At Riyadh Najed Schools, we believe that assessment and evaluation of children’s learning is intended to improve student learning and to ensure effective programming. We, also, believe the curriculum, instruction, and assessment must enhance and reflect the real students’ academic capabilities. Moreover, we believe formative and summative assessments are vehicles to advance student academic achievement, verify attained learning, reinforce effort, and provide recognition to what has been achieved. We believe assessment is a tool to inform instructional decisions.

Assessment is essential to enable teachers to determine how well their planned activities and teaching strategies are working, and to make any changes needed to enable students to achieve the learning expectations. The main purpose of assessment is to enable students to develop their full potential by knowing where they are in their learning and knowing what they have to do in order to continue to make good progress. The school also needs to be able to judge the standards that students are achieving compared to similar schools locally, nationally, and internationally, and whether we are in line to meet targets set in the school’s vision, mission and belief statement. Therefore, all students are entitled to assessment which is used effectively in managing and supporting their learning in all subjects throughout their schooling.

Effective assessment as outlined in Riyadh Najed Schools assessment policy is:

1. Respectful of the self-worth of each student.
2. On-going and continuous.
3. Part of the teaching and learning process.
4. Diagnostic, summative and formative.
5. Appropriate.
6. Varied.
7. Communicated regularly to students and parents.

Assessment is an integral component of teaching and is required in order to:

1. Determine the student’s strengths, needs and interests.
2. Monitor student growth over time.
3. Determine how a student solves problems.
4. Celebrate learning and achievements.
5. Diagnose expectations.
6. Identify and document achievement of curriculum expectations.
7. Provide information to parents, support staff and other teachers.
8. Evaluate curriculum and methodology.
9. Enhance teaching.

Authentic assessment is continuous in that it includes:

1. Observing.
2. Interacting.
3. Determining appropriate expectations.
4. Planning.
5. Focusing teaching.
6. Choosing suitable materials.
7. Providing appropriate learning experiences.
8. Evaluating and observing again.

The following types of assessments are used in Riyadh Najed Schools:

1. Diagnostic assessment: it includes the following methods:
   • Running records.
   • Inventories
   • Surveys.
   • Ready to learn checklist.
2. Formative assessment :it includes the following methods:
   • Observation..
   • Student journals.
   • Portfolios.
   • Self and peer reflection.
   • Questions and answers.
   • Discussions.
   • Ready to learn checklist..
3. Summative assessment: it includes the following methods:
   • Learning logs.
   • Conferences.
   • Checklists.

Assessment is an important means of evaluating students’ achievements and experience. It permeates and informs all aspects of students’ development, progress and attainment. Assessment is an integral part in the process of planning and delivery of the curriculum. It is an on-going process and needs updating regularly.

• Teachers use different ways to evaluate students’ work. They observe them in the class and record their readiness for the lesson, attention to explanations and instructions, participation in activities, the questions they ask and the answers they attempt, the recording and preparation of their homework and projects, etc.
• Teachers also use daily oral recitations or written short quizzes, and announced assessments at the end of each topic or assessments that cover the lessons studied during a specific period of time.
• All these contribute to the Term average.
• Students are under constant evaluation. Formal examinations are part of the continuous assessment process.

Continuous assessment

Continuous assessment is practiced and takes many forms, including:

• Formal testing
• Observation from which anecdotal records are compiled
• Research tasks
• Oral tasks
• Group activities where collaborative work is observed
• Quizzes
• Every semester a formal parent/teacher meeting will be held.
• This meeting is designed so parents and teachers can discuss the student’s progress in all areas of development.
• A detailed written report on each student’s progress will be provided twice a semester.
• Informal continuous assessment should form part of the daily classroom routine of teachers as a means to monitor student progress and to provide feedback to students. This informal monitoring should include homework checks, questioning, teacher observation of student work, discussion, brief informal oral or written tests etc.
• Formal continuous assessment should take place on a regular basis and should be based on the prescriptions as laid down by the academic department for the learning area. Each subject head is required to submit a subject assessment plan for the year which lists the following items for each grade:
  • the nature of formal and informal continuous assessment tasks
  • the set date or completion date for each task
  • the mark allocation for each task
  • the proportion of marks that the task will contribute to the total final mark
  • the teacher responsible for setting the assessment task

The final mark for each subject will weigh 100 points and will be computed based on the following distribution of marks:
Grades 1 -12

The academic year will be divided into four assessment periods (quarters) and report cards will be issued at the end of each quarter.

School Assessment and Grading System

Each core subject that grants one complete credit is out of 100.

