Mission Statement

The objective of the Student Assessment Unit (SAU) is to create and implement a system for fair and developmental educational assessment of students at the primary and secondary levels and to monitor the assessment process at other levels of the system to ensure the most equitable distribution of educational opportunities for personal and national development.

The Goal

The purpose of the SAU is to provide a technically sound system of measurements and assessments for the primary and secondary levels of the school system that will enable the monitoring of student progress. The determination and certification of student achievement and the provision of information to guide and support the development and improvement of the educational programmes of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture (MOEYC) are critical activities.

The Goals of Student Assessment include:

1. Designing, administering, placing and certifying students in the following examinations:

• Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT)
• Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT)
• Junior High School Certificate (JHSC)
• Secondary School Certificate (SSC)
• Jamaica School Certificate (JSC)
• Vocational School Leavers’ Examination (For Carron Hall, Elim and Knockalva).

2. Designing instruments to assist teachers to monitor student progress:

• Grade One Readiness Inventory
• Grade Three Diagnostic Test
• Literacy Test at Grade 4.

3. Conducting workshops in classroom assessment in order to:

• Sensitise schools about the examinations
• Provide feedback on student performance
• Train test administrators
• Taking on the responsibilities of the National Assessment Programme (NAP)
• Improve the assessment skills of schools personnel.