Why Continuous Assessment Matters More Than You Think

Many Ghanaian students and parents focus entirely on the final exam while overlooking continuous assessment. That is a mistake. CA scores contribute significantly to your final grade, and understanding how they work can make a real difference in your results.

What is Continuous Assessment?

Continuous assessment refers to the ongoing evaluation of a student's performance throughout the academic year. This includes class tests, assignments, projects, practicals, and end-of-term examinations. In Ghana, CA scores are combined with final exam scores to produce a student's overall grade for BECE and WASSCE.

How CA Affects Your Final Grade

For BECE, school-based assessment (SBA) contributes a percentage to the final grade alongside the WAEC examination score. This means that two students who score identically on the BECE exam paper could receive different final grades based on their CA performance throughout JHS.

The same principle applies to WASSCE. Students in schools across Ghana, from private institutions in Cantonments and Airport Residential to public schools in Adenta and Haatso, are all assessed through the same CA framework. Your daily effort in class directly impacts your final results.

Why Students Should Take CA Seriously

Think of CA as a head start. Strong CA scores give you a buffer going into the final exam. If you have performed consistently well throughout the year, you have less pressure on exam day because part of your grade is already secured.

Conversely, poor CA scores mean you need an exceptional exam performance just to reach a passing grade. That is unnecessary pressure that could have been avoided with consistent effort throughout the term.

What Parents Can Do

Ask your child's school about their CA scores regularly. Do not wait until the end of term. If you see a downward trend in class tests or assignments, that is an early warning sign that your child may be struggling with certain topics.

Platforms like Olearna provide weekly readiness reports that complement your child's CA by showing you exactly which topics need attention. This combination of school-based assessment and external performance tracking gives you the most complete picture of where your child stands.

For a deeper understanding of how to support your child, see our Parent Guide to BECE Success.