Assessment policy

The assessment policy in Hamrahlíð College is developed from the IB‘s assessment principles and philosophy and the general policy in the Icelandic national program as employed in Hamrahlíð College.  The IB program is divided into four courses (semesters).  First year: autumn and spring semester, second year: autumn and spring semester.  Students are assessed according to the Icelandic grading system the first three semesters.  The assessment is based on a variety of assessment techniques according to clearly stated objectives and requirements.  A written curriculum is published for every course in the beginning of each semester where the work of the term and all aspects of assessment are clearly laid out.  The final grade consists of a semester grade and an exam grade.  The ratio depends on each subject but follows in most cases the ratio in the Diploma programme (e.g. 70/30 EA/IA in languages). The teachers introduce the IB criteria gradually throughout the two years.

The grading scale in MH is as follows:

Students are given final grades according to the Icelandic grading scale the first three semesters. The grades consist of exam grade and semester grade in various ratios depending on the subject.  The semester grades consists of various components, e.g. homework, class assignments, oral presentations, tests etc.  The assessment during each semester is formative and the teachers give constructive criticism to enhance the students learning process.  The final exams each semester are mostly summative where they reflect final IB exams. Students also take mock exams during their last year which are graded using published IB mark schemes. Final grades after each semester are posted in INNA, an information system accessible to both students and parents.  There is also posted mid-term evaluation, which is an informal and non-standardized evaluation.

Most of the formal IB internal assessment is carried out during the second year.  The teachers meet and plan all formal deadlines collaboratively.  When students enter the IB programme they receive a complete calendar for the two years.  The deadlines are set so the workload is as equally distributed as possible. See the IB calendars.

All students need to fulfill minimum requirements to be able to continue in the IB programme.  See the Progress rules.

This assessment policy is available on the school’s website.  The assessment was initially written by the IB coordinator in collaboration with two IB teachers and the headmaster of the school.  It was written according to the assessment policy guidelines from the IBO. The policy was discussed and accepted with minor amendments at a teachers meeting. It is reviewed every other year.