The examination system in

Pakistan
By
Allah Nawaz
Nazir Haidar Shah
Abdul Ghaffar Tahir
Muhammad Masaud Asdaque
nawaz_6805608@yahoo.com
Introduction, an over view
integral part of teaching learning
process

purpose of examination system

accountability for institution and their
standing
for the achievement of objectives
assess the competence for admission
and employment
Historical back ground
Inherited from the British system, the
model of the university of London
Establishment of madras and Calcutta
universities in 1857
Matriculation became a gateway to govt.
service
Hartog committee 1929
Matriculation sets a standard of
achievement and as a gate to higher edu.
After that a degree was a key to a job
Post-independence scenario
Function of external system did not change
with independence
Only the Punjab university had the
experience of examination
In 1961 – 62 there were ten universities
which were conducting their examination
Establishments of educational boards
Karachi board 1950
Lahore board 1954
In late sixties ten boards were established
External system of examination
Internal system of examination
In mid seventies internal system was
adopted;
Agriculture university, Faisalabad
Institute of business Management (IBA)
Karachi university and
Quaid-e-Azam university at graduate level
know it is established in almost all
universities
Some draw back of annual system
of examination
Leakage
Impersonation
External assistance
Smuggling of unauthorized material
Copying from a nearby candidate
Intimidation
Collusion
Ghost centers
Substitution of scripts and
Irregularities of supervisory staff by allocating
more time to some students
The main recommendations of the
various education policies and reports

Commission on national education

1959
Suggested that
75% for external evaluation and
25% for internal evaluation
Except in case of technical and
practical subjects
The commission on student
problems and welfare 1966
Major suggestions were;
Supplementary examination should
be available to such students who fail
in only one subject
Recommendation of national tests
These are voluntary and assess the
overall attainments of students
The seminar on examination 1969

Made a critical appraisal of the system of

education
Identified the defects in examination system
Same examination for both private and regular
candidates was criticized
Improve the facilities to conduct examination
Training of teacher in educational measurement
Strict action against persons involved in unfair
means
The national committee on
examination 1970
Major recommendations were;
Shift to more weightage to class room
testing and training of examination
Commitment by the local community
for the fair conduct of examination
Improving the supervision of centers
The education policy 1972-80

Suggested some radical changes in

the system of examination;
Abolition of annual system of
examination
Introduction of cumulative records
Passing a law to take action against
indiscipline in examination centers
National education policy 1978
Consider the present system of
education as one of the major
reasons in the declining of education
standard
The policy suggest the gradual shift
for adoption of periodic examination
system
Course wise in the certificates to be
issued
Examination reforms in technical
education 1977
The report presented in the national
conference on examination
suggested that;
An action plan form refer to a gradual
shift to internal assessment,
improvement of class room testing,
establishing relevance between test
content and curriculum objectives
A task group on examination
1985
It was set up by the ministry of
education
it is about the relevance of objectives
and the teaching learning process.
Treatment on assessment of practical
subjects
Educational policy 1992
Major recommendations were;
A national testing service will be set up
Both the external and internal system will continue
to co-exist
Steps will be taken to improve the quality of
managerial skills on their personnel through
Training, rationalizing staff, space and equipment
allocation
Postponement of examination will be avoided
Rapid squads will be deployed to inspect the
centers
The preparation and declaration of results
shall be fully mechanized
All examination papers will be so organized
as to include objective type questions,
short answers and essay type
All universities following the semester
system will adopt a uniform grading scale
as approved by the university grants
commission
Internal evaluation will be introduced as a
performance indicator along with the result
of annual examination
Educational policy 1998
the system of examination should discourage rote-
learning and emphasis be laid on the acquisition of
real knowledge
The examination department of the university shall
be reorganized
Department shall be fully computerized
The present examination system shall be further
improved
The national testing service shall be expanded
GRE
TOEFL
GAT
Educational policy 2009
Education system needs to be
internationally competitive and Pakistan
shall make efforts to offer itself for
international level academic assessments
by 2012
Student performance shall be based on
assessing competence and reviews of the
assessment system.
Multiple assessment tools in addition to
traditional examinations shall be explored
National standards shall be developed to
reduce the differences in quality across
regions
The Education Boards shall be responsible
for capacity building of paper setters and
examiners
A comprehensive plan shall be prepared to
eliminate cheating from examinations
A quality cycle management shall link the
various systems of assessment and
institutions involved in assessment to
provide feedback to curriculum development,
textbooks development and teacher
education and professional development
Curriculum development

Integral part of T.L process

Determine the standard and quality of
an educational system
It should be modern and relevant to
what is needed for our national
development
Selection of material should be
controlled by purpose
Efforts to curriculum development

Constitution of 1973 under the concurrent

legislate list
Curriculum syllabus, planning, centre of
excellence and standards of education
textbooks
Islamic education
Legal, medical and other profession
Education include for social cohesion and
national integration
University Grants Commission Act
of1974
Federal supervision of curricula,
textbooks, maintenance of standards of
education act of 1976
Higher Education Commission 2002