ABSTRACT
In 2005, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) introduced a School-Based Assessment (SBA) component into the Hong Kong Certifi cate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in English Language to align assessment more closely with the current English Language teaching syllabus (Curriculum Development Council, 1999) as well as with the proposed new Senior Secondary curriculum (Education and Manpower Bureau, 2007). The SBA English component seeks to provide a more comprehensive appraisal of Form 4-5 (Grade 9-10-equivalent) learners’ achievement by assessing learning objectives which cannot be easily assessed in public examinations whilst at the same time enhancing teaching and learning. In-class performance assessment of students’ authentic oral language skills using a range of tasks and guiding questions and the use of teacher judgments of student performance using common assessment criteria are innovative aspects of the new School-Based Assessment scheme.
