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TPS - Understanding the Quebec
Ministerial Exam in Gatineau
Who Takes the Quebec Ministerial Exams?
If you are new to Quebec and your child/ adolescent is in a French or English public school, it may come as a surprise that Quebec is one of the few provinces that still has provincial exams. This goes for English courses in the English schools or in a French school with English as a second language. The Department determines which tests it will prepare. The other subjects are evaluated under the responsibility of the school bodies.
A single examination is held at the same time for all students in Québec and for each subject a new test is given.
Essentially what happens is that each year, the Ministry tells the school board which exams must be taken, gives the examination material and tells the school boards to administer them. Examinations are scheduled each year in January, June and August.
For elementary Cycle 3, a provincial examination must be done:
Secondary V (grade 11) English is marked by the at Ministry. but Secondary English as a Second Language, are corrected in full by the teacher on the basis of a correction guide produced by the Department.
A single examination is held at the same time for all students in Québec and for each subject a new test is given.
Essentially what happens is that each year, the Ministry tells the school board which exams must be taken, gives the examination material and tells the school boards to administer them. Examinations are scheduled each year in January, June and August.
For elementary Cycle 3, a provincial examination must be done:
Secondary V (grade 11) English is marked by the at Ministry. but Secondary English as a Second Language, are corrected in full by the teacher on the basis of a correction guide produced by the Department.
Is the Ministerial Exam Important?
The final mark in English will be weighted according to the Ministry as 50% of your final mark if it is lower but 100% if higher. Essentially in the end, a student has
What happens is the the moderated school mark is balanced by the converted miniterial examinatin mark if it is lower. For example if you get 70% on the moderated school mark and 64% on the converted ministerial exam mark, you will get 67% as your final Mark on the Ministère’s achievement record.
However, if you get 64% on the moderated school mark and 70% on the converted ministerial exam mark, you will get 70% as your final Mark on the Ministère’s achievement record.
This is different from the BC Provincial exam whereby the provincial exam can modify the final mark up or down. In Quebec if you score higher on your converted ministerial exam, that is what you finally receive.
So yes, it is very important!
- The raw school mark: The final mark on the student’s report card from the teacher but this is not the mark that Universities look at.
- The moderated school mark: This is the school mark after the Ministère has applied the statistical procedure known as moderation which basically is like a weighting system to make sure a teacher is not giving too generous or stingy marks
- The ministerial examination mark: This is the mark the student gets on on the provincial exam (ministerial uniform examination)
- The converted ministerial examination mark: This is the mark the student gets on the ministerial uniform examination, after it gets converted by a weighting system to adjust the mark based on what others students scored
What happens is the the moderated school mark is balanced by the converted miniterial examinatin mark if it is lower. For example if you get 70% on the moderated school mark and 64% on the converted ministerial exam mark, you will get 67% as your final Mark on the Ministère’s achievement record.
However, if you get 64% on the moderated school mark and 70% on the converted ministerial exam mark, you will get 70% as your final Mark on the Ministère’s achievement record.
This is different from the BC Provincial exam whereby the provincial exam can modify the final mark up or down. In Quebec if you score higher on your converted ministerial exam, that is what you finally receive.
So yes, it is very important!
What's on the Test
Unlike other provincials such as the BC Provincial Exam in British Columbia and the OSSLT, the Quebec government does not give a standardized format to the test but it typically has the following items:
1. Mini responses and reflections
2. Responses to short stories
3. Producing an essay
4. Interpretation of research
5. Producing an article
From this the exam breaks down into 3 parts but just two parts for actual writing
Part I – Response to a literary text (3 hours) [Responding to a story or poem]
This part tests how well you can understand and think critically about a literary text (like a short story or poem). You’ll read the text, take notes, and talk about your ideas in a small group. Then, on your own, you’ll write a response that’s about 500–700 words.
Part II – Reading for stance (3 hrs.): [Figuring out your position and preparing to write]
Here, you’ll practice taking a stance on a real-life issue or situation. You’ll watch a video, read a magazine, and join group discussions. While you do that, you’ll take notes to help you get ready for the writing you’ll do in Part III.
Part III – Written response (3 hours) [Writing your magazine article]
This is the final part, and you’ll work on your own. Your job is to write a magazine article aimed at young adults. In the article, you need to take a position, analyze something, or comment on a specific issue. Using the notes you took in Part II, you’ll write a first draft, then revise and edit it until you have a final version that’s about 600–800 words.
1. Mini responses and reflections
2. Responses to short stories
3. Producing an essay
4. Interpretation of research
5. Producing an article
From this the exam breaks down into 3 parts but just two parts for actual writing
Part I – Response to a literary text (3 hours) [Responding to a story or poem]
This part tests how well you can understand and think critically about a literary text (like a short story or poem). You’ll read the text, take notes, and talk about your ideas in a small group. Then, on your own, you’ll write a response that’s about 500–700 words.
Part II – Reading for stance (3 hrs.): [Figuring out your position and preparing to write]
Here, you’ll practice taking a stance on a real-life issue or situation. You’ll watch a video, read a magazine, and join group discussions. While you do that, you’ll take notes to help you get ready for the writing you’ll do in Part III.
Part III – Written response (3 hours) [Writing your magazine article]
This is the final part, and you’ll work on your own. Your job is to write a magazine article aimed at young adults. In the article, you need to take a position, analyze something, or comment on a specific issue. Using the notes you took in Part II, you’ll write a first draft, then revise and edit it until you have a final version that’s about 600–800 words.
Registering
If you need tutoring, consult with the tutor page for Ministerial exams.