Marks and national tests, lower secondary school, 2010

The most marked differences between boys and girls can be observed in food and health, arts and crafts and Norwegian, where the girls on average achieved 0.5 marks higher than the boys. In mathematics, a small difference in favour of the girls can be observed, and in physical education, the boys achieved higher marks than the girls.

Correlation between national tests and marks

From 2010 onwards, it is possible to compare results from national tests in 8th grade with the final marks from lower secondary school. The results from the national tests have an impact on the marks, although it varies across the subjects. Almost 80 per cent of the pupils who achieved the lowest mastering level in mathematics in 8th grade, attained 1 or 2 in their final marks. In contrast, only 40 per cent of the pupils who achieved the lowest mastering level in reading Norwegian attained 1 or 2 in the final grade of first choice form of Norwegian. Half of all the pupils who achieved the lowest mastering level in English at 8th grade, attained 3 or better for the final mark in written English.

Social background has an impact on results

Parental level of education correlates with pupils’ marks. Attained school points ranged from 34.1 points for pupils whose parents had the least education, to 45.8 points for pupils whose parents had long tertiary education. The differences related to social background are most evident in theoretical subjects such as mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences, and least evident in food and health subjects, arts and crafts and physical education.

Tables:

• Table 1 Average lower secondary school points, by gender, county and parents' educational attainment level. 2010
• Table 2 Average overall achievement marks, selected subjects, by gender and parents' educational attainment level. 2010
• Table 3 Average examination marks, selected subjects, by gender and parents' educational attainment level. 2010
• Table 4 Average overall achievement marks, selected subjects, by immigration category. 2010
• Table 5 Average examination marks, selected subjects, by immigration category. 2010
• Table 6 Average lower secondary school points, by immigration category, country group and gender. 2010
• Table 7 Average overall achievement marks and examination marks, selected subjects, by school ownership and parents' educational attainment level. 2010
• Table 8 Distribution of overall achievement marks in Mathematics, English and Norwegian, by mastering levels on national tests in 8th grade in 2007. 2010. Per cent