HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT

Public examinations in Malaysia are mainly about summative assessment such as UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM are called a High Stakes Assessment because:

1. The result or score, matters because it can decide future educational pathways, future groupings and job opportunities of the students.

2. The results also matters because it contributes to the school's overall score (GPS-gred purata sekolah) and the school's league table position. Competition to raise scores is the motivation to spur higher achievement.

3. The result is public. It has a high stake attached to it. The main purpose is to grade,certify or categorise those examined/candidates.