Assessments & Exams
This guide covers everything about creating and managing assessments - from class tests and quizzes to formal examinations.
Examinations Workflow
START: Examination Management
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 1: Create Examination Session │
│ ─────────────────────────────── ─── │
│ Set up the exam period: │
│ • "End of Term 1 Examinations 2025" │
│ • Start date: 25 March │
│ • End date: 5 April │
│ • Grade levels: Form 1-6 │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 2: Add Individual Exams │
│ ──────────────────────────── │
│ Schedule each exam: │
│ • Mathematics - 25 March, 8:00-11:00 │
│ • English - 26 March, 8:00-11:00 │
│ • Physics - 27 March, 8:00-11:00 │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 3: Set Up Venues & Seating │
│ ─────────────────────────────── │
│ Assign students to venues: │
│ • Hall A: Form 3A, Form 3B │
│ • Hall B: Form 3C, Form 3D │
│ • Generate seating plans │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 4: Assign Invigilators │
│ ─────────────────────────── │
│ Assign teachers to exam venues: │
│ • Hall A: Mr. Moyo (Chief), Mrs. Ncube │
│ • Hall B: Mr. Dube (Chief), Ms. Sibanda │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 5: Conduct Exams │
│ ───────────────────── │
│ • Print seating plans │
│ • Print attendance lists │
│ • Run examinations │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 6: Enter Results │
│ ───────────────────── │
│ Record marks for each exam: │
│ • Enter marks per student │
│ • Import from Excel (optional) │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STEP 7: Process & Publish Results │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ • Calculate grades automatically │
│ • Review and moderate if needed │
│ • Publish to students and parents │
│ • Generate result slips │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
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EXAMINATIONS COMPLETE ✓
Types of Assessments
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Class Test | Short test during regular class | "Chapter 3 Quiz" |
| Assignment | Work to be done at home | "Essay on Climate Change" |
| Practical | Hands-on assessment | "Chemistry Lab: Titration" |
| Project | Extended piece of work | "History Research Project" |
| Term Test | Formal test, often scheduled | "Mid-Term Mathematics Test" |
| Examination | End of term/year exam | "Form 3 Final Examinations" |
Creating Assessments
Quick Assessment (For Your Class)
For informal class tests and assignments:
- Go to your subject class gradebook
- Click + Add Assessment
- Fill in:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Assessment title | "Chapter 3 Quiz" |
| Type | Select type | Class Test |
| Category | Grading category | Continuous Assessment |
| Date | When it's due/given | 15 Feb 2025 |
| Maximum Score | Total marks | 20 |
| Description | Instructions/notes | "Open book, 30 minutes" |
- Click Create
Formal Assessment (Scheduled Test/Exam)
For tests that need scheduling, rooms, and invigilation:
- Go to Academics → Assessments
- Click + Create Assessment
- Complete the assessment details (see below)
Setting Up a Formal Test
Basic Information
- Go to Academics → Assessments
- Click + Create Assessment
- Enter basic details:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Test name | "Form 3 Mathematics Term Test" |
| Type | Assessment type | Term Test |
| Subject | Which subject | Mathematics |
| Grade Level | Which grade(s) | Form 3 |
Scheduling
Set when and where:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Test date | 20 Feb 2025 |
| Start Time | When it begins | 08:00 |
| Duration | How long | 2 hours |
| End Time | Auto-calculated | 10:00 |
| Venue | Room/hall | Main Hall |
Class Divisions
Select which classes are taking this test:
- Scroll to Classes Taking This Test
- Select all relevant class divisions:
- ☑ Form 3A Sciences
- ☑ Form 3B Sciences
- ☑ Form 3C Arts
- Students in these classes will be automatically included
Creating Examination Sessions
What is an Examination Session?
An examination session is a formal exam period (like "End of Term 1 Examinations 2025") that contains multiple individual exams.
Setting Up an Exam Session
- Go to Academics → Examinations
- Click + Create Examination Session
- Fill in:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Session name | "End of Term 1 Examinations 2025" |
| Academic Year | Current year | 2025 |
| Term | Which term | Term 1 |
| Start Date | First exam day | 25 Mar 2025 |
| End Date | Last exam day | 5 Apr 2025 |
| Grade Levels | Who's taking exams | Form 1-6 |
- Click Create Session
Adding Exams to the Session
Once the session is created:
- Open the examination session
- Click + Add Exam
- Enter exam details:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Which subject | Mathematics |
| Paper | If multiple papers | Paper 1 (Theory) |
| Date | Exam date | 25 Mar 2025 |
| Time | Start time | 08:00 - 11:00 |
| Duration | How long | 3 hours |
| Grade Level | Which forms | Form 3 |
| Venue | Where | Hall A - Form 3A, 3B; Hall B - Form 3C |
- Click Add
- Repeat for all subjects
Exam Timetable
After adding all exams:
- Click View Timetable
- See the full exam schedule
- Check for conflicts
- Print or share with students
Managing Venues and Seating
Setting Up Exam Venues
- Go to Academics → Examinations → Venues
- Click + Add Venue
- Enter:
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Room/Hall name | "Main Hall" |
| Capacity | How many students | 100 |
| Location | Building/block | Block A |
| Has Desks | Desk arrangement | Yes - Individual desks |
Allocating Students to Venues
- Open an exam
- Click Seating Arrangement
- Choose allocation method:
- By Class - Keep classes together
- Alphabetical - Mix all students A-Z
- Random - Randomly assign seats
- Assign students to venues
- Generate seating plan
Printing Seating Plans
- Open the exam
- Click Seating Plan
- Choose format:
- Venue list (students per room)
- Individual desk numbers
- Student admission slips
- Print or export
Invigilation
Assigning Invigilators
- Open the exam
- Click Invigilation
- Click + Assign Invigilator
- Select teachers
- Assign to venues:
| Venue | Invigilators |
|---|---|
| Hall A | Mr. Moyo (Chief), Mrs. Ncube |
| Hall B | Mr. Dube (Chief), Ms. Sibanda |
Invigilation Schedule
Generate the full invigilation schedule:
- Go to Examinations → Invigilation
- Click Generate Schedule
- Set parameters:
- Invigilators per venue
- Chief invigilator required
- Teachers to exclude (those whose subjects are being examined)
- Review and adjust
- Publish to teachers
Recording Results
For Class Tests (Teachers)
- Go to your gradebook
- Find the assessment
- Enter marks for each student
- Click Save
See the Gradebooks guide for detailed mark entry.
