Remove final written exams for students of grade one and two, no test scores, elite classes: China’s education ministry
教育部：小学一二年级不进行纸笔考试
In what will be the first semester after China issued a guideline to ease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students, the Chinese Ministry of Education on Monday specified a number of requirements, including the removal of final written exams in some primary school grades and the canceling of elite classes in middle schools, with the aim of further lifting pressures off students as well as parents during compulsory education years.
为切实降低学生考试压力，教育部印发了《关于加强义务教育学校考试管理的通知》，提出了准确把握考试功能、大幅压减考试次数、合理运用考试结果、完善学习过程评价等要求。义务教育阶段的考试主要发挥诊断学情教情、改进加强教学、评价教学质量等方面功能，除初中学业水平考试外，其他考试不具有甄别选拔功能。
《通知》明确小学一二年级不进行纸笔考试，其他年级由学校每学期组织一次期末考试；初中年级从不同学科实际出发，可适当安排一次期中考试。要合理控制考试难度，严禁超课标超教学进度命题。要合理运用考试结果，学校期中期末考试实行等级评价。要统筹处理好考试、作业、日常评价、质量监测等方面的关系，注重学生的综合素质、学习习惯与学习表现、学习能力与创新精神等方面的综合评价。
