1. You are referred to Examinations Administration Minute 0001/2009, dated 30 January 2009.
2. It is again emphasised that these tests are compulsory and will be written by learners in the WCED'S public and independent schools on the following dates and at the following times:
2.1 Mathematics test: Monday,9 March 2009 from 09:30 to 10:50 (80 minutes)
2.2 Language test: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 from 09:30 to 11:00 (90 minutes)

The test questions will be in either English or Afrikaans. In addition, a question paper for Xhosa mother-tongue speakers is also available. That paper consists of questions in Xhosa (50%) and questions in English (50%).
3. Kindly note that Braille, large print and audio tapes test papers for learners with learning barriers will NOT be available. Learners with learning barriers at mainstream and special schools may be excluded from taking the tests. However, if they wish to write the tests, they are welcome to do so. After the test has been completed, schools may use the question papers for conversion to Braille, large print or audio tapes to test their learners.
4. Skynet Couriers will deliver the test documents, in one consignment, a week prior to the first test date. The boxes will contain a test administration manual, attendance register forms, a control sheet, elastic bands and grey plastic bags in which to return the test books. After receipt of the boxes of test books, kindly complete the control sheet and then fax it to 021 461 5637 or 021 461 5628. (For any enquiries concerning test books or test documents, please telephone Mr C. Berry at 021 467 2265.)
5. Principals must serve as institution co-ordinators and the teachers must serve as invigilators. (See Tests Administration Manual for responsibilities and other procedures.) The principal must ensure that the school receives the correct number of boxes and sign on the delivery note for the receipt of these boxes. The boxes must be stored in the school's strongroom and the principal is responsible for the safe-keeping of the keys. Please note that, under no circumstances may test books be opened or the questions discussed with learners before the test is administered.
6. The tests must be answered in the test books (See Test Administration Manual for details). All learners must be seated 30 minutes before the commencement of the test. This time must be used for seating the learners in strict alphabetical order, issuing general instructions and completing the first page.
7. Initially, it was required that the multiple choice questions for both tests, be answered on an answer sheet (bubble sheet). Due to unforeseen circumstances, the bubble sheets are NOT included in this consignment and therefore learners are requested to answer the multiple questions in their test book by circling the correct letter that matches the answer.
8. The tests must be written under formal examination conditions, and the rules pertaining to the conducting of the Senior Certificate examinations must be applied, but without the appointment of external invigilators.
9. The teacher invigilating the test must ensure that the following procedures are adhered to on the morning of the test:

Before the test (08:30-09:15)

  • Seat learners in alphabetical order and complete the attendance register.
  • Hand out test books to learners.
  • Instruct learners to complete all the biographical information at the beginning of the test book, i.e. date of birth, surname, first name, etc.
  • Allow learners to read through the test questions during the 15 minutes before the commencement of the test. They may not begin writing down the answers until they have been given permission to do so.

09:30 to 10:50: Writing of the Mathematics test (The duration is 80 minutes)

09:30 to 11:00: Writing of the Language test (The duration is 90 minutes)

After the test:

  • Learners must stop writing at 10:50 and 11:00 respectively and the test books must be taken in immediately.
  • The invigilating teacher must do the following after completion of the test:
  1. Check that the number of test books taken in corresponds with number of learners who wrote the test.
  2. Check that each learner has completed his or her biographical information correctly.
  3. Ensure that the learners' test books are arranged in the same alphabetical order as the names on the attendance register forms and that these registers are returned with the test books.
10. Returning the test books

The following procedure must be followed when returning the test books:

  • The test books must be arranged in the same alphabetic order as the names on the attendance register forms compiled for each school.
  • The test books must be divided into batches of a maximum of 50 books per batch.
  • The learner register form must be placed on top of each batch.
  • Each batch must be placed in one of the grey plastic bags provided and returned to the Directorate: Examinations, labelled "For attention: Mr E. van Breda".
  • The courier is scheduled to collect the parcels of test books within two days of the completion of the last test. Should parcels for the two tests not be collected by Thursday, 12 March 2009, the Directorate: Examinations Administration must be informed immediately by telephoning 021 467 2960/1
11. Close monitoring of the administering of these tests will take place. This will include unannounced visits to schools by officials of the national Department of Education, circuit team managers and members of the Directorate: Curriculum GET.
12. Kindly note that these tests do not form part of the progression mark for Grade 9 learners. Furthermore, learners are not expected to learn specific subject content for the tests, as understanding of concepts and skills at a level appropriate to the end of Grade 8 are to be tested.
13. Teachers will not be required to mark their learners' answers. The test books will be sent to the University of Cape Town for marking and the compiling of results. Each school will be sent its own results, together with a detailed analysis of how the school has performed. Each learner will receive a certificate and so it is essential that you make sure, during registration, that names are correctly spelled.
14. Principals and teachers are requested to ensure that the tests are written on the scheduled dates at the times specified and that the bar-coded attendance registers are signed.


SIGNED: CD BIRTLES
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:03:03