MATSEC EXAMINATIONCANDIDATES’ HANDBOOK

Syllabi, General

Timetables and Past

Examination Papers

Coursework

Access Arrangements

and Special

Considerations

Application

Process

Introduction:

The MATSEC

Examination Board

PAGE 04

PAGE 06

PAGE 10

PAGE 14

PAGE 16

MATSEC Examinations

Candidate Guidebook

Revision

of Papers

Examination

Fees

Contacting the

MATSEC Support

Unit

Examination

Conduct and

Regulations

Results, Result Slips

and Certificates

Absences

PAGE 26

PAGE 28

PAGE 30

PAGE 32

PAGE 20

PAGE 22

ADSC - Access - Disability Support Committee (at the University of Malta)

AM - Advanced Matriculation

IM - Intermediate Matriculation

EAA - Examination Access Arrangement

MATSEC - Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Examinations Board

PSAO – Principal Subject Area Officer

SEC – Secondary Education Certificate

SEC IIA – SEC Paper IIA option

SEC IIB – SEC Paper IIB option

UoM – University of Malta

Introduction

4

The Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate (MATSEC) Examinations Board was established in 1991 by the Senate and the Council of the University of Malta. The Board was entrusted with the development of an examination system to replace the examinations set by UK examination boards in Malta. It aimed to increase access to examinations from 20% to at least 80% of the population, a target that has been proudly achieved and maintained since 2005.

The new Board also took over the functions of the Matriculation Board which also used to set examinations at Ordinary and Advanced level in a number of subjects. The MATSEC Examinations Board holds records of Matriculation Examinations that go back to the late 19th century.

The MATSEC Examinations Board is made up of members representing various stakeholders of the Maltese educational system. A list of current members can be found on the MATSEC website in the Regulations section. The MATSEC Support Unit acts as the operational branch of the MATSEC Examinations Board.

The aim of this document is to assist candidates in their journey to be successful in their MATSEC examinations.

5

Syllabi, Timetables & Past Papers

SYLLABI

2.01. Syllabi specify what is to be assessed as well as the means and structure of assessment.

2.02. MATSEC is responsible for developing and maintaining syllabi for a range of subjects at three different levels: Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), Intermediate Matriculation (IM) and Advanced Matriculation (AM).

2.03. The year indicated on a syllabus is the year in which the final assessment is scheduled.

2.04. New syllabi are normally published at least three years before the subject is examined in the case of SEC, and two years before the subject is examined in the case of IM and AM.

2.05. All subject syllabi are available on the MATSEC website in the Syllabi section.

TIMETABLES AND CLASHES

2.06. Timetables for both the May and September sessions are made available on the MATSEC website in October of the year preceding the examination.

2.07. Timetables can be found in the Timetables subsection within the Assessment section of the MATSEC website.

6

2.08. The general timetables enable candidates to plan ahead and make sure the examinations they register for do not clash with any personal activities.

2.09. In the case of clashes in the May session, candidates are encouraged to alert the Examinations Department by submitting a clash form. This is attainable from the Examinations Department, Floriana.

2.10. In the case of clashes in the September session, candidates are to inform the MATSEC Support Unit by sending an e-mail to matsec@um.edu.mt

2.11. MATSEC will not make any arrangements for clashes with foreign examination boards.

DETAILED TIMETABLES

2.12. Detailed timetables with examination centres and the candidate’s index number are sent to candidates by post approximately ten days before the start of the examination session.

2.13. Information about aural/oral and practical components are sent to candidates by post with the detailed timetables.

2.14. Timetables for the May session are sent by the Examinations Department, Floriana.

2.15. Timetables for the September session are sent by the MATSEC Support Unit.

7

2.16. It is essential that the candidate’s details on the timetable are correct as these will appear on the examination certificate. Should the document contain any error/s, such as ones related to the candidate’s name, address or ID card number, the candidate is to inform the MATSEC Support Unit by sending an e-mail to matsec@um.edu.mt. In this e-mail, the candidate is to:

a. State his/her ID card or index number;b. Include the details which are to be changed;c. Attach a scanned copy of his/her ID card or passport;d. Pay the applicable fee of €5.00

Past Examination Papers and Model Answers

2.17. Past examination papers from 2012 onwards can be bought from the MATSEC website. The link is available at the bottom right-hand corner of the Homepage.

