New Grading System and Assessment Guidelines

Revised Guidelines on on Classroom Assessment, Grading System, and Awards and Recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program

​Education is evolving, and so is the way we measure student success. Recently, a new policy briefer titled "Revised Guidelines on Classroom Assessment, Grading System, and Awards and Recognition" was released, detailing significant shifts for the upcoming school years.

​Whether you’re a parent, a student, or an educator, these changes—ranging from how grades are calculated to the role of AI—will impact your daily school life. 

Here’s everything you need to know.
​1. Assessment with a Purpose: 

The ESRU Cycle
​The goal of assessment is moving away from "just a grade" and toward continuous growth. Formative assessment (daily check-ins) is now embedded into instruction using the ESRU Cycle:
​Elicit: Teacher asks for a response.
​Student Responds.
​Recognize: Teacher acknowledges the response.
​Use: Teacher uses that response to adjust the lesson immediately

​2. Descriptive Grading for Young Learners (Key Stage 1)

​To reduce early competition and focus on development, Kindergarten to Grade 3 will move to a descriptive grading system.
​Kindergarten: Uses letters C (Consistent), D (Developing), and B (Beginning).
​Grades 1-3: Uses a scale from A (Advancing) to E (Emerging).

​This shift ensures that young children are supported based on their developmental progress rather than just a number.

 

​7. Timely Intervention

​The days of waiting until the end of the year to find out a student is struggling are over. The policy emphasizes timely intervention and remediation. If a student fails at most two learning areas, they can attend remedial classes where they must garner a grade of 75 to be promoted.

​These revisions signal a shift toward a more holistic, supportive, and modern educational environment. By focusing on performance tasks, reducing the pressure on our youngest learners, and acknowledging the role of AI, these guidelines aim to prepare students for the real world—not just for a test.

Revised Guidelines on on Classroom Assessment, Grading System, and Awards and Recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program - DOWNLOAD  

​What do you think of the new grading system? Does the removal of awards in early grades help or hinder student motivation? Let us know in the comments!