In higher education, there are various ways to control and test students' knowledge. It's not just exams and tests. There is also such a thing as a differentiated test by discipline. What it is, how it is carried out and how it differs from other forms of knowledge control - this will be discussed further.
Terminology
Initially, you need to understand the terminology that you will have to face. So, a differentiated test is one of the forms of checking the material learned by the student. It should be noted that this form of control is also appropriate for assessing the passage of industrial and educational practices. In the simplest words, a differentiated test is the same test, but only as a result of which an assessment is made.
For example, if a credit follows at the end of the discipline, then the student can receive two grades: “z” - when the teacher notes that the material has been learned and “n / z” - when the lecturer is dissatisfied with the knowledgereceived by the student during the study of the discipline. The whole point of the test is that if the student's knowledge is not excellent, but is within the normal range, then he can get a mark "z". A differentiated test is a teacher giving a full grade for the knowledge gained by a student.
The concept of intermediate certification
It should be noted that the differential test refers to one of the forms of intermediate certification. Its essence is to check the assimilation of the material received by the students. In addition to the differential test, there are also such forms of control as an exam or test. It is believed that the best form of intermediate certification is a written control, because it is considered the most objective and comprehensive test of the stated knowledge.
About regulations
It is also important to note that all forms of control should be regulated by the basic curriculum. This is the main document according to which any department works. This is a kind of curriculum, a schedule that contains information about in which semester a certain discipline will be studied, how many hours are allotted for this, what distribution between lectures, seminars and other types of classes is provided. Also, the curriculum prescribes the form of control that follows after the completion of the training course.
Division and intermediate certification
I would also like to note that a differentiated test can also be a form of intermediate certification within the same discipline. So, for example, the annual discipline "History" after the end of the firsta semester can end with a diff test, and at the end of the whole course - a year later - with an exam. However, the form of control under consideration can also be independent, final.
Purpose of the differential test
Having understood that a differentiated test is a form of intermediate certification, I also want to consider the purpose of its implementation. There are several of them:
- First of all, it is important, of course, to assess the level of the material learned by the student.
- Understand how much the student has mastered the theoretical part, whether he has an idea about its practical side (if the discipline implies it).
- Make sure that the student has developed imaginative and creative thinking, which is simply necessary when studying certain disciplines.
- And, of course, you need to understand whether the student is able to synthesize knowledge and transform it for practical application.
Who takes the differential test?
Be sure to tell about all the nuances that are important to consider if there is a differentiated test for the MDK. First of all, it is necessary to understand that the teacher who “read” the course will be the one who “read” the course. It can be both a lecturer and a teacher who conducted practical (seminar) classes. This is best, because the teacher sees which of the students and how they worked during the time allotted for studying the discipline.
Who is allowed to pass the differential test
If a student has a differentiated test in history or another discipline, you need tounderstand that it is still necessary to obtain a so-called admission to it. What is it? For example, if a student did not go to class for a whole semester, and even more so did not pass tests or essays, he will definitely not have admission. In what cases can it be obtained? If all milestones and tasks are passed, provided not only by the rating system, but also by the work plan of a certain discipline.
Evaluation criteria
Conducting a differentiated test ends with the assessment of the student, according to his knowledge. The scoring scale is almost always the same as for exams. That is, the teacher has the right to put the student "5" - excellent, "4" - good, etc., up to "2" - which means unsatisfactory. However, it should be noted that some departments also give a differentiated credit in the form of the letters “z” - credit, or “n / z” - that is, no credit (which, however, is extremely rare). The assessment form should be written in the Regulations on current and midterm controls, which are compiled by each department separately.
Change Forms
Differential test can be submitted in two forms: oral and written. In the first case, the teacher must announce the assessment on the day of delivery. In the second, the assessment may be announced after a certain time, which may be required to check the papers written by students. Important: the assessment must be announced before the day the statement is submitted to the dean's office, so that, if necessary, it can be disputed or clarified.
If the student did not show up
It happensso that the student is not eligible for a graded test. In this case, the statement is marked "n / i", which means "did not appear." The same mark can be affixed if the student wants to get to retake. However, this should be spelled out in the aforementioned Regulations.
About statements
It should also be noted that there are two types of statements.
- Test-examination. Where all grades are affixed based on the results of the intermediate certification. She submits to the dean's office. After that, it is impossible to correct or make additions to it. Important: the student must know with what mark the statement went to the dean's office.
- Score-rating, which records the number of points that the student received during the interim control.
How does the differential test work
Very often, students are interested in how a differentiated test in mathematics or another discipline passes. Especially if you have to take it for the first time. Everything is simple here. Everything goes according to the principle of the usual set-off. The only difference is that as a result, the student will receive a grade, and not just a “c” or “n / c” mark. If the test is written, all students will be in the audience together. Each of them will choose a ticket, the questions of which will have to be answered in writing. If the test is oral, then students will enter the classroom one by one or several people. A ticket with questions also stretches, followed by the time allotted for preparation, after which- presentation of the material to the teacher. It is believed that the written form of control makes it possible to avoid the subjective attitude of the teacher to the student. And the oral one allows you to understand how deeply and qualitatively the student has mastered the proposed material.
Do grades matter?
If, for example, the study of the discipline "Physics" is completed, the differentiated credit shows the level of knowledge gained by the student. But why give a grade when you can just get a "c"? So, it is important to understand that this mark will be taken into account during the calculation of all "excellent" and "good" for obtaining a diploma with honors. That is, you need to understand that a trio on a differential test can significantly spoil the picture.
About retake before graduation
In some cases, a student has the right to retake a differential test if he applies, for example, for a diploma with honors. However, this is not an easy procedure, which requires a preliminary petition from the dean of the faculty or the head of the department. In general, the management allows no more than a couple of assessments to be retaken for rating upgrades. However, all these nuances should be spelled out in the Regulations.
About practice
Diploma, basically, ends with all types of student practices: industrial and educational. In this case, the mark must be set before the start of the qualifying examination. The mark is complex: both the assimilation of the theoretical and practical sides.
Important nuances
Ifthe student fell ill or for other valid reasons missed the delivery of the test, his session can be extended. Alternative: individual deadlines for passing the intermediate certification can be set. All this is formalized by order of the dean of the faculty.
