”Bara till viss del anpassad” En undersökning av bedömningsanvisningarna till de nationella skrivproven i gymnasieskolans svenskämne

Abstract

The national exams in Swedish are carried out every year. The tests are accompanied by assessment materials which aim to support and guide the teachers on how to assess the student texts. The aim of both the test and the assessment materials is to work for a fair assessment for all pupils.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the comments used in the assessment materials when assessing authentic student texts in relation to the national exam in writing. The main method used for the analysis is appraisal, which focuses on how valuations are presented through language. The method has been complemented by an analysis of whether the statement focuses on the flaws or quality of the text.

The results show that the comments for E-graded texts focus more on the flaws and shortcomings of the text than those for the C- and A-graded texts. This is true both for the general comments about the text and where the assessor refers to the author of the text by use of the noun ‘the pupil’. The results also show, however, that a comparable assessment, in different comments, can be described without focusing on the flaws, thus proving that also an E-graded text can be described by focusing on the quality of the text. It is also made visible that the comments for E-graded texts mainly focus on the clearness of the disposition and relevance of the content, whereas the higher grades, C and A, are commented upon with a focus on the impact of the text and how developed the reasoning is.

Considering the influence that the national exams and their relating assessment materials have on the notion of assessment in the subject of Swedish, it is vital that the assessment materials fit their objective: to foster a fair assessment for all pupils. If not, the assessment materials might only be able to be considered partly adapted to its purpose.