Matric exam results 2023

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has published the final National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for the 2023 matric year. Image via Adobe Stock

Physical Sciences Paper 2 to be written on Monday erroneously released

Physical Sciences Paper 2 which is scheduled to be written on Monday, 14 November was erroneously released.

Matric exam results 2023

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has published the final National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for the 2023 matric year. Image via Adobe Stock

Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training says it is concerned about the erroneous release of Physical Sciences Paper 2 meant to be written on Monday, 14 November. 

The error was reportedly made by the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) on Friday, 11 November 2022. 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES PAPER 2 RELEASED PREMATURELY

Umalusi said SACAI released two papers prematurely which are the Physical Sciences Paper 2 and Life Sciences Paper 1 which are scheduled to be written on 14 November and 18 November respectively. 

Biki Lepotla from Umalusi said it is a requirement for assessment bodies to submit question papers to them after the writing of each paper so that they can perform a post-examination quality assurance process prior to the standardisation of results. 

“Instead of releasing Paper 1 of Physical Sciences which was written on 11 November, the SACAI erroneously released Paper 2. Since the erroneous release of question papers has the potential to put the credibility of the examination at risk, the SACAI has withdrawn the papers released in error and will substitute them with backup question papers.” 

Biki Lepota

Umalusi has since urged all assessment bodies and stakeholders to do everything possible to ensure that the integrity of the 2022 national examinations is not compromised.

The Council also said it is concerned about the alleged problematic question in the Mathematics Paper 2 question paper administered by the Department of Basic Education.

It further said in this regard, the standard procedure for dealing with such issues is the marking guidelines or memoranda standardisation meetings during which problematic questions are moderated in consideration of candidates’ answers.

Depending on the magnitude of the problem, the marks allocated to the question/s may be excluded from the question paper’s total marks or that alternative responses may be accepted.

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