2.19. The MATSEC Support Unit does not publish model answers for past examination papers.

8

ApplicationProcess

MAY SESSION

3.01. The application process for the May session is delegated to the Examinations Department in Floriana. This department can be contacted via:

a. Telephone: 2598 2953 (Malta), 2155 8341 (Gozo), 2155 6287 (Gozo)b. E-mail: exams.department@gov.mt

3.02. Applications are open around the end of October. The date is made public on the MATSEC website, Examinations Department website and other media.

3.03. The online application should be completed by following the steps below:

a. Access the Examinations Department website: exams.gov.mtb. Click on Click here to apply at the bottom of the page.c. Enter your e-ID card number and password.d. Select the awarding body (i.e. MATSEC).e. Check your personal details provided by the website and fill in any missing information.f. Select the school you attend and your class.g. Do not untick the Send Results by SMS box if you wish to receive results by SMS.h. Select the subjects and paper (in case of SEC candidates) that you wish to apply for.i. If you are sitting for any subject as a private candidate (and therefore you do not study the

10

subject at school), indicate this by ticking the Private candidate box near the subject.j. Check the information provided before you submit your application. If there are any

mistakes, go back and make the necessary changes.

3.04. Non-electronic applications are to be handed in at the Examinations Department, Floriana, or the Examinations Centre, Victoria, Gozo by the same deadlines.

SEPTEMBER SESSION

3.05. Applications for the September session are managed by the MATSEC Support Unit.

3.06. Applications are open a few days following the publication of the May session results (mid-July). Dates are published on the MATSEC website.

3.07. Online applications can be completed via www.um.edu.mt/matsec/apply

3.08. Non-electronic applications are accepted at the Gateway Building, University of Malta, on the dates indicated in the information sheet enclosed with the results slip, between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm.

11

SEC SEPTEMBER SESSION

3.09. Candidates are to apply online using the details provided on their result slip for the May session.

3.10. The SEC September session is a supplementary (resit) session meaning that:

a. Only the compulsory subjects required for one’s admission to sixth form are offered, that is, Maths, Maltese, English Language and a science subject (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology);

b. Candidates can only sit for this session if they registered for a preceding May session;c. Candidates can only sit for Maths, Maltese and/or English Language exams if they

obtained a Grade 6, 7 or U or were absent for the examination in the May session;d. Candidates can only sit for one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology if they did not

obtain at least a Grade 5 in any one of these subjects in the May session.

MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS: SEPTEMBER SESSION

3.11. The Matriculation Certificate September session is a new session of examinations, separate from the May session.

3.12. Candidates may apply for any one subject at Advanced level, any one Intermediate level subject from each group of the Matriculation Examination, and Systems of Knowledge.

12

LATE APPLICATIONS

3.13. Late applications for the May session are accepted at the Examinations Department, Floriana, and the Examinations Centre, Victoria, Gozo on the published dates. These are usually open at the beginning of January.

3.14. Late applications for the September session are accepted at the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta on the indicated dates. These are usually open at the beginning of August. Late applications forms are available in the Forms and Logs subsection under the Assessment section of the MATSEC website.

3.15. Very late applications for both the May and September sessions are accepted at the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta, after the dates available for late applications.

3.16. Additional registration fees apply for late and very late applications, as indicated in the Examination Fees section of this handbook and on the MATSEC website.

SEC VOCATIONAL SUBJECTS

3.17. Candidates wishing to register for SEC vocational subjects are to do so at the beginning of their course (Year 9/Form 3).

3.18. Applications open around mid-October.

3.19. Applications are to be submitted online via www.um.edu.mt/matsec/applyvoc

13

SCHOOL CANDIDATES

4.01. The coursework component is assessed by the class teacher and the marks are forwarded by the school to the MATSEC Support Unit.

4.02. The coursework must be made available at the school for members of the MATSEC Markers Panel to moderate the work (i.e. to ensure that the work is fairly corrected and that the same standard of marking is used across different educational institutions).

4.03. School candidates are to abide by the deadline set by their respective schools. The coursework of a school candidate will not be accepted if it is submitted directly at the MATSEC Support Unit.

4.04. Candidates may be asked to sit for an interview about their coursework / project. Interview dates are published on the MATSEC website.

PRIVATE CANDIDATES

4.05. Private candidates are to submit their coursework at the MATSEC Support Unit by the dates indicated on the general timetable.

4.06. Each coursework is to be submitted with a duly filled Coursework and Project Authentication Form which can be downloaded from the Forms and Logs subsection in the Assessment section of the MATSEC website.

