Provincial Examinations

Multiple Forms

What are “multiple forms”?

“Multiple forms” refers to different versions of an exam in a specific subject. There have been different versions of Grade 12 provincial examinations since the introduction of a January exam session in 1984. By the late 1980s there were as many as five exam sessions - and five versions of the exams - in some subjects during a year. Multiple forms are also sometimes used within exam sessions.

Multiple forms for a subject are used within an exam session (e.g., June) in order to add a significant number of items to an item/test bank. This allows for the re-combining of items into examinations that can be offered at additional times in the year. Multiple forms are also used to offer more flexibility in exam sessions.

One goal of the provincial exam program is to make exams available to students
more often during the year, in line with flexible calendars and students' own needs. With the use of electronic delivery and an item/test bank it is possible to offer more sessions in high-enrolment subjects.

The exams offered across sessions or within sessions are developed using a common test “blueprint” or specifications. With statistical techniques, exams are equated to one another, both within and across sessions, through the linking of common items. This has the effect of minimizing any differences in examination difficulty that may exist.