What is the raison d'être of an examination board? Many educational institutions choose to set up an examination board. But what exactly does an examination board do? And what should you consider when putting together an examination board in terms of expertise, tasks and responsibilities? Independent An examination board often performs tasks that could easily be done by lecturers. However, this group of people has no interest whatsoever in the implementation of education, the student population and/or other stakeholders. By setting up an examination board, you therefore guarantee the independence of decisions regarding examinations. Expert The expertise of the examination board can be broadly divided into technical assessment expertise and subject-specific expertise. Technical expertise Within the examination board, it is important to guarantee the quality of the examinations. Subject matter expertise is important in order to assess whether examination instruments contain the correct content and whether exemptions apply. With a view to gaining support within the professional field and external validation of the examinations, representatives of interested parties often sit on an examination board. These may include subject matter experts from trade associations or large companies. The duties of the examination board Examination boards come in many different shapes and sizes. However, they all have a number of crucial tasks in common. These tasks relate to ensuring the quality of examinations and certification. Specifically, these include: Determining whether a student meets the conditions for graduation with regard to required knowledge, understanding and skills. The following matters are inextricably linked to this: The establishment of developed examination instruments. Making decisions in emergencies (e.g. power outages, unforeseen noise pollution, etc.). Adjusting examination conditions where necessary. Actions to be taken upon or after detection of exam cheating. The granting of exemptions. The treatment of objections. The examination board sometimes also deals with complaints about the examination. However, complaints do not have the same formal status as objections. Ensuring the quality of the assessment. In practical terms, this means, among other things: Performing (or having performed) key analyses. Conducting random checks on assessments and examinations. Submitting annual reports and any annual plans to guarantee the quality of the assessment. This includes information about pass rates, the number of participants, the number of questions that do/do not meet the standards, the number of complaints/objections handled, any irregularities that have occurred, actions taken to improve quality, etc. Checking whether the examination officials meet the required expertise requirements. Advising on examination policy and making recommendations to management regarding examinations. Although advising is often not a formal task of the examination board, its expertise makes it highly suited to this task. The role of chairperson The chair of the examination board ensures that decisions are taken in a responsible manner and that these decisions are followed up. A chair structures and monitors the progress of meetings in order to guarantee effective decision-making. In some situations, the chair also plays a pivotal role in communication with ‘the outside world’. This includes relevant teaching teams, student groups and/or interested employers. Conclusion An examination board is not only a collection of independent experts in the field of testing and subject matter, but above all a useful and crucial player in high-quality and reliable testing.