Coursework

14

4.07. The work is corrected by members of the MATSEC Markers Panel for the particular subject.

4.08. Private candidates shall be called for an interview. Interview dates are published on the MATSEC website.

COLLECTION OF COURSEWORK

4.09. All submitted coursework becomes the property of the MATSEC Examinations Board.

4.10. The MATSEC Examinations Board indicates, through the MATSEC website and its Facebook page, dates when private candidates’ coursework (projects, reports and other work) can be collected by candidates from the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta or the Gozo Examinations Centre, Victoria.

4.11. After the deadline stipulated for the collection of coursework, the MATSEC Support Unit reserves the right to dispose of any uncollected coursework as it deems fit.

4.12. Written scripts and practical work carried out under formal examination conditions are retained by the MATSEC Examinations Board.

15

ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS

5.01. Candidates who have a condition which impedes their access to examinations can apply for access arrangements.

5.02. Information about examination access arrangements (EAAs) can be accessed through the subsection on Access Arrangements in the Regulations section of the MATSEC website.

5.03. The dates by which applications for access arrangements are to be submitted are published on the MATSEC website.

5.04. Deadlines for access arrangements applications are not extended; Only emergency cases, such as those involving an injury that could not have been foreseen prior to the deadline, can be accepted after the deadline.

5.05. Applications for different candidates:

a. Candidates sitting for the May session must submit applications for access arrangements, with valid certification, by the deadlines published by the MATSEC Examinations Board.

b. Candidates who sat for examinations in May and wish to sit/resit for examinations in September need not submit another application. The same Examination Access Arrangements will apply for any exam taken at the same level. Therefore candidates need not present updates unless their condition has changed and they wish to provide fresh documentation as evidence of this.

Access Arrangements & Other Considerations

16

c. AM/IM Candidates sitting for Matriculation Examinations in the September session for the first time must submit an application for access arrangements with valid certification by mid-June.

d. Candidates who sat for examinations in May/September and are sitting for examinations in the May session of the following year/s must submit applications for access arrangements with valid certification by the deadlines published by the MATSEC Examinations Board.

5.06. The required forms can be downloaded from the Access Arrangements subsection in the Regulations section of the MATSEC website.

5.07. Forms are to be supported by a professional/s’ report/s on the candidate’s condition. A list of professionals who are eligible to provide reports and/or certification for particular conditions is available on the University of Malta Guidelines to MATSEC Examinations Access Arrangements 2015, page 11.

5.08. The validity of professional reports varies according to the candidate’s condition. Reports for Dyscalculia and SpLD are valid for two years while those for AD(H)D, Dispraxia/DCD and Speech impairment are valid for three years. More information is available on the University of Malta Guidelines to MATSEC Examinations Access Arrangements 2015, page 22.

5.09. Candidates should inform the MATSEC Examinations Board immediately in case of injury or hospitalisation close to the examination date/s. The MATSEC Examinations Board cannot guarantee that it will accommodate the candidate with the necessary arrangements to sit for the examination/s but will do its best to do so. In cases of

17

hospitalisation, candidates will only be allowed to sit for the examination if they are fit to do so and if an examination environment is secured in the ward. No examinations can be held in candidates’ private residences.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

5.10. If something beyond the candidate’s control affects his/her performance during the examination period, the candidate may ask for special consideration.

5.11. Such cases include but are not limited to:

a. Being diagnosed with a serious illness;b. Death or hospitalisation of a family member;c. Hospitalisation of the candidate.

5.12. Special consideration may be sought by sending a formal written request to the Director of the MATSEC Support Unit on matsec@um.edu.mt

5.13. Evidence is to be provided with the formal request.

18

SITTING FOR EXAMINATIONS ABROAD

5.14. The MATSEC Examinations Board will consider applications from candidates who wish to sit for MATSEC examinations in a foreign country for justifiable reasons such as:a. National sporting events;b. Medical treatment;c. Grave humanitarian cases.

5.15. Candidates are required to make a request in writing to the MATSEC Examinations Board on the Request to sit for MATSEC Examinations abroad form by the late registration period. The form can be downloaded from the Forms and Logbooks subsection of the Assessment section of the MATSEC website.

5.16. A non-refundable €50.00 fee applies for examinations held abroad in addition to the published registration and subject fees.

5.17. The candidate will be informed about any additional expenses requested by the foreign servicing institution/s for holding the examinations abroad. Candidates are to pay these expenses themselves directly to the institution/s.

19

6.01. Candidates who are ill on the day of the examination should notify the MATSEC Support Unit if the examination is an oral/aural examination.

6.02. All notifications are to be accompanied by a medical certificate that needs to reach the MATSEC Support Unit or, in case of Gozitan candidates, the Examinations Centre, Victoria, Gozo, within three days of the start of the candidate’s illness.

