Seeing Improvement in English Writing

Nelson Longsworth

The Primary School Examinations are already half-marked – a computer scanner does the job for the multiple-choice English and Science papers, while selected teachers come in to mark the composition section. In past years, eyebrows have been raised over the content of the students’ work, from text message language to mature themes in writing. But this year there has been less of those and more of quality writing and content, according to examinations chief Nelson Longsworth.

Nelson Longsworth, Head of Examinations Unit, Ministry of Education

“We usually have a meeting at the end of the marking, and the teachers would comment on what they have seen this year and how it compares to years [before]; and it’s encouraging to hear what they have to say. Our children are writing far more in terms of expressing their ideas in their stories and their letters and the quality is improving and that’s a good sign. And to add to that, you find that there were quite, in the past, a lot of what we call ungradeable or no responses, and those have reduced significantly.”

Aaron Humes

“So the kids are attempting the papers…”

Nelson Longsworth

“They are much more attempting and they are improving in their writing. So it should trickle down to see some improvement in the overall results, definitely. That’s what we are hoping for.”

Marking for the Math and Science papers begins next week and as always, results come out by the first week in June.