9,485 sit for 'improved and streamlined' MATSEC May session

A total of 9,485 candidates sat for one or more examinations in this year’s May MATSEC session, which came to an end with the Advanced level chemistry practical exam, and which included testing in five new vocational subjects.

The session opened in early March and saw the introduction of a number of changes and improvements in the exams’ structure and user-friendliness aimed at providing a more uniform examination paper layout across subjects and levels. 

Changes included standardising the formatting used and displaying marks and titles clearly to ensure that partial marks are shown for sub-questions which do not carry equal weighting.

For the first time ever, candidates had the possibility to obtain a qualification in agribusiness, health and social care, hospitality, information technology, and engineering technology.

In addition, the MATSEC Support Unit has carried out research to investigate whether candidates show any preference for a selection of suggested fonts.

The Unit has taken new measures to ensure that particular set practices during examinations are adopted by examination centres, which are run by the Examinations Department (Department of Education). 

Following the implementation of recorded audio for SEC German, Spanish and Arabic aural examinations, aural exams for SEC French and Italian were also carried out through similar recordings.  This ensures uniformity across examination rooms and halls.

The Unit has also published a new candidate guidebook which contains a wealth of information to candidates sitting for any MATSEC exam.

The MAY 2017 session examination results shall be published around the 17 July.