Final School Examinations

Glenwood House prepares candidates for the university entrance examinations of the Independent Examinations Board.

Independent schools in South Africa have the choice of writing the senior certificate examinations of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Schools in South Africa are required to teach the national prescribed curriculum.

Rigorous moderation procedures and monitoring have ensured quality assessment.

Senior Certificate Examination

In line with international trends, the IEB sees the need to create life-long learners who can solve problems, analyse, synthesise, and apply and integrate what they have learnt.

Within the context of independent schools, teacher forums meet regularly to network and further develop their assessment skills. Their combined expertise has allowed assessment to broaden beyond pressurised final examinations, to an assessment package which includes continuous assessment such as open-ended projects, portfolios, orals and practicals. This broader base allows for schools in different countries and regions to contextualise learning.

Benchmarking with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) confirms that the IEB Senior Certificate Examination meets international standards.

Most national and international institutions of further or tertiary education require prospective students to sit their specific entrance examinations. Experience has indicated that those who have been exposed to the IEB structures and systems perform exceptionally well in most cases.

The IEB is the examination board of choice because:

• teachers have confidence in the combination of internal and external assessment;
• they enjoy the close relationship they have with the Board;
• the standards are internationally benchmarked;
• the system of user groups leads to strong personal and collegial development; and
• the assessment system stimulates co-operative and progressive learning.

The examinations are run to the highest professional standards in consultation with UMALUSI, the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Body, together with top educationalists. Monitoring teams have reported that high standards are maintained during the marketing process, and that there is a high degree of professionalism in the running of the IEB examinations.