For Formal Examinations
Option 1: Direct Entry
- Go to Examinations → [Session] → [Exam]
- Click Enter Results
- Enter marks for each student
- Save
Option 2: Import from Marking
- Download the mark sheet template
- Fill in marks after marking
- Upload the completed sheet
- Review and confirm
Mark Entry Screen
When entering exam results:
| Student | Reg. No. | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Total | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moyo, Tendai | F3001 | 65 | 72 | 137 | B |
| Ncube, Sarah | F3002 | 78 | 81 | 159 | A |
| Dube, James | F3003 | 45 | 52 | 97 | D |
Processing Results
Calculating Grades
After all marks are entered:
- Open the exam or examination session
- Click Calculate Results
- The system applies the grading scale
- Review calculated grades
- Confirm or adjust
Grade Boundaries
Set or review grade boundaries:
| Grade | Minimum % | Maximum % |
|---|---|---|
| A | 75 | 100 |
| B | 65 | 74 |
| C | 55 | 64 |
| D | 45 | 54 |
| E | 35 | 44 |
| U | 0 | 34 |
Moderation
If marks need adjustment:
- Go to Results → Moderation
- Select the exam
- Choose moderation method:
- Scale all marks by percentage
- Adjust grade boundaries
- Individual adjustments
- Apply and review
- Get approval and confirm
Publishing Results
Making Results Available
- Go to the examination session
- Ensure all marks are entered and verified
- Click Publish Results
- Choose who can see:
- ☑ Students
- ☑ Parents/Guardians
- ☑ Class teachers
- Set publication date (now or scheduled)
- Confirm
Student Result Slips
Generate individual result slips:
- Go to Examinations → [Session]
- Click Generate Result Slips
- Select format/template
- Generate for:
- All students
- Specific class
- Individual student
- Print or distribute electronically
Analysis and Reports
Class Analysis
After results are processed:
- Open the exam
- Click Analysis
- View:
- Class average
- Pass rate
- Grade distribution
- Highest/lowest marks
- Comparison with previous exams
Subject Analysis
Compare performance across classes:
| Class | Average | Pass Rate | A's | B's | C's | D's | E's | U's |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form 3A | 68% | 92% | 5 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Form 3B | 61% | 85% | 3 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Form 3C | 55% | 78% | 2 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
Student Performance Report
Track individual student performance:
- Go to People → Students → [Student]
- Click Exam Results
- See all examination results
- View progress over time
Special Circumstances
Absent Students
For students who missed an exam:
- Open the exam results
- Find the student
- Mark as Absent
- Select reason:
- Sick (with documentation)
- Unauthorized absence
- Other (specify)
Supplementary Exams
For students who need to rewrite:
- Go to Examinations → Supplementary
- Click + Create Supplementary Exam
- Select original exam
- Add students who need to rewrite
- Schedule the supplementary
- Record results separately
Special Accommodations
For students with special needs:
- When setting up the exam
- Click Special Accommodations
- Add students requiring:
- Extra time
- Separate venue
- Reader/scribe
- Large print papers
- Include in seating arrangements
Tips for Success
Create examination schedules at least 2 weeks before exams start. This gives time to arrange venues, invigilators, and inform students.
Have a second person verify mark entry, especially for final examinations. Small errors can significantly impact grades.
Name assessments consistently:
- ✅ "Mathematics Form 3 Term 1 Exam 2025"
- ❌ "Maths test" (too vague)
Keep records of exam papers and results. They're valuable for future planning and student progress tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit exam results after publishing?
Yes, but you'll need to unpublish first, make changes, and republish. Changes are logged for audit purposes.
How do I handle students who arrive late?
Mark their start time and they should finish at their calculated end time, or follow your school's late policy.
Can exam papers be attached to the system?
Yes, you can upload exam papers (PDF) to the assessment record for reference.
What if a student takes an exam with a different class?
You can manually add students to any exam regardless of their class division.
How are repeated subjects handled?
If a student rewrites an exam, you can record both attempts. The system can be configured to use the better mark or the latest.
Can I import results from an external marking system?
Yes, use the Excel import feature with the provided template.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Can't create exam | Check you have the correct permissions |
| Student missing from exam list | Verify they're enrolled in the subject class |
| Grade calculation wrong | Review grade boundaries and mark totals |
| Can't publish results | Ensure all marks are entered (no blanks) |
| Venue capacity exceeded | Split students across multiple venues |
| Timetable conflict | Two exams at same time - reschedule one |
What's Next?
After managing assessments and exams:
- View Gradebooks → - See compiled results
- Review Curriculum Coverage → - Check topics covered
- Return to Academics Overview →
Need Help?
If you need assistance with assessments and examinations:
- Contact your Examinations Officer
- Speak with the Deputy Head (Academics)
- Reach out to your system administrator