6.03. If the missed examination is an oral assessment, and according to the MATSEC timetable, another oral of the same subject at the same level is to be held on another date, the MATSEC Support Unit will try to accommodate the candidate on this date.

6.04. If the examination is a foreign language listening comprehension or a written paper, it

will be missed since these subjects are not offered in the September session. However, if the candidate misses the English Language listening comprehension examination due to certified illness and fails to obtain a Grade 5 or better in the May examination, s/he is entitled to re-sit the listening comprehension examination in September.

6.05. MATSEC examination fees are not refundable. The MATSEC Support Unit may, however, consider issuing a credit note for missing examinations due to grave humanitarian reasons. Such requests should be:

a. Made in writing to the Director of the MATSEC Support Unit(matsec@um.edu.mt);

b. Accompanied by any relevant medical certificate, hospital-related documents, or by a declaration made by a competent authority (if any);

c. Presented within three working days from the date of the first missed examination/s.

Absences

20

ExaminationConduct &Regulations

7.01. Candidates are to bring their timetable and ID card/passport with them for identification purposes.

7.02. Candidates are not to write their name, school or anything else that can identify them other than their index number on the examination papers. Scribbles or other marks will be considered as an attempt by the candidate to reveal his/her identity.

7.03. Candidates are advised to be at the examination centre at least half an hour before the start of the examination.

7.04. Candidates who are more than half an hour late may not be allowed into the examination centre.

7.05. During the examination, candidates are not to communicate – verbally or otherwise – with other individuals apart from their examination invigilators and head of centres.

7.06. Mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches, or any other electronic devices and/or means of communication are either not to be brought into the examination centre or to be switched off or placed in the candidate’s bag. Under no account should such devices be kept on the candidate’s person or on their desk/chair.

7.07. Unless otherwise stated on the examination rubric, candidates are to write in blue or black ink only (with the exception of diagrams and graphs).

22

7.08. Candidates shall use their own pens, pencils, rulers and any other required equipment to each examination. All stationery is to be kept in a transparent container or on the table in such a way that it is visible to invigilation personnel. No borrowing (e.g. of stationery) is allowed during examinations.

7.09. Candidates are required to legibly write all answers and rough work on the stationery provided by the MATSEC Examinations Board. Rough work is to be crossed out without making it illegible.

7.10. Candidates should not use correcting fluid/tape or erasable pens during examinations.

7.11. Any equipment that is not directly linked to the examination or that can be used for copying is strictly prohibited. Candidates may keep a drink in an unlabelled, transparent bottle by their chair/desk.

7.12. Candidates are allowed 5 minutes reading and noting time at the start of written examination papers.

23

7.13. No part of the script can be torn off or highlighted.

7.14. Candidates can leave the examination centre permanently after the first hour and before the last fifteen minutes of examination only if permission has been given by invigilation staff and unless otherwise stated on the examination rubric.

7.15. Candidates should not attempt to remove examination books or parts thereof, including copies, from the examination venue.

7.16. Candidates should not wear coats, scarves, hats, or outdoor wear, except where exemption applies for religious or health reasons. During laboratory practical examinations, candidates are to wear appropriate clothing as required by the subject and communicated by the MATSEC Examinations Board.

7.17. Candidates with long hair should have their hair tied.

24

Results, Result Slips & Certificates

8.01. Results for the May session are sent by post and by SMS (for candidates registering for this service) in mid-July. The MATSEC Examinations Board is not liable for results which are not sent by registered post.

8.02. Results for the September session are sent by post and by SMS (for candidates registering for this service) towards the end of September.

8.03. An official certificate is sent to the candidate’s respective school (if a school candidate) or to the Exams Department (if a private candidate) in February. This is to be collected by the candidate.

8.04. Official copies of certificates can be re-issued from the MATSEC Examinations Board. Candidates are to:

a. Fill in a Request for Copies of Past MATSEC Certificates Form which can be downloaded from the Forms and Logs subsection in the Assessment section of the MATSEC website;

b. Apply at the MATSEC Support Unit, University of Malta;c. Pay the requested fee per level (i.e. the fee is double that stated if the person is

applying for certificates for both SEC and Matriculation examinations);d. Collect the certificates personally or have them posted by registered mail (an extra

fee applies).

8.05. MATSEC Examinations Board examinations are recognised by institutions of higher education and employers as well as by overseas authorities.

26

27

Revisionof Paper

9.01. Candidates who feel that their paper might not have been properly assessed may appeal by applying for a Revision of Paper.

