Assessment

Assessment in the Middle Secondary School is used as both a learning tool and an indicator of student achievement. To do this, assessment takes on two styles – formative and summative.

Formative assessment can be described as assessment for learning. It forms part of the learning process, to allow both teachers and students insight into how the student is faring with the unit goals during the unit. It enables teachers to highlight and address any areas of weakness before formal assessment is undertaken.

These assessments can vary within and across classes. They are created by the class teacher and provide feedback on one or more of a unit’s learning goals. Formative assessments allow students to practice and apply the skills they have been learning and guide future learning for a unit.

Summative assessment can be described as assessment of learning. It is used as a summary of an entire unit, assessing a student’s ability and understanding of all the unit’s learning goals.

These assessments are common to all classes in a subject for each grade level. They use common assessment criteria and form the basis of the grade on the semester report.

In summary, assessment in the BMS Middle Secondary School:

is an essential and integral part of teaching and learning
reflects a belief that all students can improve
involves setting learning goals with students
helps students know and recognize the standards they are aiming for through Summative Assessment
provides feedback that helps students understand the next steps in learning and plan how to achieve them through both Formative and Summative Assessment
involves teachers, students and parents in reflecting on assessment data.

Throughout the Middle Secondary School years, students will complete a wide range of formative and summative assessments. While formative assessments are class-based and are used like a progress report, giving insight to strengths and weaknesses during the learning process, summative assessments indicate how and what a student has learnt at the end of a learning period.

To help students, as well as their teachers and parents, monitor and review these learning strengths and weaknesses, all Middle Secondary School students maintain an Assessment Portfolio in which each completed and graded summative assessment is kept. Comments from teachers are included, overall grade-level assessment feedback for each assessment is collated and student reflections on their own learning. This allows students to reflect on their overall learning successes and which areas of their learning still need improvement.

As Middle Secondary School is focused on explicit teaching of skills, alongside the content, students can use this as a personal reference guide to their growing skill base. It will form the foundation of the students becoming critically reflective learners.

Throughout the school year, the portfolios will be used by Advisors and subject teachers to review student progress with both the student and their families.

All student assessments are graded according to the Berlin Metropolitan School Grading Scale.