Saturday, 28 September 2013

PBS: The New Assessment Method



It’s the last year for the PMR examination as it has been replaced with another major assessment. Gone are the days of frantic last-minute studying, because now students are evaluated at any time.
You may wonder why did I say that. You see it’s all because of the new system, PBS. PBS is actually short for Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah [School Based Assessment (SBA) in English]. 

In this new system, there are a few levels to grade achievements: Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5 and finally there is Band 6. Achieving all of these bands take a certain period of time. Technically, the lower the band, the easier to achieve and the faster you get it; but even if it’s just an easy band to achieve, it takes effort as well. 

The easiest, Band 1 means that you’re able to know your stuff. Band 2 means you know it and understand it. Band 3 means you know, understand and are able to do. It starts to become a bit complex when you’re doing a work that is from Band 4 to Band 6. Band 4 means that you know, understand and are able do with good manners. Band 5 means that you know, understand and are able to do with admirable manners. Band 6 means that you know, understand and are able to do with exemplary manners.

It doesn't entirely rely on paper examinations like any mainstream school test. It also relies on projects, assignments, behaviour in class, manner towards the teacher and also your performance in class. Its aims are to help students recognise and enhance their potential through a fun learning environment.

Not only does it test us in the academic field, it also includes being tested in other fields, such as physical activities, sports and also co-curricular activities.

This system is entirely planned, constructed, administrated, tested recorded and reported by the examiner, or in other words the teacher. It also involves pupils, parents and external organizations.

Recently, the government has announced there would still be a major test (part of PBS) that is somewhat a similar format to PMR. However, there still isn’t a name to it although there had been speculations that its name is called PBSMR. This major assessment represents 40% of the current PBS system.

For more information on this, you can visit The Ministry of Education, Malaysia or here

Ajay Suresh

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