Over the past year more than 10 specialists from two of the top educational institutions in the world – Cambridge University and University College London (UCL) Institute of Education – have visited Armenia within the framework of the National Program for Educational Excellence (NPEE). The visit of the UK specialists pursues one goal – to help our teachers become higher-quality specialists and obtain skills and tools that meet internationally accepted modern educational requirements. To date, within the framework of this nationwide program, the above mentioned specialists have conducted 15 trainings and other activities in order to raise the skills bar of our teachers.
This time, the NPEE had Cambridge consultant Heather West visiting Armenia from May 23 to 28 to conduct a training for subject specialists and teachers of the new Armenian educational platform, the Araratian Baccalaureate (AB). Ayb Foundation’s Communication Team spoke to Heather West in an attempt to find out how the AB exams will be marked, what the markers should pay attention to when marking the exams, and what she thinks of the climate at the Araratian Baccalaureate.
What did you mostly focus on during these five-day trainings in Armenia? The main thing I focused on was making sure that the markers understood all of the procedures we must go through and how we must apply the mark scheme to make sure we are fair to every student and give them the mark they deserve.
How will the assessment of the Araratian Baccalaureate exams be done? The examiners that are marking these papers have been trained by consultants from Cambridge to make them understand how the Cambridge system works and what standards we expect for students’ work. Also, they are provided with a mark scheme which guides them in how to award each mark for each question, so that the examiner grades each student’s exam fairly. Each exam is marked by one examiner, and then the marks are put on to the computer system. The grading will be decided once all of the papers have been marked. (Ed: The results of 2016 Araratian Baccalaureate exams will be known on June 15.)
In general, what would you recommend Armenian teachers to pay attention to when preparing students for the Araratian Baccalaureate exams? I would recommend they look at the mark schemes that have gone with these exams and that they read the Principal Examiner’s Report, which includes information examiners have found when marking the exams this year and which will help them get guidance to prepare their students for the exams next year. So it will tell them, for example, where students could have improved their answers and gained more marks, where students did particularly well this year and where they did not do quite so well. With that in mind, they might consider how they can teach those areas in the syllabus.
What would you advise students that will choose to take the Araratian Baccalaureate exams next year? I would advise them to make sure that they understand what content is in the syllabus per each subject and that they prepare themselves by looking at the past papers so they know what to expect. I would advise them to read each question carefully, and make sure that what they are answering is what the examiner has asked them. I would also advise them to look at the number of marks that question is worth because that will give them an idea of whether they are expected to give a short answer or a longer one. If it is maybe one mark or two marks, then they should give a short answer, but if the question is worth seven marks, then they will be expected to write a longer answer. So they should plan their answers according to the number of marks the question is given. But I would also advise them to be calm in their exams, because if they are calm and if they have revised and prepared, they will perform well in the exams.
What do you think of the education climate at Araratian Baccalaureate? I think it is very good. Everybody is wanting to improve the education system, to improve the examinations and importantly, learn from other people who have expertise, and so this will be beneficial to all of the students here. An exam system is being created that matches all of the international standards, so any student who studies the AB will be equivalent to other students all around the world and it will give them good opportunities for their future career.
It should be noted that in 2014, the Ayb Educational Foundation and Armenian Ministry of Education and Science in collaboration with Cambridge University and University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IoE) embarked on the National Program for Educational Excellence (NPEE). Within the framework of NPEE, the Araratian Baccalaureate, an Armenian-language alternative educational program that meets high international high standards and is already accredited by Cambridge International Examinations as being equivalent to GCE A Level, will be introduced in schools in Armenian regions that offer the high school program. The program will train and certify a community of teachers that will be teaching the AB program in accordance with NPEE requirements. In short, this means that the education Armenian children will get in Armenian schools will be recognized by both local and international HEIs without the necessity of any additional exams.
