There Will Be No Unsatisfactory Grades in Schools: Ministry of Education on Changes

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia has established the assessment criteria for students in state general education institutions. The implementation of these assessment criteria will follow the schedule outlined below:

• 2023-2024 academic year: All grades in Tavush region schools.
• 2023-2024 academic year: Grades 2, 5, 7, and 10 in all schools of Armenia.
• 2024-2025 academic year: Grades 3, 6, 8, and 11 in all schools of Armenia.
• 2025-2026 academic year: Grades 1, 4, 9, and 12 in all schools of Armenia.

The assessment aims to determine the extent of a student's capability development based on the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they acquire relative to the defined outcome criteria set forth by educational subjects and programs. The foundation of the assessment process lies in the principles of validity, reliability, objectivity, accessibility, fairness, and transparency.

Students who require special educational conditions will have their learning outcomes evaluated according to the same principles, ensuring reasonable accommodations as outlined in the individual learning plan, accessible formats, and personalized assistive devices and tools.

Depending on the goal, there are three types of assessments applied to students’ learning outcomes:

1. Diagnostic assessment
2. Formative assessment
3. Summative assessment (both point-based and descriptive)

Diagnostic Assessment
The purpose of the diagnostic assessment is to reveal students' prior knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values before the beginning of any stage of the educational process—be it the academic year, semester, subject, course, or the start of a new topic. The form of the diagnostic assessment is chosen by the teacher.

Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is an element of the educational process aimed at identifying the achievements, difficulties, and omissions of each student or the entire class to improve teaching and learning. Formative assessments are conducted in grades 1-12 and do not result in grades.

Summative Assessment
The purpose of summative assessment is to evaluate students' educational achievements in accordance with the outcome criteria set for educational subjects and programs at the end of a lesson, topic, semester, academic year, or upon completion of a level of education through final certification. Summative assessments can be either point-based or descriptive. Based on the summative assessment results, mid-semester, and subsequently annual summary grades are formulated.

In grades 1-4 and in the first semester of grade 5, students’ mid-semester summative assessments will be done through descriptions. A report on each student's academic progress will be created. From the second semester of grade 5 to grade 12, summative assessments will be conducted through point-based evaluations.

Point-Based Assessment
Point-based assessment begins in the second semester of grade 5. In this system, a 10-point scale is used, where no score can be unsatisfactory. Any form of point-based assessment must be preceded by diagnostic and formative assessments.