Matric Examinations and assessment over the years in a changing society

Abstract

In looking at examinations in history over many years, it must be realized that it is very difficult to compare and judge papers of the past by the standards of the present. South Africa has undergone many changes over the past 30 years – ideologically and technologically. It might thus be difficult to compare the “then and now” with any accuracy. One should remember what the technology was like in connection with examination preparation some 30 years ago. Papers were typed on to wax stencils and old roneo machines were used to reproduce copies. Cartoons and other source materials (if not re-typed) were often reproduced very poorly. The quality of the older papers is going to be very different from those of the present.