Secondary School in Palmela, Setubal

Secondary School Assessment Process

Our assessment process focuses on the five main language skills: Reading; Writing; Use of English; Listening and Speaking. These skills are assessed separately in different contexts, reflecting the diversity of circumstances in which a language is used. Writing skills are assessed in more formal tests as well as in other activities such as creative writing; literary analysis or listening to various media. Speaking skills are assessed in oral presentations, role-plays, classroom discussions and other activities, many of them simulating of everyday situations.

The assessment criteria and their respective weightings are diverse, reflecting the specific nature of each subject. Therefore, it is important to consider the emphasis on the oral component in the subjects of Portuguese and modern languages, as well as the practical component in subjects with a laboratory component. 

Internal Assessment

Internal evaluation is a procedure that regulates the learning process, guiding academic development and certifying the student’s achievements. The basis of this evaluation is formative, continuous, and systematic. Its purpose is diagnostic, allowing all those involved to obtain information regarding the child’s learning progress, so as to ascertain which adjustments and strategies need to be applied. 

The implementation of the guiding principles for learning assessment at the secondary level of education was based on the legislation governing the respective years of schooling. As part of this process, assessment criteria were developed for each of the scientific and humanistic courses. 

In Grade 10, the assessment primarily focuses on the learning progress achieved by students, with reference to the Essential Learning, which serves as fundamental curricular guidelines. Special attention is given to the areas of skills outlined in the Profile of Students Leaving Compulsory Education. 

The various types of assessments are presented as tools to facilitate and regulate students' learning. They are conducted concurrently across all classes within the same year/grade, with the aim of preparing students for national exams. Prior to each assessment, students receive an informative document detailing the assessment's structure, the content being tested, and the objectives to be achieved. 

External Evaluation

In Grades 11 and 12, national university entrance examinations are conducted. To ensure the best results for each student, specific and individualised support sessions are provided at the school, including one-to-one pedagogical support sessions for effective at-home learning and self-study.