ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED

TO ASSESSMENT IN MALAYSIAN
PRIMARY SCHOOLS

TOPIC 10

BASIC FRAMEWORK OF THE

TOPIC
Exam oriented system
Cognitive levels of assessments
School based assessments
Alternative assessments

EXAM ORIENTED
SYSTEM

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN
MALAYSIA
Federal
State
District
School

CURRENT EDUCATION
SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA?

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CURRENT EDUCATION
SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA
Malaysia so far has focused on public examination
results

as

progression

important
to

higher

determinants
levels

of

of

students

education

occupational opportunities (Chiam 1984).

or

UNTIL 2014...
STPM
UPSR

PMR

SPM

DIPLOM
A
WORKIN
G

MALAYSIA EDUCATION
BLUEPRINT 2013-2025
Examined curriculum:
Assessments now more oriented towards HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills). This can be
seen through the introduction of KSSR as well as replacement of PMR with PT3 starting from
2014.
Introduction of PBS is to ensure students developed holistically
School Assessments: written test that assess subject learning developed by the teachers
and assess by the teachers.
Central Assessments: test or projct work developed by the PPD \ etc but assessed by the
teacher.
Psychometric Assessments: Aptitude test for students to assess their innate and acquired
abilities.
Physical,

sports,

and

co-curricular

activities

assessment:

assessing

students

COGNITIVE LEVELS
OF ASSESSMENTS

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY OF
COGNITIVE LEVELS
Knowledge
Comprehension
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation

BLOOMS TAXONOMY
Knowledge
Recalling information. Lowest level of learning outcomes in learning domain.
Keywords: Define, list, state, identify, label, name, who? when? where? what?

Comprehension
Able to understand and interpret. Usually involved activities like translating information.
Keywords: Explain, predict, interpret, infer, summarize, convert, translate, give example

Application
The ability to use learned material in new and concrete situations. Require a higher level
of understanding than those under comprehension. Applying knowledge in daily
lives(practical).
Keywords: How could x be used to y? How would you show, make use of, modify,
demonstrate, solve, or apply x to conditions y?

BLOOMS TAXONOMY
Analysis
Break down knowledge to several knowledge. Identifying small parts and analyse
relationship between those broken down knowledge. Recognizing unstated
assumptions and recognizing missing link in information.
Keywords: Differentiate, compare, contrast, distinguish, etc.

Synthesis
The ability to put parts together to form a new whole. This may involve the
production of a unique communication. Learning outcomes in this area stress
creative behaviors, with major emphasis on the formulation of new patterns or
structure.
Keywords: Design, construct, develop, formulate, imagine, create, change.

Evaluation
Judging the values of materials like poem or story for a given purpose.
Keywords: Justify, appraise, evaluate, judge

SCHOOL BASED
ASSESSMENT

SCHOOL BASED
ASSESSMENT
Traditional way of assessing (examination) no
longer satisfies the needs of our students.
More school in Malaysia are shifting their
focus into school based assessment as well.

FIVE RULES OF THUMB IN

DESIGNING SBA
1. The assessment should be appropriate to what is being assessed.
2. The assessment should enable the learner to demonstrate positive achievement
and reflect the learners strengths.
3. The criteria for successful performance should be clear to all concerned
4. The assessment should be appropriate to all persons being assessed
5. The style of assessment should blend with the learning pattern so it contributes to
it.

IN MALAYSIAN CONTEXT.
Standard
referenc
ed
Assessm
ent

Robust

School
Based
Assessm
ent

Balance

Holistic

Integrate
d

COMPONENTS OF SBA
SBA

Non academic

Academic

School
Assessment
(Performance
Standards)

Centralised
Assessments

Co- curricular
activities

Physical
activities

Sports

ALTERNATIVE
ASSESSMENT

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS
Alternative assessment can be
described as types of assessment
that offers different approach
compared to traditional assessment.

IN SHORT..
Alternative assessment = having
same goals and objectives, but
through different approaches.

Traditional

EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS
One-shot

Progressive

tests

assessment

Indirect
tests
Inauthentic

Authentic assessment

Alternative

Direct tests

WHY DO WE NEED
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT?
Alternative assessments are suggested due to the fact that
traditional assessments cannot be relied on because it cant
properly reflect the students abilities in daily lives. Alternative
assessments are seen as more student centred as they cater
for individual differences such as cultural background, etc.