New ranking system to replace OP scores in Queensland high schools

Queensland is planning to introduce a new tertiary entrance ranking system where both internal and external examinations will be assessed to figure out student reports. Overall Position or OP scores will not be used for assessing a student’s ability anymore from 2018.

The students entering Year 11 in 2018 will be the first batch to be assessed using the new ranking system. Education Minister Kate Jones emphasised the introduction of fairer system of assessment that has already been adopted by other states and territories in Australia. The Tertiary Admissions Rank System is the best way to fulfil the challenge, she claimed. She announced that Labor leaders are planning to revamp the education system as proposed by the former Liberal National Party.

“Queensland is one of the only states, with the ACT, that currently relies on 100 percent school-based assessment,” she said. The new pattern for external examinations has not yet been decided. She said that external assessment that is being considered will be something that compliments the curriculum authority, the schools and teachers, and will give them the right to decide how everything should be like to make the system effective.

The trials of external assessment will start in 2016. She also mentioned that a taskforce has been established to look after the changes and refine them. This taskforce will include parents, teachers, the Queensland Curriculum Authority, the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre and universities. “There’s still much more work to be done in determining how these proposals will operate in 2018,” Ms Jones told ABC radio. According to her, there were feedbacks that indicated too much assessment in Queensland schools.

Though there are plans being made for introduction of new ranking system, Jones was concerned about the strong use of OP system yet. She said that they want to ensure making the students of Queensland get best-ever possible education.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.