The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) is a series of assessments that will replace the existing Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). PEP will provide a profile of where the student is academically, the student’s strengths and weaknesses, and their readiness for grade 7. PEP will assess students’ knowledge, in addition to placing increased emphasis on assessing 21ˢᵗ century skills including critical thinking and communication.
PEP has several purposes:
- It will measure students’ readiness for grade 7.
- It will function as a means of placing students in secondary schools
- It will provide accurate information about students’ knowledge, ability and skills across several subject areas.
PEP consists of three key components, a Performance Task, an Ability Test and a Curriculum Bases Test:
- The Performance Task (PT) consists of real world scenarios that will require students to apply their knowledge and skills from the following subject areas: Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. The PT will be administered in grade 4, 5 and 6. It will be administered by the classroom teacher at school.
- The Ability Test requires students to read analytically and use quantitative reasoning skills in responding to items. It will NOT be based on the curriculum.
- The Curriculum Based Test (CBT) will assess grade 6 content only, in the areas of Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts. This test will consist of multiple choice items along with other item types. The CBT will be administered close to the end of Grade 6.
The weighting for PEP is as follows:
- Ability Test – 30%
- Curriculum Based Test – 50%
- Performance Tasks – 20% (5% Grade 4, 7% Grade 5 and 8% Grade 6)
The scores will be computed using the same approach as we did for GSAT which is the use of standard scores summed into composite scores which are used to rank and place students. The percentage score then shows in a simple way the students’ performance. Results will be available as is the custom in the third week of June.
PEP will place emphasis on determining the extent to which students are able to use their knowledge of content, and skills they developed to solve problems, This is a key difference between PEP and GSAT. GSAT focused primarily on content and assessing student knowledge of the subject area, whereas PEP foundations are built on the notion that competency involves both students knowledge and what a student is able to do with the knowledge they possess.
The placement mechanism will remain the same with students having seven (7) school choices.The assessment results will also be made available as is customary during the third week of June.
As with GSAT if a candidate has not exceeded a given age he or she may be allowed to sit any component of PEP in the year that follows.
The Performance Tasks will be administered within the students’ individual classrooms by their respective classroom teachers.
The student will complete the Performance Tasks under the supervision of the teacher; therefore, they will not be allowed to complete these tasks at home.
The Performance Tasks will be done within fixed time frames within classroom contact time.