Kazakhstan Reevaluates Pearson's SOCh and SOR School Assessments After Years of Debate
A working group of education experts in Kazakhstan is reviewing how schoolchildren's knowledge is assessed. The team will examine the current format of Pearson Summative Assessment for a Term (SOCh) and Pearson Summative Assessment for a Unit (SOR), which have been part of the country's education system since 2016. These exams were introduced as part of broader reforms but have faced both criticism and support over the years.
The assessments, known as SOCh and SOR, were launched in 2016 under the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools initiative. At first, many criticised them for increasing student stress and focusing too much on rote learning. By 2026, opinions had shifted, with some praising their role in standardised evaluation while others still raised concerns about teacher workload and fairness, particularly in rural areas.
Between 2023 and 2025, the government worked to refine the exams, aiming to blend them better with formative assessments. Despite ongoing debates, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that neither SOCh nor SOR will be scrapped this academic year. A return to purely oral exams has also been ruled out.
Teachers currently use a mix of methods to evaluate students, including written assignments, projects, and oral responses. Parents, meanwhile, retain the right to request and review their children's written work. The ministry continues to monitor assessment procedures, seeking ways to improve them.
The review of SOCh and SOR will shape future assessment policies in Kazakhstan. While the exams remain in place for now, the working group's findings could lead to further adjustments. The goal remains balancing standardised evaluation with student well-being and teacher efficiency.
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