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1. About the examination
The English 10 provincial examination is administered at the end of the following grade 10 courses:
- English 10
- English 10 Plus
- English 10 Pre-IB
- English 10 O2
- Language and Literature 10
Students who have an Individual Program Plan (IPP) and work toward a different set of outcomes do not participate in the examination.
Provincial examinations are based on the curriculum for the above Grade 10 courses. Nova Scotia teachers work with provincial staff to create the exams and to set clear expectations for what students should know and be able to do by the end of the course.
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2. What to expect
Students write provincial examinations at the end of their course. Their teachers score the exams using a provincial Marking Guide, and the exam counts for 20% of the final course mark. These exams help teachers understand student learning.
Exams are completed on paper. Students who have documented adaptations may use technology for the writing section.
The examination will be written in one two-hour session during the summative assessment period. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development sets all provincial exam dates. See the Calendar of provincial assessments and examinations for current dates.
Read-Aloud Options
The NSA-RA platform will not be available for these exams.
Students with a documented read-aloud adaptation in TIENET, who use it regularly, may use:
- Assistive Technology: Audio files on USB drives (each school will receive one USB drive per day of the examination). No registration is required. Schools will coordinate access and supervision.
- Human Reader: A school or regional educator may read aloud. No registration is required.
Security of Materials
- Completed exams will stay at the school. Do not return them to the Department.
- Schools must store all exam materials securely for at least one year (or longer if required by regional policy) before disposing of them safely.
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3. Sample questions
Sample questions give students the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions that are on the examination.
Students may complete the sample questions in class, with their teachers. Families are also welcome to access the practice questions any time.
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4. For families
Will my child have access to the adaptations they use in class?
Most adaptations can be used during the examination. For more information, talk to your child's teacher.
If my child has an Individual Program Plan (IPP) in the course, will they participate in the examination?
Students with an Individual Program Plan in the course will not participate in the examination as they are following different course outcomes.
If my child is learning English as an Additional Language, will they participate in the examination?
Students who are learning English will usually take the examination. They can use a translator or a bilingual dictionary, and can have extra time to finish. A student may be exempted from the examination if the examination is not suitable for their current English or French level.
Students participating in the Nova Scotia International School Program are expected to write the examination.
How will I know how my child performed?
Your student's teacher will score the examination. Results will be logged in the PowerTeacher Gradebook and available for parents to review.
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5. For educators
Preparing for the examination
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| Key Dates and Resources |
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| Information Guide |
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| Alternate Formats |
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| Sample Questions Sample Questions Audio (GNSPES teacher login required) Sample Questions Annotated Marking Guide (GNSPES teacher login required)
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Interpreting results
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| Performance Levels |
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| Rubrics |
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| Curriculum Connections Lessons Learned: A literacy teaching resource based on data from previous English 10 examinations |