The average score of the Saber 11 tests increased in 2022

The results of the tests Know 11 They allow us to see how secondary education is in the country. To that extent, an analysis published by the Business Observatory for Education (ExE), in which the results of the tests between 2018 and 2022 were reviewed, it shows that in 2022 the average score had an increase of 3.8 points compared to 2021.

(See: The five best universities in Colombia, according to Saber Pro tests).

Thus, in 2021 the average score was 247.6 points out of 500, while in 2022 it was 251.4, an increase of 2%.

When analyzing the history, it can be seen that between 2020 and 2021, when many institutions had virtual education and in rural areas access was made difficult due to lack of internet, there was a drop of 2 points. The average went from 249.6 in 2020 to 247.6 in 2021.

On the other hand, from the Observatory they found that “the gap between socioeconomic levels widened”. They found that the highest percentage growth of the average global score between 2021 and 2022 was in students of the highest socioeconomic level, with an increase of 7.8 points, while in the lowest socioeconomic level the growth was only 4.5 points. .

Continuing with this perspective, the difference in the average global score between the urban and rural areas remained constant at 25 points between 2021 and 2022. But, when reviewing the history, it is observed that this gap has grown, because between 2018 and 2019 it was 22 points.

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Another striking analysis in the study is that the Saber 11 performance gap between women and men decreased by 1 point compared to 2021. Going from 8 points to 7, that is, 12%. This decrease occurred because women had a better average global score.

Regarding the areas evaluated, it was found that in critical reading there was a growth in the percentage of students in the highest and lowest performance levels. Thus, going from 12.7% in 2021 to 13.5% in 2022 at the highest level. At the lowest level, the average went from 5.1% in 2021 to 5.4% in 2022.

In math, they also found “a growth in the percentage of students in the two highest performance levels and the percentage tested at the lowest performance”, as described in the report. At the highest level of performance, it went from 4.5% in 2021 to 5.1% in the last year. At the lowest level, it went from 11.4% to 11.8%.

For the sciences, which in the study group the social and the natural, a “increases in the average scores of the two areas and reduction of students in performance levels 1 and 2, accompanied by growth of students in levels 3 and 4”.

(See: 78% of jobs require English despite low level in the country).

In English, for example, they found that at the highest level (B+) of performance it went from 7.8% in 2021 to 8.8% in 2022. While in the lowest performance score (A-) went from 48.8% in 2021 to 46.4% in 2022.

For the researchers, the differences in the results are due to “the heterogeneity in the conditions of the educational establishments”, this to the extent that “in 2021 more than 90% of the educational centers in the urban area had access to electricity, computer equipment and the Internet, while for the rural area the 80% had access to electricity, 72% to computer equipment, but only 20% had access to the Internet. This difference in access to connectivity and possession of ICT assets can be associated with the existing difference in their results.”.

Although it is true that the results in the Saber 11 tests are a standard measurement and do not review other abilities of the students, from the analysis of the scores it is possible to see thedeficiencies in the quality of education.

To face this problem and improve the figures, from the ExE Observatory they mention that they must “Strengthen flexible education models and the adaptation of low-cost, fast-implementation learning spaces”.

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In addition, it is necessary strengthen the capacities of teachers, to improve classes.

College students close to graduating must take the Saber Pro tests and these results are used by universities to measure themselves. In this sense, and based on the results of the tests of the second semester of 2022, the Directorate of Evaluation, Permanence and Student Success (Depe) of the Rosario University developed the ranking of the five best universities in the country.

Thus, in the number one position was the University of the Andes (Bogota), which had 186 points. In second place was College of Higher Administration Studies, Cesa, (Bogotá), which obtained 185 points. Third place was taken by Savannah College (Bogota), with 181 points. The fourth institution was EIA University (Envigado), which scored 179 points and, finally, the Rosario University (Bogotá), with 174 points.

Additionally, they found that some universities such as the northern University (Barranquilla), the headquarters of the Javeriana university of Cali and the cease they had higher scores.

CLAUDIA M. QUINTERO RUEDA
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