Each semester is endued 50 marks divided as follows:

• marks for announced and pop quizzes – at least 3 quizzes a quarter, which is equal to 6 weeks, and the average should be out of 10.
• marks for homework – at least 4 pieces of homework a month.
• marks for participation and classroom activities.
• marks for subject projects and researches – at least once a quarter.
• 20 marks for Quarter Test.

A) Quizzes

1. Quizzes can vary in length and style – written, oral, open book, subjective, objective…etc.
2. All students of a certain class must take the quizzes in exactly the same time, and no suspension or postponing of a quiz should happen except with prior permission or excuse, then another date should be set and strictly complied with by both students and teachers.
3. All quizzes should be adjusted to a mark of 10.
4. Students take at least two quizzes a month, scored out of 10 considering the average of the best three quizzes for each quarter.
5. Quizzes can be oral, but students have the right to take at least 3 questions each time they set for test.

B) Homework

1. Homework handled complete and in time receives (5).
2. One-day-late homework receives (4.5).
3. Two-day-late homework receives (4)
4. Three-day-late homework receives (3)
5. Four-day-late homework receives (2) accompanied by acceptable excuse.
6. Homework is unaccepted after 4 days lateness, and will consequently receive (Zero).
7. Incomplete homework will be given one day chance to be remediated.

C) Class work

1. Classroom participation and activities will include:
   • Class written material
   • Absence
   • Conduct
   • Active participation
   • Particular class requirements (book, pen, tools, copybook, etc.)
2. Students lose half a mark each time they derelict in their anticipated duties.
3. Any nonfeasance, slackness, negligence, or misconduct should be considered simultaneously.
4. Students should be in time in classes with all the required books and tools.
5. Students should follow each teacher’s particular instructions about his subject.

D) Monthly and Semester Projects:

1. Projects and researches should be handled at least once a quarter.
2. The overall mark of the projects is out of 7, yet students receive 3 marks for accomplishing monthly projects for each subject. 4 marks will be granted to the semester overall project which will be judged by a committee of teachers and evaluators on an eventful day enhanced by parents and other guests and covered by local media.

Important Notice: Absent students are not, under any circumstances, exempted from handling Homework, or any other assigned work on time. It’s the absentees’ duty to refer to the school, classmates or any relevant source to be aware of the assigned duties.

NB. Quarter = 6 weeks

High School Diploma

Formal examinations and Continuous Assessment

The final mark for each subject is calculated as a percentage. Each semester, the continuous assessment is marked out of 100.The table below illustrates the contribution of continuous assessment and final examinations towards the final mark.

Formal examinations

• There will be two formal examination periods for grades 9 – 12 per semester. These are the mid – term exam, and the end of semester exam.
• The end of semester exam will cover work from all areas of the subject taught since the beginning of the semester, this may include topics assessed during the mid-term exam
• All other assessments will be carried out under normal classroom conditions, supervised by the classroom teacher.
• Students are expected to follow their normal school timetable at all times other than the formal examination week(s).
• Teachers will prepare the final examination under the guidance of the lead teacher/ curriculum leader/ academic coordinator. Each examination will be moderated by an appropriate person.
• If a student is unable to complete a scheduled formal exam (i.e. mid – term or final exam) due to medical illness or unforeseen/ emergency situations, a medical report (or similar) explaining the nature of the illness must be submitted to the academic coordinator immediately upon the students return.
• All medical certificates must be stamped by the provider and clearly indicate why the student was physically or emotionally unable to attend school at the time of the scheduled exam.
• There are no re-sit opportunities for mid semester or final exams if the initial opportunity has been missed due to unexplained absences or truancies. This includes recreational travel during the semester.
• If the principal or academic coordinator is satisfied with the explanation provided by the student, they may provide an alternative time to complete the examination.
• Where no report is provided to the academic coordinator explaining the student’s absence, the student will be awarded a zero for this examination.
• The assessment committee will rule in the case of any dispute. The decision of the assessment committee is final.
• If, due to exceptional circumstances beyond his/her and the parents’ control, a student is unable to complete the required work the academic coordinator will refer the case to the Assessment Committee.

In exceptional circumstances such as on-going serious illness where the student is too ill to sit a replacement exam the Assessment Committee may require teachers to provide an assessed mark based on a student’s prior work, providing there is sufficient, assessed prior work to show evidence of the student’s achievement and providing the student meets the minimum attendance requirements.

Criteria for Passing, Failing and Promotion

Promotion and Retention:

• Students must earn an accumulated grade sixty percent (60%) in each subject in order to advance to the next grade level.
• Failure to achieve sixty percent (60%) in three of core subjects will result in retention.
• Failure to achieve sixty percent (60%) in two core subjects, students have to take a make-up test.
• Failure to pass the make-up test will result in retention.

