SU quality-assures IEB ISC international school-leaving qualification

The Unit for International Credentialing at Stellenbosch University (SU-UIC) is the external quality assurer of the first Africa-oriented international school-leaving certificate, the International Secondary Certificate (ISC). The qualification was developed by the international arm of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB-International).

In October and November 2022, a first cohort of Grade 12 learners wrote the IEB ISC examinations. The cohort had followed the IEB's National Senior Certificate curriculum in Grades 10 and 11 before transitioning to the IEB ISC in Grade 12. Altogether 489 candidates completed the examinations at 16 centres in Eswatini, Mozambique and Namibia.

To ensure that the examinations were fair, reliable and valid, SU-UIC moderated and approved 52 question papers and related assessment documents for 32 subjects. They also verified IEB-International's internal quality assurance processes and standardised and approved the release of the ISC results.

The IEB ISC is regarded as an affordable, high-quality international school-leaving certificate. Candidates who pass the ISC with merit or at an advanced level meet the minimum requirements for admission to most university degree programmes.

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