According to the Basic Education Act (628/1998), pupil assessment aims at guiding and encouraging studying and developing pupils’ self-assessment skills. Pupil's progress, work skills and behaviour are assessed in relation to the objectives of the curriculum.
National guidelines and principles for pupil assessment are given in the core curriculum. In the core curriculum pupil assessment is divided into assessment during the course of studies and final assessment. These two have different roles.
During the course of studies, the task of assessment is to guide and encourage studying and to help pupils in their learning process.Continuous feedback from the teacher is very important. It should support and guide pupils in a positive manner. With the help of assessment and feedback, teachers guide pupils in becoming aware of their thinking and action, and help pupils to understand what they are learning.
Certificates and reports are one way of giving feedback. Pupils are given reports at the end of each school year; in addition, pupils may be given one or more intermediate reports. In the first seven grades of comprehensive school, assessment in reports may be given either verbally or numerically or in a combination of the two. Later assessment must be numerical, but it may be complemented verbally. By using verbal assessment in reports the teacher can also describe the pupil´s progress and learning process in different areas of the subject. Numerical assessment (scale 4-10) describes only the level of performance in relation to the objectives of the curriculum. The assessment given in reports must be based on a diversity of evidence, not only exams.
The national core curriculum also includes the descriptions of good performance (grade “good” or 8) in all common subjects. These are meant for teachers as a tool and support.
The second task of pupil assessment is the final assessment of basic education, on the basis of which pupils will be selected for further studies when they leave comprehensive school. This assessment must be nationally comparable and it must treat pupils equally. The final assessment is based on the objectives of basic education. For the purposes of the final assessment, assessment criteria have been prepared for the grade “good” (8) in all common subjects in the national core curriculum.
The scale of numerical grades used in all reports and certificates is 4–10, where 5 is adequate, 6 moderate, 7 satisfactory, 8 good, 9 very good and 10 shows excellent knowledge and skills. Grade 4 is for failed performances. The assessment is carried out by the relevant subject teacher. Conduct and schoolwork are assessed by the class teacher, or, where a pupil has several teachers, jointly by these teachers.
One task of basic education is to develop the pupil´s capability for self-assessment. The purpose of this is to support the growth of self-knowledge and study skills and to help the pupil to learn to be aware of her or his progress and learning process.