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For the University Selection Tests, the plan is to end the penalty for incorrect answers and include the piloting of the tests within the regular selection process.
In addition, the Single Admission System commission was asked to develop alternative modifications for the Science test, in order to generate a schedule of changes with technical support.
At its monthly meeting, held in Punta Arenas, the Council of Rectors received reports from three commissions working on strengthening the Unified Admission System, including modifications to the Grade Ranking and a proposal for the Indirect Fiscal Contribution.
Among the short-term measures, which could begin to be implemented in 2013 to bring about changes in the University Selection Tests (PSU) to be administered in 2014, is the elimination of the penalty system for incorrect answers. Currently, for each incorrect answer, a quarter of the points for a correct answer are deducted.
“We want to reassure young people who will be taking the PSU at the end of this year that the test will be the same one they have been preparing for. All the modifications we are discussing today will begin to be applied starting with the 2014 PSU,” stated the executive vice president of CRUCH, Juan Manuel Zolezzi.
Another measure is to include pilot questions in the 2013 PSU to familiarize students with this experience. This year, since the test is being piloted, it wouldn't serve as a test for the actual questions, but it would be used to let test-takers know that starting in 2014 the test will include practice questions.
The modification is required because, until now, the pilot program has been conducted with fourth-year high school students, who have no incentive to answer as if they were taking the test.
Regarding the recommendation to standardize and document the processes involved in the preparation and development of the test, the Department of Educational Evaluation, Measurement and Registration (DEMRE) of the University of Chile is already working on this and is seeking international certification to validate these changes.
Science Test
For the medium term, an in-depth analysis of changes to the Science test was proposed. In this regard, the CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities) asked the commission led by Professor María Elena González to develop a proposed set of changes with a timeline, which will be presented at the end of May.
With this report, the full Council will decide on making any modifications that are technically feasible.
“As a Council, we are willing to make modifications because we want to move in the direction that will improve this selection tool, but we must be careful because of the level of consequences it has for the students who take the test. Therefore, we commissioned a study to provide us with the technical alternatives we have to modify this tool,” Rector Zolezzi pointed out.
Notes Ranking
Regarding strengthening the Ranking system, the university presidents analyzed the proposal from the team led by Guillermo Marshall, which includes eliminating the 150-point maximum bonus for Grade Ranking. This would increase the grade ranking points for students who performed significantly above the average of their peers.
Another measure is to incorporate into the Ranking those schools that are new or have had no more than 30 students in their last three graduating classes. To do this, the commission will propose aggregating the grades of some of these schools (creating a kind of cluster of similar schools) to obtain a larger pool of students for determining their ranking position and score. Last year, only the NEM score was used for the grade ranking in these cases. It is estimated that this could benefit approximately 3,000 schools.
“These are the first steps taken by the CRUCH committees to improve the admissions system, and we will continue working throughout the year to refine new changes that strengthen the single admissions system that allows 120,000 young people to apply to traditional and private universities affiliated with the system,” the rector added.
Information regarding the committees is available on the website www.consejoderectores.cl, where a special section has been created to report on the agreements and work of the groups in the future, along with contact information to open space for citizen participation.
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