HKEAA submits 2017 Territory-wide System Assessment Report
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     A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (November 1) that the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has submitted the report of the 2017 Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) to the EDB. The HKEAA will provide school-level data to schools for feedback and improvement in learning and teaching.
 
     The spokesman said, "Some 150,000 students at the Primary 3, Primary 6 and Secondary 3 levels took part in the assessment this year. Their performance in the three core subjects of Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics continues to be steady."
 
     With reference to the feedback and views collected from the 2016 Tryout Study (Primary 3) and the experience of participating schools, the EDB accepted the recommendations of the Coordinating Committee on Basic Competency Assessment and Assessment Literacy in 2017 to introduce the 2017 Basic Competency Assessment Research Study (2017 Research Study) by extending the enhancement measures, including improving question design, enhancing school reports and strengthening professional support to all primary schools in the territory, in order to collect more comprehensive feedback to continue to review the related arrangements.
 
     The spokesman added, "Stakeholders generally agree that the enhancement measures are effective. Schools especially appreciate the enhanced school reports, in particular the useful information on item analysis and overall student performance provided in the information analysis report. This assists schools in developing more appropriate curriculum plans and learning and teaching strategies with a view to realising 'assessment for learning' in classroom practice. Schools reflect that the enhanced school reports could enhance students' learning effectiveness and help reduce the workload of teachers. The EDB, in response to the demands of schools and teachers, has extended the newly introduced school reports to Primary 6 and Secondary 3 levels in 2017. Schools may choose among the reports according to school-based and subject-based needs, and integrate the information with that on students' performance in school to understand students' learning situation comprehensively."
 
     Under the 2017 Research Study, the HKEAA adopted statistical methodology to calculate the territory-wide basic competency attainment rates of the three subjects of Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics this year. As in previous years, the Primary 3 attainment rates this year were calculated based on the basic competency standards set in 2004.
 
     The Committee and the EDB listen to and gather suggestions from the sector and various stakeholders through different channels including focus groups and seminars, and will follow up and review future arrangements of Basic Competency Assessments with reference to related views.
 
     The EDB will continue to support schools to promote "assessment for learning". Related strategies include promoting the use of the Student Assessment Repository, Web-based Learning and Teaching Support, professional training for teachers and on-site school-based support services to promote sharing of good teaching practices among schools. Following the release of the 2017 TSA report, theme-based seminars on promoting "assessment for learning" to introduce effective ways of using assessment data and information to promote learning and teaching will be held in mid-November. Teachers can sign up via the EDB training calendar. The EDB maintains communication with parents. Information is disseminated through briefings, promotional videos, leaflets, a resource kit and other appropriate channels with a view to introducing the value and functions of effective use of data. The materials have been uploaded to the EDB's website.
 
     The territory-wide percentages of students achieving basic competencies in the three subjects of Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics from 2004 to 2017 are shown in the Annex. Details of the TSA and this year's results can be found on the HKEAA's website (www.bca.hkeaa.edu.hk).

Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:20

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