13 - Czech Republic - Student assessment

In view of the different methods of assessment at vyšší odborné školy and at vysoké školy, this section is divided into two parts, dealing separately with vyšší odborné školy and at vysoké školy.

Tertiary professional education

Students are assessed each relevant term. Subjects or other comprehensive parts of the syllabus on the basis of which a student takes an examination are specified by the accredited educational programme.

Assessment can take the form of continuous assessment, credits, classified credits or examinations. Continuous assessment can take place during seminars, practice, practical education, work practice, and excursions. Continuous assessment primarily takes the form of questions, written work, tests, individual assignments, and term papers. The results of interim assessment can be taken into account and influence the final examination.

A credit is given when all requirements defined in the subject curriculum are met. The fact that the credit has been given to a student is recorded in the student’s credit book, with the word započteno (credit granted).

A classified credit also evaluates and classifies how a pupil has met the requirements of the credit. A classified credit and an examination can be oral, written, practical, or combined. The results of a classified credit or an examination are marked as follows: excellent, very good, good, failed. The results of a classified credit and of an examination are recorded in these terms in the pupil's credit book.

Assessment and classification is carried out in each subject by the teacher, except in the case of absolutorium where there has to be an examination board.

Some vyšší odborné školy also use credit systems which express the students’ study load.

Higher education

Study achievements at vysoké školy are assessed by a system of points or credits. The results of the assessment are recorded in a report on study and can also take the form of an electronic information system of the vysoká škola or faculty.

Use of the credit system differs between vysoké školy or faculties. Most institutions have implemented a credit system ECTS.

The frequency and methods of assessing students' achievement differ between different vysoké školy and faculties. In some cases a system of partial examinations taken after each semester has been introduced, in other cases there is one comprehensive examination after each completed part of the studies – most often at the end of a certain module. Vysoké školy offering arts programmes use students' exhibitions, musical performances etc. as a basis for assessment. In both cases, however, considerable emphasis is also placed on continuous assessment of the students' work, mostly in the form of tests of knowledge or independent work (on computers, graphic work, laboratory work or seminar work) or independent artistic work.

The organisation of examinations is legally embedded in study and examination regulations, which are part of the internal regulations of a vysoká škola and are approved by the academic senate.

In general, examinations are taken during an examination period at the end of each semester. The examiners are the teachers of individual subjects. The relevant examiners set the dates of individual examinations and the dates of all examinations are announced by the management of the institution (faculty). In some cases it is possible to take an examination before the agreed official date. A failed exam may be retaken several times. Final examinations are taken in front of boards of examiners. In order to increase the level of objectivity, external examiners from other vysoké školy or scientific establishments are invited to sit on the boards and the Ministry can also appoint other significant specialists in the given field to the examination boards. Care is taken to authorise only the most qualified academic staff as examiners.

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