9.02. A Revision of Paper involves a review of a candidate’s examination papers by a marker (Reviser) who is not part of the original Markers’ Panel.

9.03. The Reviser checks for clerical and/or assessment errors and writes a report on the candidate’s performance which is sent to the candidate.

9.04. If additional marks are awarded that lead to an upgrade of the original grade, this is stated in the report.

9.05. The original grade cannot be downgraded following a Revision of Paper.

9.06. The Revision of Paper fee is reimbursed should there be a change in grade.

9.07. Applications for Revision of Paper of the May session are accepted during the registration period for the September session. The dates are communicated to candidates by post with the May result slip.

9.08. The date/s for application for Revision of Paper of the September session are communicated to candidates with the September result slip.

9.09. Revision of Paper reports are sent subject by subject and the MATSEC Support Unit cannot guarantee that these will be received before the start of the September session.

28

Examination Fees & Contacting the Matsec Support Unit

10.01. A list of examinations fees is available on the MATSEC website under Timetables and Applications.

10.02. Practical examination fees are applicable in subjects having a practical component that is organised and coordinated by the MATSEC Support Unit.

10.03. Examinations fees are not refundable. The MATSEC Examinations Board may consider issuing a credit note only for grave humanitarian reasons. Such requests should be made in writing to the Chairperson of the MATSEC Examinations Board by electronic or traditional mail. These requests should be accompanied with the relevant documentation.

10.04. The Registration Fee is to be paid once per application (SEC and/or

Matriculation Certificate).

10.05. The Late Registration Fee is paid for each registration of a new or existing candidate received during the period of late registrations as set by the MATSEC Examinations Board. This fee is in addition to the published registration and subject fees.

10.06. The Very Late Registration Fee is to be paid over and above the Normal and Late Registration fees for each subject registration (up to four subjects) of a new or existing candidate received after the late registration period and till the date set by the MATSEC Examinations Board.

30

WAIVING OF FEES

10.07. The MATSEC Examinations Board may consider waiving examination fees for eligible candidates.

10.08. Candidates must present the Waiving of Examination Fees Form which can be downloaded from the Forms and Logbooks subsection in the Assessment section of the MATSEC website.

10.09. Only registration and subject fees can be waived. Fees for Revision of Papers and Late/Very Late Registration Fees cannot be waived.

10.10. A candidate may have his/her registration and subject fees waived if s/he satisfies one of the criteria below:

a. The candidates’ family receives social assistance and the request is endorsed by the Department of Social Services;

b. The candidate currently resides in a government approved home for social cases – including but not limited to St Patrick’s School, Programm Fejda and Dar Niki Cassar – and his/her request is endorsed by the head or director of the home;

c. The candidate is currently serving a prison sentence;d. The candidate is an unemployed person with refugee status and his/her request

is endorsed by the Emigrants’ Commission;e. The candidate is undergoing serious medical treatment over an extended period

and which is resulting in financial hardship for his/her family;f. Other grave humanitarian reasons.

31

Contacting the Matsec Support Unit

CONTACTING THE MATSEC SUPPORT UNIT

11.01. The MATSEC Support Unit is open to the general public as follows:a. Winter: 8:15 am – 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pmb. Summer: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

11.02. The MATSEC Support Unit can be reached through:a. E-mail: matsec@um.edu.mtb. Telephone: 2340 2814 / 2815 / 2816

11.03. The MATSEC Support Unit uploads important notices in the Notices section of the MATSEC website and on Facebook. The Facebook page, however, serves only to communicate information to the general public – comments and messages sent on Facebook are not replied to.

11.04. The MATSEC Support Unit is located within the University of Malta near the old gate.

11.05. A map of the University of Malta can be accessed through this link: www.um.edu.mt/campusmap. The MATSEC Support Unit is marked as 41 on

the map.

32

MSIDA CAMPUS MAP

CP6

CP7

CP1

CP2

CP3

CP4

CP8

CP5

CP5

CP6

15

3

2

1

4

12

13 1410

7

56

8

11

9/9A

1

23

58

59

60

61

62

63 64

65

66

67

57

56

55

65

4

8

7

9

10

11

12

16

1514

13

20

1719

18

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

33

34

3536

32

37

38

3940

41

464748

49

50

51

52

53

54

42

43

44

45

41

34

MATSEC Support UnitUniversity of MaltaMsida, MSD 2080

matsec@um.edu.mt

um.edu.mt/matsec

WINTER 08:15 - 12:00 13:30 - 16:30

SUMMER 08:00 - 13:30

2340 28142340 28152340 2816