The Ministry of Education prohibits filming exams and sets a 20% passing grade

The Saudi Ministry of Education has issued strict and comprehensive directives regarding the procedures for conducting school examinations. These directives emphasize the prohibition of teachers or ministry staff photographing exam questions or student answers by any means, except in official cases where absolutely necessary, such as for auditing and review purposes. This decision comes as part of the ministry's efforts to enhance information security, protect student privacy, and ensure the integrity of the educational process. The ministry has affirmed that any violation of these instructions will subject the perpetrator to legal accountability before the relevant authorities.

Context of developing the educational assessment system

These measures are part of a broader effort to develop the education system in the Kingdom, as the Ministry continuously strives to update examination regulations to align with standards of quality and transparency. These controls are particularly important given the increasing reliance on electronic grading systems, which necessitates meticulous attention to detail in handling examination papers. These steps aim to standardize procedures across all schools in the Kingdom, ensuring equal opportunities for all students and fairness in measuring learning outcomes, which will positively impact the credibility of educational certificates issued both locally and regionally.

Conditional percentage and grade distribution mechanism

In the details of the examination regulations, the Ministry established a precise passing standard known as the "conditional percentage," requiring students to achieve 20% of the final written exam grade for each subject in elementary and middle school, as well as in the end-of-term exam for high school. This percentage is a prerequisite for passing the subject, regardless of the total coursework grades, thus reinforcing the importance of final exams as a primary tool for assessing student comprehension of the curriculum.

The ministry explained that grades are distributed as follows: 40 points per academic term in primary and intermediate levels, and 40 points per subject in secondary level. If a student is absent from an exam, the word "absent" is recorded in the system, and the student is considered to have failed the subject, requiring them to take the supplementary exams.

Correction and rigorous review protocols

To ensure the highest degree of accuracy in recording results, the Ministry established strict protocols for the correction and review processes. The rules stipulate the exclusive use of a green pen for final review, prohibiting the use of white erasers or correction fluid to alter grades. The old grade must be lightly crossed out, and the new grade written numerically and in words, with the student's signature. These meticulous details aim to prevent any potential manipulation and guarantee that each student receives the grade they truly deserve.

The ministry also mandated that the subject teacher personally correct their own papers, record the grades in the electronic system, and then verify the initial grades with the auditing and review committee. The procedures also include a comprehensive audit of student data and its matching with official identification documents from the beginning of the academic year to ensure the integrity of academic records.