Student sample for assessment
Written by a Year 6 student in Toorak, Victoria, Australia.
Dear Committee Members, I am writing to provide input on your review of assessment policy. I recommend that the school allow students to retake assessments under specific conditions. This policy would acknowledge that performance on a single day does not always reflect student understanding, while maintaining academic integrity. Current assessment policy assumes that a student's performance on a test represents their true understanding of the content. However, this assumption does not always hold. A student might perform poorly due to illness, anxiety, or a temporary misunderstanding. A single poor result can damage a student's overall grade and confidence. If the school allowed one retake after a short learning period, students could demonstrate their true knowledge. Permitting retakes would encourage learning rather than memorisation. When students know they can retake, they focus on understanding concepts rather than temporarily remembering facts. They study more thoroughly and ask more questions. This approach supports deeper learning, which is the school's stated goal. Some may argue that retakes are unfair to students who perform well on the first attempt. This concern is legitimate. To address it, the school could limit retakes to one per term and require students to attend a review session with the teacher before retaking. These conditions would make retakes available to students who genuinely need them without giving an unfair advantage. Others might suggest that retakes reduce the importance of assessments and effort. However, research shows that allowing retakes does not reduce effort—it increases it. Students work harder when they know they have a second chance, because the stakes feel more manageable. I respectfully recommend that your committee consider a retake policy with clear limitations. This approach would support student learning while protecting assessment integrity. Thank you for considering this submission. Yours sincerely, A Year 6 student