FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What are the minimum number of subjects students can take?

Ans : One

2. Can PSSC be gained as an aggregate over two years e.g. 2 subjects this year, 3 next year etc?

Ans : A PSSC qualification can be gained in one subject if so desired.

3. If a student fails to pass PSSC, can he or she repeat the course the following year?

Ans : There is no pass/fail concept with PSSC students get grades for subjects which institutions or employers can make their own decisions on (for entry etc)

4. Can a student sit the PSSC exam even if not attempting or completing internal assessment?

Ans : Yes – but the final grade will be affected.

5. If internal assessment has not been attempted, what final grade could a student expect?

Ans : This depends on the weighting of the i.a. but a grade of 3 or 4 is most likely the best outcome.

6. What are the fees to enrol in PSSC?

Ans : Check with the local school or SPBEA as they may vary with currency fluctuations.

7. Can a first language speaker in French or Japanese enrol in their first language for PSSC?

Ans : No

8. If a student has been suspended or expelled from a College, can he or she send in work to SPBEA to be marked?

Ans : No SPBEA’s role does not extend into providing a marking service for students.

9. If a student transfers from one school to another, what happens to the marks the student has earned in the first school?

Ans : Those marks should be transferred to the second school.

10. If students, when transferring to another school, find their new school does not teach one of their subjects, can they still enrol in that subject?

Ans : Yes, the two schools can make arrangements for the course to continue.

11. Could a private student, not enrolled in any school, sit PSSC?

Ans : No

12. If students pull out of PSSC part way through the year, can they have a refund of their fees?

Ans : Yes, providing they request their withdrawal in writing by October 1st. The registration fee will not be refunded.

13. Does a late fee apply for enrolments that have missed the deadline?

Ans : Yes, between August 2nd – October 1st. No further late entries will be accepted after October 1st.

14. When is the closing date for aegrotat/compassionate applications?

Ans : December 1st.

15. When do schools have to submit their internal assessment marks to SPBEA?

Ans : November 1st, and preferably by post rather than by fax as some faxed results do not come out clearly.

16. Can students apply for reconsideration of their grades, and if so, when?

Ans : Yes, between January 7th – February 7th.

17 .Why is it necessary to have statistical moderation?

Ans : Statistical moderation is one form of moderation to ensure that school based marks earned by a group of students reflect their performance in the external exam.