1. The annual systemic assessments at national and provincial level will be conducted in the third term of 2014. The Annual National Assessments (ANAs) will take place from 16-19 September 2014 and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) systemic tests will take place from 14-28 October 2014. The main aim of these tests is to establish the performance level of learners in Language and Mathematics in Grades 1-6 and 9.

2. The increased number of public holidays in the second term and the negative impact the loss of contact time may have had on teaching and learning is a huge concern for the WCED. All efforts must be made to counter this problem, thus schools are requested to adequately prepare their learners for the approaching national and provincial assessments.

3. In this regard teachers are to guarantee that key concepts in Language and Mathematics are sufficiently covered and consolidated in preparation for the looming tests.

4. The teaching and consolidation of key concepts must be done during teaching time as well as through supplementary teaching in preparation for the systemic tests.

5. Learners must familiarise themselves with various questions pitched at different cognitive levels and must know how to respond to each of them.

6. A template, marked Annexure A, with key concepts to be taught in Language and Mathematics is attached to this minute.

7. In addition exemplars of ANA test items can also be found on the WCED website. New exemplar items for Grade 9 can be found in the folder marked as Annual National Assessment 2014. Items for Grades 1-6 and 9 appear in the folder marked as Annual National Assessment 2013.

8. Access as follows:

  • Type in http://wced.school.za/home/home.html and click on "Curriculum Development";
  • click on "Assessment Management – GET Assessment";
  • click on "Annual National Assessment"; and
  • Find the folders: Annual National Assessment 2014, Annual National Assessment 2014.
9. The WCED exemplars can also be found on CEMIS – refer to Research Minute: 0003/2014.

10. Teachers are further requested to:

  • mediate the exemplars with other subject teachers in a staff workshop.
  • study the papers to familiarise themselves with the different test items and the mark allocation of the memorandum.
  • practice the various items to enable learners to familiarise themselves with the type of questioning, and to work independently.
  • support learners with the reading and interpreting of test items/instructions, the mark allocations and how to approach the answers.
  • encourage learners to work neatly and legibly.
  • Schools may set up a "mock-test". During this exercise:

    1. the classroom must be prepared like it would be for a real test;
    2. learners should work individually with a test in front of them;
    3. it is recommended that teachers be swopped between classes to role-play the real test environment; and
    4. School Management Team (SMT) members can act as monitors of the process to ensure maximum effectiveness.
11. Please note that the ongoing teaching plans of teachers should not be unfairly compromised by these preparations, thus a balance must be maintained between teaching and practice as well as caution taken not to place undue stress on learners.

12. Schools are requested to inform parents about the systemic assessments and encourage parents to support their children when practising items as homework.

13. Principals and Subject Advisers are requested to bring the contents of this minute to the attention of the teachers involved.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2014:07:30

Annexure A: Languages  (size: 59 KB)
Annexure A: Mathematics  (size: 37 KB)