Grade 10 history exam a 'killer' (Canada)
The Grade 10 provincial history exam has always been a pressure-cooker test for many students because they need to pass the course to graduate.
It might have been more stressful this year because several history teachers say Monday's provincial exam for the History of Quebec and Canada course was the toughest they've seen in years.
"We're seeing very high failure rates and we're worried about that," said Ken Elliott, director of educational services at the Lester B. Pearson School Board.
"If it's a universal problem and it's because it was too difficult, then we would hope that (the Education Department) would adjust the marks," Elliott said. "But ... that's speculation on my part." They are hearing similar feedback about the exam from other Montreal area boards, Elliott said.
At the Commission scolaire de Montréal - the largest school board in the province - it's the same warning bell, said board spokesperson Alain Perron. Some schools have reported the average mark is 10- to 15-per-cent lower than last year, Perron said.
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It might have been more stressful this year because several history teachers say Monday's provincial exam for the History of Quebec and Canada course was the toughest they've seen in years.
"We're seeing very high failure rates and we're worried about that," said Ken Elliott, director of educational services at the Lester B. Pearson School Board.
"If it's a universal problem and it's because it was too difficult, then we would hope that (the Education Department) would adjust the marks," Elliott said. "But ... that's speculation on my part." They are hearing similar feedback about the exam from other Montreal area boards, Elliott said.
At the Commission scolaire de Montréal - the largest school board in the province - it's the same warning bell, said board spokesperson Alain Perron. Some schools have reported the average mark is 10- to 15-per-cent lower than last year, Perron said.