The end of Primary Benchmark 2018 was held during the last week of May and the first week of June. The schools participating in this session of the end of Primary Benchmark included 62 State Schools, 20 Church Schools and four Independent Schools.

The number of children who sat for these assessments was 3,484, of whom 1,786 were males (51.3%) and 1,698 were females (48.7%).

Year 6 candidates were assessed in Maltese, English and Mathematics. 

In Maltese, candidates were assessed in Speaking (20 marks), Listening Comprehension (20 marks), Reading Comprehension (30 marks) and Writing (30 marks). The national medians resulted as follows: 17 for the Speaking component, 13 for the Listening Comprehension component, 21 for the Reading Comprehension component and 18 for the Writing component. The national median for Maltese was 69.

In English, students were assessed in the same components as in Maltese and the national medians were as follows: 17 for the Speaking component, 16 for the Listening Comprehension component, 20 for the Reading Comprehension component and 17 for the Writing component.  The national median for English was 70.

Mathematics had two components: the Mental component (20 marks) and the Written component (80 marks). The national median for the Mental component was 16, whilst that for the Written component was 58, with the national median for Mathematics being 75.  

These statistical figures show that 50% of the candidates who sat for the end of Primary Benchmark 2018 scored 69 marks or more in Maltese, 70 marks or more in English and 75 marks or more in Mathematics.

Each Benchmark script was blind marked by two markers. A total of 110 markers were involved in this exercise: 45 for Maltese, 38 for English and 27 for Mathematics.

The results were sent to schools in the first week of July and they were sent to all the candidates on 6 July. The results included the marks that the candidate scored in the different components of the three Benchmark subjects as well as the national medians for each component and for each subject. This enabled parents to compare their child's performance in each subject with the national median.

During school year 2017-2018, information and discussion meetings on the Benchmark were held in Malta and Gozo with parents, teachers and Heads of School.

The end of Primary Benchmark 2018  papers and marking schemes can be downloaded from http://www.curriculum.gov.mt under the section Benchmark - Year 6 or by accessing the electronic link http://curriculum.gov.mt/en/Examination-Papers/Pages/bm-papers-2018.aspx.

During the next scholastic year, changes in assessment in the Primary and Middle Schools will be implemented.  The half-yearly examinations will be replaced by continuous assessment which will be carried out throughout the year, in class.  This will be an opportunity for students to demonstrate the skills acquired throughout the year.  Annual examinations will still be held as usual in all years.