Country or Region | Cameroon |
Year | 2014 |
Producer(s) | Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires - Government |
Metadata | Download the documentation |
Created on
Sep 10, 2015
Last modified
Sep 10, 2015
Overview
Identification
Summary
The Brevet d'Études du Premier Cycle (BEPC) is administered annually by the Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires, Direction des Examens, des Concours et de la Certification to grade 10 (ISCED 2) students in general education programmes in public and private schools.Since 2013, students can register for the BEPC or the Bilingual BEPC. The Bilingual BEPC has a more difficult English language test, and does not include a foreign language test.
The BEPC/Bilingual BEPC is a high-stake and mandatory examination that certifies completion of lower secondary general education programmes. It is a requirement for students wishing to pursue an upper secondary education (ISCED 3), in either general or vocational education programmes.
Passing the BEPC/Bilingual BEPC allows reintegration of out-of-school children and youth into the school system at the next appropriate grade.
The BEPC/Bilingual BEPC is a written examination, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.
The BEPC/Bilingual BEPC serves the following purposes:
- student certification for completion of lower secondary general education programmes
- school or educator accountability
- promoting competition among schools, especially private schools
- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes
- monitoring education quality levels
The BEPC/Bilingual BEPC accommodates students with special needs, by providing the following arrangements:
- Hearing impairment: providing written instructions and tests questions
- Visual impairment: braille
Recensement (tous les élèves du niveau scolaire ou de l'âge considéré)
Results are reported at student, school, sub-national and national levels. Examination results are broadcasted on the radio and published in the media.
Scope
The BEPC comprises 10 mandatory subjects administered in French, except for the English language and foreign language tests. The subjects and the duration of each test are listed below:- French language, 225 minutes, 17% of the total score
- English language, 120 minutes, 17% of the total score
- Mathematics, 120 minutes, 17% of the total score
- Foreign language (German/ Spanish/ Arabic/ Reinforced English/ Latin/ Greek/Italian), 120 minutes, 9% of the total score
- Physics-Chemistry-Technology, 120 minutes, 9% of the total score
- Life and Earth Sciences, 120 minutes, 9% of the total score
- History or Geography, 120 minutes, 9% of the total score
- Computer Science, 60 minutes, 9% of the total score
- Physical Education, 9% of the total score
- Civic and Moral Education, 60 minutes, 4% of the total score
The Bilingual BEPC has a more difficult English language test, and does not include a foreign language test. The Bilingual BEPC uses the same tests as the BEPC for all other subjects. Moreover, in the Bilingual BEPC, performance on the English test still accounts for 17% of the total score, but test duration is longer (225 minutes).
Description of test items: Test items consist of multiple choice questions with three or more response options, open-ended questions requiring short constructed responses and essay writing.
Description of stimuli: Test stimuli consist of continuous, non-continuous, mixed and multiple texts.
Reporting metrics: Student performance is reported by average score. The minimum requirement to meet the national standard is a score of 10 out of 20, or 50%.
Coverage
NationalStudents enrolled in grade 10 (ISCED 2) in general education programmes in public and private schools.
Producers and Sponsors
Name | Affiliation |
---|---|
Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires | Government |
Name | Affiliation | Role |
---|---|---|
Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires | Government | Test development and administration; data processing and dissemination; programme development; financial support through ministerial budget |
Households | N/A | Financial contribution through examination fees paid by candidates |
Metadata Production
Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
---|---|---|---|
Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires | MINESEC | Governement | Data collection |
UNESCO Institute for Statistics | UIS | United Nations | Questionnaire design, metadata collection, review and publication |