Kontrolltööd

Kontrolltöö is a form of summative assessment in Estonian education, typically a written task issued by a teacher to evaluate a student's knowledge and skills at a given point in a course. It is distinct from final examinations (eksam) but serves a similar purpose in measuring learning outcomes. Kontrolltööd are used across primary, secondary, vocational, and higher education to verify progress between or within terms.

Structure and formats: Usually individual, time-limited, supervised tasks, but some courses allow take-home or open-book variants. Tasks may include short-answer questions, problem solving, calculations, essays, or practical demonstrations. They are often scheduled periodically during a term and announced with guidelines and a rubric. Some programs include several short kontrolltööd rather than a single large assessment.

Assessment: Marked by teachers or instructors using criteria such as accuracy, completeness, logical reasoning, methodological soundness, and appropriateness of sources. In higher education, rubrics or marking schemes are common, sometimes providing percentile grades or points (0–100). Submissions may be electronic, with potential penalties for late submission; retake or re-evaluation options can exist.

Significance and considerations: Kontrolltööd contribute to overall course grades and reflect students' ability to apply theory to practice. They support ongoing learning and feedback but may raise concerns about fairness, accessibility, and standardisation. In modern education, digital platforms enable standardized submission, plagiarism checks, and centralized record-keeping.