PASS is a standards-based assessment tool developed by GRACE which is designed to measure the proficiency level of students in the competencies and standards set by the Department of Education (DepEd).

PASS is a summative and criterion-referenced test that assesses student performance against a set of predetermined learning standards based on the DepEd K-12 curriculum guides. It is administered via paper-and-pencil format with structured (multiple-choice) and unstructured questions (i.e. constructed response type and essay questions).

PASS aims to evaluate student growth and evaluates the extent to which they have learned a specific set of knowledge and skills, with concise written descriptions of what students are expected to know and able to do at a specific grade level. It also identifies specific strengths and weaknesses of students in line with their performance in the various content areas of the assessment.

The PASS Professional Development (PD) trainings are conducted to strategically address needs and concerns of the client schools by providing relevant and evidence-based workshops geared towards knowledge, sharing, and capacity-building. It also aims to enhance the capabilities of teachers in providing effective teaching and strategic classroom instruction.

PASS is offered to Grades 1-10 students and it covers the five (5) major subject areas of the K-12 curriculum namely: English, Math, Science, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan. It is the prerogative of the client school to choose which subject/s and grade level/s they would like their students to be tested on.

To ensure the quality of its assessment tools, GRACE follows standard and stringent processes of test development. Anchored on a conceptual framework using the Cognitive Process Dimensions of Anderson and Krathwohl, a team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from various fields and disciplines were commissioned to develop PASS items based on the Table of Specifications (TOS) formulated by GRACE. The initial items were then subjected to an external item review by another panel of SMEs provided by Phoenix Publishing House. After a rigorous process of content validation, the items were pilot tested with selected private schools across the country. Data collated from the pilot test was used to conduct item analysis and establish PASS psychometric properties in order to develop the final set of items.

PASS tests were tested in for internal consistency reliability and for construct validity. Cronbach alpha values on the various scales of the PASS tests range from 0.5 to 0.8. The results of correlational studies conducted by GRACE indicates that PASS tests are scientifically useful indicators of proficiency of achievement tasks appropriate for their grade levels, with clear evidence shown for the construct validity. In addition, convergent validity in studies correlating PASS scores with teacher-assessment scores was also established and contrast group studies on the PASS tests show significant differences in the performance of low and high groups at alpha = .05

Despite the release of a more recent grading system per DO 8, s. 2015, GRACE still uses the proficiency levels in DO 73, s. 2012. The grading system stated in the previous order is more consistent with standards-based assessment and its description levels can accurately demonstrate understanding and mastery of knowledge and skills that students are expected to learn. The proficiency level scales of PASS are as follows, along with the DepEd grading scale equivalent.

Once the client school decides to avail of the assessment service, GRACE immediately coordinates with the school administrator/principal through an agent from Phoenix Publishing House (PPH) to formally sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) effective for one (1) year. GRACE will then contact a representative from the client school for details on the test administration.

In practice, the client school has two (2) options for test administration. The school may opt to request their teachers to serve as proctors. In such case, GRACE will set a 1-hour briefing for teachers scheduled two (2) days before the testing date to orient the teachers regarding the PASS test administration policies and procedures. A proctor’s fee will be provided for the assigned teachers and the distribution of payment will be coordinated with the school administrator/principal. Teachers from other grade levels teaching subjects other than the subjects matter covered in the PASS test will serve as proctors.

The school may also request for GRACE to provide the test proctoring services. In this case, GRACE will provide trained examiners and proctors to administer the test to the students of the school.

The PASS test uses Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets for scanning and computation of raw scores based on shaded responses. Blank responses in are therefore omitted and automatically scored as “zero”. The scanner then produces a soft copy of datasets to be scored and processed into reports by licensed Psychometricians (RPms) through the use of the PASSRGS program. A Quality Assurance (QA) team then reviews the generated reports to be printed out and delivered to the schools.