Abstract:

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the exams of 5th and 6th grade of Primary School, related to the contents of the social sciences and, specifically, those of history and geography, together with the mental operations which are necessary to respond to the exam questions. We will also show the methodologic procedures of analysis, collection and codification of the project “The Area of Enviroment Knowledge and the assessment process in 5th and 6th grade of Primary School: competences, criteria and procedures”, financed by CARM (Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia, Spain) and the Center of Formation and Professional Development of the University of Murcia. Fifteen university professors and Primary Education teachers of diverse schools of the Region of Murcia take an active part in this project. The results of this investigation has been obtained using 100 exams and 1000 test questions about social sciences of 5th and 6th grade of Primary School. The study of these instruments of assessment has allowed us to establish different categories between the capacities, contents and format of the exams. But in the education-learning process, the assessment can not be an isolated mechanism. It is necessary that the assessment respond to the didactic objectives planned by the teacher and must comply with the suggested methodology. The analysis of the data will show the deficiencies or virtues (advantages or disadvantages) of the assessment in social sciences in 5th and 6th grade of Primary School and the high-priority elements that need to be improve.

Keywords:

Assessment, Primary School, Social Sciences.