupil's agenda by the awarding teachers and class directors. The pupil's diary has the function of a communication tool with the pupil's parents or legal representatives.

Pupils have the obligation to carry the agenda, to present it to the teaching staff for the recording of grades/qualifications, as well as to parents/legal representatives for information on the school situation. At the decision of the educational institution, the pupil's agenda can be replaced by the electronic record of learning results.

The promotion of pupils from grades V-VIII is carried out regardless of the annual results obtained in school subjects.

Progression of pupils

According to the Regulation on the Assessment and Grading of Learning Outcomes, Promotion, and Graduation in Primary and Secondary Education, approved by the Ministry of Education and Research, promotion in secondary education is based on the results obtained by pupils in mandatory and optional subjects outlined in the framework curriculum and the results of graduation exams. Pupils are promoted if, by the end of the school year, they achieve an annual average of at least "5" (five) in all subjects from their framework curriculum for the specific profile and class.

Pupils who achieve annual average grades between "1" and "4" for 1-3 subjects are considered to have failed those subjects. These pupils are promoted to the next class only after passing the remedial exams, upon the Teachers' Council decision and institution's director order.

Pupils in secondary education who achieve annual average marks between "1" and "4" in more than three subjects are considered to have failed the year, as determined by the Teachers' Council, and are not promoted to the next class.

The decision regarding promotion and/or failure is made by the institution's Teachers' Council by September 1 of the current year and is validated by the director of the institution. The schedule for remedial exams is developed by the deputy director, coordinated with the teacher, and approved by the director of the institution.

If pupils fail to pass their remedial exams within the set deadlines due to health reasons or other objective reasons, the institution's director, based on the decision of the Teachers' Council, grants an additional period until the beginning of the next school year. The academic status of pupils who are deferred to the second semester or the entire year is determined within a period established by an order from the institution's director, but no later than August 25 of the current year.

Pupils who are unable to attend the remedial exams due to valid reasons, supported by documentation, is examined later determined by an order from the institution's director, within 7 working days from the exam date.

The academic status of pupils who have failed, been deferred, or are repeating a grade is communicated in writing to the parents/legal guardians or, as applicable, to adult pupils, by the class teacher within 10 days after the end of each semester/school year. They must confirm, by signature, their acknowledgment of the academic results and their responsibility for clearing failures/deficiencies within the deadlines set by the institution's administration.

For pupils who are deferred or have failed, the class teacher informs the parents/legal representatives in writing about the schedule for the remedial exams and the deadline for finalizing the academic status.

To establish the framework for conducting the remedial exams, the institution's director issues an order that includes:

• The deputy director responsible for organising the remedial exams.
• The teachers responsible for individual work with pupils who are deferred or have failed.

• The location, period, schedule of activities, types, and forms of evaluation, and the deadlines for the final evaluation.

Two annual sessions are organised for clearing failed subjects for each semester of studies, within a period established by an order from the institution's director.

Based on the results of the remedial exams, the Teachers' Council makes the final decision regarding the promotion of these pupils, upon which the institution's director issues the promotion order to the next class or the decision to repeat the grade/school year.

The written works from the remedial exams are kept in pupils’ files until the end of the education cycle. The teacher responsible for the remedial exams fills out a report regarding the remediation, attaching copies of the remedial exam work, which is kept by the deputy director for education.

The arithmetic average of the grades from the remedial exams, calculated according to the provisions of this Regulation, becomes the "semester average" and is recorded in the catalogue on the page of the respective study subject in the column reserved for "Remediation".

The results of the remediation exams, recorded in a report signed by the institution's director, are recorded in the catalogue by the examining teacher within a maximum of 5 days, but no later than the start date of the new school year.

Pupils who fail to attend the remedial exam or who do not pass the remedial exam in at least one subject, as well as deferred pupils who do not attend the finalization session for at least one subject, are declared to have failed.

Pupils declared to have failed are enrolled in the following school year in the class they are repeating, at the same secondary education institution, or they can transfer to another institution at the same level.

The obligation to attend compulsory education ceases at the end of the school year in which the pupil turns 18. Individuals who have not completed compulsory education by this age and exceed the age of the class they could have been enrolled in by more than two years can continue their studies, upon request, in part-time education institutions.

After passing all the remedial exams, the pupil is enrolled in the next class of the equivalent level. If the pupil does not pass the remedial exam in at least one subject, they are declared to have failed that subject, with the administration granting a deadline for remediation under the conditions stipulated in the Regulation.

The Teachers' Council validates the academic status of pupils by semesters, annually, after graduation exams, remediation exams, by classes, in meetings, and the council’s secretary records it in the minutes, mentioning the names of those "promoted", "failed", "repeated", "deferred", "expelled". Based on the Teachers' Council's decision, the institution's director issues the order regarding the promotion of pupils.

Certification

According to the Instruction on the Automated Customization, Issuance, Record-keeping, and Retention of Study Documents in General Education in the Republic of Moldova pupils who successfully complete the level of lower secondary education, receive the Certificate of Gymnasium Education (“certificat de studii gimnaziale”). The certificates are issued in Romanian language, free of charge by the gymnasium where the pupil studied, on blanks elaborated and approved by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova. 

The following information is indicated in the certificate: series and number, registration number, issue date, the name and location of the education institution, graduation year, name, surname, and date of birth of the pupil, pupil’s ID or other identity document, the results of final exams and transcript of the obtained grades, space for titular signature, space for signature, name and surname of the institution director, deputy director and three didactic staff. 

Pupils who failed the final exams receive an Attestation of Gymnasium Education (“adeverința de studii gimnaziale”), which includes a transcript of obtained grades during the V-IX grades from the personal file, validated by the signature of the institution director and the stamp.

The assessment, grading and certification of qualifications by educational level, as well as documents certifying qualifications by educational level, is described by the National Register of Qualifications.