Situation in Sweden

The subjects are divided into courses in the upper secondary school. Pupils are awarded grades for every course completed and for special project work. Any pupil who has been awarded grades in more courses than are necessary for completion of a full programme is entitled to choose which courses are to be included in the leaving certificate to a certain extent.

Pupils are not compared with one another, as in the old relative grading system. Attainment is measured in relation to the goals for the entire course. The grade system is thus based on goals and knowledge levels. Achievement is measured in relation to the goals of the course. Grades in the upper secondary school are awarded on a four-grade scale:

• Pass with special distinction (MVG)
  
• Pass with distinction (VG)
  
• Pass (G)
  
• Fail (IG).

The student receives a leaving certificate at the end of his/her upper secondary education, which is a summary of grades in all courses which form part of the study programme. All students at upper secondary school are after completed upper secondary education entitled to resit examinations to improve on their grades. Students are entitled to resit examinations during the course of upper secondary education only if they have failed a course.

The National Agency for Education determines the criteria for the grades of Pass and Pass with distinction for national courses. For the grades of Pass and Pass with distinction on local courses, grades are determined by the education board.

In order for the grounds for assessment to be as unified as possible across the country, teachers are recommended to use the national course tests set by the Agency for Education. There are course tests in Swedish, English and Mathematics.

For pupils in need of extra support in their schooling for a limited period, support teaching may be arranged.

If a pupil at upper secondary school is awarded a Fail grade for any course, that pupil is entitled to repeat the course once, and in certain cases once again. A pupil who is awarded a Fail grade for special project work is entitled to repeat that work.

Upper secondary school students are entitled to sit examinations in all courses which form part of the student's individual syllabus, provided that the student has not previously been awarded a grade for the course, or if the student has received a Fail grade for that course.

The grade awarded as a result of examination is added to the final leaving certificate. Those who are not upper secondary school students but who would like to gain grades from the school are also entitled to sit examinations in all subjects which form part of a national programme. Grades resulting from testing of this kind are presented in a combined grades document.

Admission to higher education

All three-year programmes meet the basic eligibility requirements for access to studies at institutions of higher education. Basic qualification, and for some courses also special qualifications, are required for admission to undergraduate studies at universities and col-leges. A completed education from upper secondary school with at least 90 % pass grades for the courses taken provides basic qualification. People over the age of 25 and who have been in employment for at least 4 years are qualified if they have proficiency in Swedish and English equivalent to a completed national upper secondary programme.

In selecting students, one or more of the following criteria are used: grades, university aptitude test, other special examination, previous education and work experience.

For all universities and university colleges in the country there is a common university aptitude test. The National Agency for Higher Education has the overall responsibility for the test and most universities or university colleges organise the examination twice a year.

Reform

At proposal from the Government the Parliament has decided that an upper secondary examination should be introduced for pupils starting education in the upper secondary school in school year 2000/2001. The proposal also mentions certain requirements that should be fulfilled for an examination certificate to be awarded, e.g. minimum of a passing grade in certain subjects and approved dissertation work.

Ms Camilla Norström
SWEDEN
Ministry of Education and Science
Tel.+46 8 405 1948
Fax.+46 8 723 1734
E-mail: camilla.norstrom@education.ministry.se