Provincial National and International Assessment (FSA, PISA etc.)

Student achievement is the number one focus of B.C.’s education system, and processes are in place to measure achievement at the individual student level as well as the broader school and system levels.

Students’ individual progress is reported to parents confidentially through report cards, parent-teacher interviews and, in the higher grades, through exam results. To measure progress at a broader level – and target areas that may need improvement – schools also take part in province-wide, national and international assessments.

The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is a test conducted across B.C. Students in Grades 4 and 7 take it every year.  Beginning in 2008, the FSA will be in February and some sections will be completed online. Parents will receive results, along with their child’s written portions of the test, by the end of March. Click here for a parents’ guide that should answer any questions you may have about Foundation Skills Assessment.  More detailed information can be found on the FSA website.

Parents, teachers and the public get information about schools’ performance from public reports on FSA results and Graduation Program examinations. This information helps schools target areas that may need improvement.

Most years, B.C. also takes part in a number of national and international student assessments. For these programs, only a sample of students from B.C. schools participates. Results are reported at the provincial, national and/or international level, and may help identify ways to improve the broader provincial educational program. Click here to learn more about national and international assessments.

 

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