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Graph 1
10-Year National Mean Performance Trend by
Subject
80
70 67 68.8 69.9
60.2 63.8 64.4
60.7 64.6 60.7
60.9 59.2 60.9 63.9
60 54.9 63.5
58.9 55.3 57.3 59.9
54.3 59.1 58.4 58 54.9
50 52 53.3 52.7
50.5 54.9 53.7 52.9
40 45.8 45.6 46.2 47.2
41.8 42.8
41.9
30
20
10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Examining trends in national mean performance by subject since 2002, much fluctuation
over the years is observed with scores ranging mostly between 40% to 60% with some
spikes above 60% in Science and Social Studies. Over the 10 years shown national mean
scores in various subjects have remained more or less stable .
The graphs that follow show trends in mean performance by individual subject over the
twelve year period 2000-2011. The straight line above/across the bars indicates the trend
over this period. Again in each case, fluctuations are noted.
Graph 2-English
63.5
60.2
58.4
57.3
30
55.3
54.9
54.9
58
52.9
52.8
52.7
50.5
20
10
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
In English, the mean score (54.9%) shows an 8 percentage point decrease compared to the
2010 mean score. With the spikes in 2007 and 2010 to the satisfactory level, the data
suggests that greater national achievement gains are possible.
Graph 3-Math
Mean Performance - Math
60
50
40
30
54.9
53.7
52.9
47.1
46.5
46.2
45.8
45.6
42.8
41.8
41.9
44
20
10
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
For Math, the national mean score has remained more or less constant over the twelve
years shown with spikes in 2004, 2008 and 2010. The 2011 mean score of 47.16
represents a decrease of more than 5 percentage points over last year.
80
70
60
50
40
68.8
63.8
63.8
60.9
60.7
60.7
59.9
59.2
30
20
10
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
In Social Studies, the scores have remained more or less steady from 2004 to 2007 and in
2009 but a sharp increase is noted in 2008. In 2010 and 2011, the mean scores of 63.8 and
63.85 respectively are lower than the spike seen in 2008 but it is an increase over all other
years including 2009. Overall, performance in Social Studies achievement appears to be
stable.
Graph 5- Science
Mean Performance - Science
80
70
60
50
40
69.9
64.6
64.3
67
60.9
59.1
58.9
30
54.3
58
53.3
51.3
52
20
10
0
2000
2001
2002
2008
2010
2011
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2009
In Science the mean scores have remained more or less stable over the twelve years with
spikes in 2004, 2008 and 2010. The mean score of 64.38 for 2011, shows a decrease of
over 5 percentage points from 2010. It should be noted that for the past four years the
science mean scores have been greater than 60%.
NOTE:
While the tables of specifications help to ensure that the more or less similar content and skills are tested each year
no two PSE examinations are exactly alike. Therefore, while each year’s examination is similar to the previous in the
content and skills assessed and hence presumed difficulty, caution should be taken in interpreting trends as the
difficulty of the exam may vary from year to year. Procedures for equating the difficulty of the examinations each
year for a more reliable interpretation of trends are not yet in place.
USING THE EXAMINATION RESULTS TO IMPROVE TEACHING AND LEARNING:
WHAT IS TO BE DONE
The results show that national mean performance by subject on PSE has remained more or
less stable over the last eleven years with slight upward trend in each subject. It is
important to note however, that means or averages do not necessarily give the most
complete picture of performance. It is therefore important to note how our students are
distributed across the various grade ranges/bands which appear below in this release.
Overall results on the PSE 2011 show a dip in all areas tested. While there seems to have
been an overall upward trend over the years there have been fluctuations in the results from
year to year. It is difficult to say with certainty that this year’s decline is not due to the normal
variability from year to year. That said, the results this year give cause for concern,
particularly in the areas of English and Mathematics.
It is important to note that the emphasis here is and will not be to blame, point fingers, or
attempt to shame teachers and schools. Pointing fingers or blaming does no good if we are
to improve. Rather the emphasis must be on how we can improve teaching and learning in
our schools. The improvement of teaching and learning in classrooms is not merely a
matter for teachers but for principals and managements as well. All concerned—teachers,
principals, parents, managements and the Ministry of Education and Youth—must take
ownership for the quality of education in our schools. The Ministry of Education is currently
piloting a Quality Schools Framework and accompanying process at which ownership for
the quality of education services delivered is a central principle. Therefore, while the
Ministry of Education will take the lead in this endeavor, it is also the responsibility of the
managements and individual schools to analyze their own school results to determine areas
of strengths and weaknesses and to plan and implement interventions to address the areas
of weakness. This must be done with a sense of collective responsibility.
