Political Aspects of National Examinations in the Netherlands

1. Political Aspects of National Examinations in the Netherlands Henk Kreeft Moscow, September 2006

2. Admission and Selection for Higher Education in the Netherlands • Examinations are administered only at the end of the school year • The examinations have two levels • Examinations are administered by the schools • A secondary school diploma is required for admission to higher education; prerequisite subjects may be required for particular programs • Selection for limited admissions programs is done by weighted random selection

3. Political goals • In the near future, 50% of the students should receive higher education. At this moment it is only 30% • Dutch university faculties should be among the best in the world • Students must complete their programs with no delays or transfers

4. New Political Choices • Experiments with examinations in January, June, and August and more moments to enter university • Experiments with selection by universities to decrease delays • Experiments with selection by universities to identify talented students

5. 1. Examinations at More Moments in the Year • Flexibility for talented students and for students experiencing a delay • No loss of time • Better links with new flexible teaching methods in secondary education • Flexible university admission policies must be possible

6. 2. Experiments with Selection by Universities • Discussion about the possibility and desirability, especially for limited admission programs • University of Leiden experiment: • The results on the national examinations were the best predictors • Special cognitive selection tests did not improve the prediction • A non-cognitive test, i.e. a motivation test, was not reliable nor valid

7. Correlations law faculty

8. Binding study Advice • At the end of the first year is known which students have good results and which have not • Universities are alowed to give a binding recommendation regarding the continuation of studies

9. 3. Selection for Outstanding University Programs • The selection of excellent students can best be based on the results of national examinations • Selection by universities can best be based on the results in the first year(s) of study

10. Why are National Examinations the best Predictors? • They guarantee the level of secondary education • They are based on the total cognitive developmentof students • They guarantee a uniform admission level nation-wide • Admission decisions can be transparent and acceptable

11. Discussion continues • Despitethe results of several experiments, the discussion about selection continues • Reasons: • Getting or preserving a position as an excellent university program • The search for excellent students

12. Conclusion • Strict selection by universities is generally not desirable • The results of national examinations are the best predictors of student achievement • More flexible examinations and admission procedures can prevent loss of time • A binding study advice at the end of the first year is the best way to avoid further delay. • Selection for centers of excellence can better be done during the study