Assessment / Examination

All students enter the programme as a result of national examinations at the end of the upper secondary school which they take at age 18. They are examined on subjects relevant to the focus they have chosen through the last year of schooling. The success of candidates and their admission to a higher education department results from a combination of: a) written examination; b) the order of precedence in indicating their preferred departments; and c) the number of places available in each department. For admission into music departments, special admission exams are necessary in one or more special courses related to music theory.

During the course the assessment consists of a combination of written assignments and written or oral exams, depending on the nature of the course. The teaching staff sets the criteria and is involved in the assessment of teaching ability, according to their own requirements for students’ learning. The students are usually assessed at the end of each semester and sometimes midway through in order to help them to gradually build their skills, knowledge and understanding of music. The students usually have no choice in the way they are assessed, although in some cases the final examination is only the proof for the work done during the semester in negotiation with the lecturer. The actual teaching in schools is usually assessed through a portfolio which demonstrates the preparation and the way in which their actual teaching was developed and carried through. Reflection is used as a way of self-assessing the teaching process.

A trainee becomes a fully qualified music teacher on successful completion of exams in each of the subjects included on the 4-year educational degree or the 5-year music degree. Some additional compulsory training for first time music teachers is also offered at the beginning of the year. There is also optional in-service training for those who wish to enrich or strengthen their music educational skills. Although this training is dependent on individual's personal choice, it can play an important role in a teacher's professional development and future promotion.