In this regard, the Ministry of Education and Youth, through support from the Inter-American
Development Bank, will be piloting a teacher training module in the teaching of primary
education mathematics and to develop capacity within the Ministry of Education and Youth
in the areas of teaching of mathematics. This is expected to commence in the coming
school year. Additionally, as a short-term measure, the Ministry of Education and Youth is
planning summer school in English and Math in each district for students going into
Standard 6 identified to be in need additional support in these areas.
Distribution of Scores by Grade Band by Subject
English Science Mathematics Social Studies
Grad Score Description No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of
e Range Students Students Students Students Students Students Students Students
A 80-100 Excellent 209 3 1024 15 497 7 973 14
B 70-79 Competent 799 12 1686 25 579 9 1746 26
C 60-69 Satisfactory 1589 24 1813 27 826 12 1754 26
D 50-59 Adequate 1942 29 1238 18 973 14 1189 18
E 0-49 Inadequate 2185 32 982 14 3865 57 1078 16
Totals 6724 100.0% 6724 100.0% 6740 100.0% 6740 100.0%
% Students with Satisfactory
Performance (Grade C) or Better 39% 67% 28% 66%
Percentages highlighted in red indicate the grade band where the greatest proportion of students scored for the given subject and overall.
Note: In the figures above if a student was absent for a part of the exam there score was not included in the calculations for that part.
This accounts for different totals for each subject and overall
District and Country Performance by Subject by Abilities (Skills Assessed)
Mechanics Letter Writing Composition
SUBJECT District Comprehension (30 items^) (20 items) (20 points) (30 points)
Belize 64.4% 55.0% 51.7% 49.8%
Cayo 64.5% 53.6% 50.5% 50.6%
Corozal 62.0% 54.1% 50.2% 49.4%
Orange
English Walk 63.4% 53.8% 53.5% 50.3%
Stann
Creek 59.2% 49.6% 49.7% 47.3%
Toledo 57.5% 48.7% 45.9% 48.5%
Country 61.8% 52.5% 50.2% 49.3%
Concepts
SUBJECT District Computation (20 items) (30 items) Problem Solving^^ (50 pts)
Belize 50.6% 43.9% 43.9%
Cayo 51.5% 46.5% 45.4%
Corozal 54.2% 49.5% 46.7%
Orange
Math Walk 53.6% 49.7% 51.0%
Stann
Creek 48.3% 42.3% 42.2%
Toledo 47.2% 42.1% 42.8%
Country 50.9% 45.7% 45.3%
^Note: An item is a question (multiple choice in this case) on the test. Each multiple choice is valued 1pt.
^^Note: The Problem Solving Section of the Mathematics is not multiple choice but word problems which require candidates to show their
working.
District and Country Performance by Subject by Abilities (Skills Assessed) cont.
SUBJECT District Knowledge & Understanding (30) Process Skills (20 items)
Belize 63.8% 61.2%
Cayo 65.0% 62.3%
Corozal 63.2% 62.5%
Science Orange Walk 65.3% 63.8%
Stann Creek 61.7% 57.7%
Toledo 60.1% 56.4%
Country 63.2% 60.7%
Vocabulary
Students will be able to recognize: the meaning of words in context, generate
5 5
synonyms/antonyms for words in context, identify figures of speech, collective
nouns etc.
Punctuation
Students will be expected to recognize punctuation elements in context – quotation,
question and exclamation marks; colon and semicolon; recognize abbreviated
forms and identify where these may be absent, etc.
5 5
Grammar
Students will be expected to recognize various verb tenses, and functions of words
– prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, and nouns (abstract, concrete,
possessive etc.)
10 10
20 20
Total Number of Questions
Critical Comprehension
Students should be able to analyze the reading selections and recognize the author’s 3 4 7 23%
techniques, determine the author’s purpose, and use text and typographical features to
assist in interpreting the selections.
Inferential Comprehension
Insightful Comprehension
Students should be able to draw conclusions, make generalizations, and/or predict 3 4 7 23%
plausible outcomes by synthesizing information from the entire reading selection.
Item Distribution
Reporting Categories Reporting Categories Curriculum Outcomes Knowledge and Process Total
National Syllabus PSE Table of Specifications Understanding Skills
Living Things ST7.a; 10 5 15
Health lifestyles Ourselves H1.a; H1.b; H1.c; H1.d
Healthy Environment H2.a
Spread of Disease H3.a