Grades 1-6

1. The passing grade for any subject is 60%.
2. The core subjects are Arabic, Islamic Studies, English, Math, and Science.
3. Students will be assessed regularly throughout the year. If any student fails any of the core he/she won’t be promoted to the next grade level.

Grades 7-8

1. The passing grade for any subject is 60 %.
2. If the student fails three out of the five core subjects, he/she fails the whole year and won’t be promoted.
3. The core subjects are Arabic, Islamic Studies, English, Math, and Science.
4. If the student fails one or two core or non-core subjects he/she will have to retake the two-semester subjects’ material in one semester during the next academic year.
5. These subjects will be assigned after school hours.
6. Students have to pay for the courses.

Grades 9-12

• The student will earn the credit of any course when he/she completes the course successfully.
• Students enrolled in year-long courses are required to complete both semesters of the course.
• The final grade will include sixty percent (60%) term work and forty percent (40%) tests.
• The passing grade for each course is 60%.
• The student will earn credit for each course upon successful completion. The Grade Point Average (GPA) for each student is calculated and accumulates over 4 years, grades 9 – 12 inclusive.
• Students must earn an accumulated grade sixty percent (60%) in each subject in order to advance to the next grade level.
• Failure to achieve sixty percent (60%) in any core subjects, students have to take a make-up test.
• Failure to pass the make-up test will result in retention.
• Students failing a subject at the end of the year may either:
  • Carry out a repeat examination which can be taken at the beginning of the following academic year. The passing grade remains at 60%, and the test will be of the same level of difficulty. The test is provided at the beginning of the following year to allow for further, self-directed learning to take place. If the student continues to fail the re-sit examination, the assessment committee will meet to decide the best course of action for this student
  • Repeat the subject. Students repeating a subject are expected to complete all of the assessment and class work provided by the teacher. Subjects which were passed do not need to be repeated. Repeating a subject may prevent graduation at the same time as the rest of the cohort
  • Students who receive F grade for a full-year course must retake the two-semester course material in one semester during the next academic year. * These subjects will be assigned after school hours and students have to pay for them.
  • If following the re-sit examination, the student still maintains a failing grade, they must repeat the course again. Students who fail 1 or 2 courses in Grade 12 are considered special cases for graduation purposes. They are required to re-sit and pass the final examination in each failed subject in order to graduate. This must be carried out prior to the end of the academic year, and the exam will be of the same academic difficulty as the initial exam.
• The core subjects are Arabic, Islamic Studies, English, Math, and Science.
• If the student gets F at the end of the first semester he/ she will be issued a warning letter and put on academic probation.
• Students will be assessed regularly throughout the year. If any student fails any of the core he/she won’t be promoted to the next grade level.

Academic Probation:

Academic probation will be determined at the end of each marking period and will be based on the student’s grades according to the following criteria:

• Numerical Grade at or below 65
• 2 “F” grades in any classes
• 1 “F” grade and 2 “E” grades (includes E+ grades) in any classes, or
• 3 “D” grades (includes D+ grades)

Procedure:

1. Parents will be informed of the “academic probation” status by means of a letter from the school principal. The student and /her parent(s) will be required to meet with the high school principal to discuss the conditions of academic probation.
2. The student and his/her parent(s) will sign a contract with the principal stating the expectations of the student, parent (s) and school for the duration of the academic probation.
3. Learning Support may be recommended.
4. Students who remain on academic probation after one semester or at the designated deadline for improvement may be withdrawn from the program.

Makeup Work / Incomplete Grades:

• It is the responsibility of the student to make up and complete homework/assignments that have been missed. A zero will be assigned for any work not completed within the time limit set by the Assessment Committee. The Assessment Committee is not obligated to provide makeup work if the student missed work due to absences or truancies.
• In grades 7-12, students may earn a grade of incomplete through two different processes:
  1. If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is unable to complete the required work for a specific quarter the teacher may enter a grade of Incomplete (I). The teacher must inform the principal of any circumstances deserving a grade of Incomplete.
  2. The Principal may recommend to the Assessment Committee that teachers give a student a grade of Incomplete due to circumstances that have come to his/her attention.

In both cases, the student must complete all work before the next marking period unless it is a case of an ongoing illness which will be referred by the principal to the Assessment Committee who may decide a reasonable time for work to be completed after consulting with the family and the teacher. After this make-up period, students will be given the grade they have earned to that point.

In all cases there will be no re-sits of final assessments (exams), and the Assessment Committee will work with the teacher to provide an assessed mark based on prior work when a student is unable to sit for an exam due to ongoing illness.