Print version Recommend this page Press release
11/ 2009
Bonn, 26.03.2009
New examination structure for retail trade occupations
The retail trade sector is breaking new ground by testing a new examination structure. The so-called extended final examination will be introduced for the occupation 'management assistant for retail sales' in July 2009. Trainees will then have to take their final examination in two parts at two different times, namely at the end of their second and their third year of training. This is the first occupation in the commercial field where this new type of examination will be used. The extended final examination was implemented in the industrial and technical sector in 2002. This new examination structure supersedes the traditional form that consists of an interim and a final examination. The most important difference here is that Part 1 of the new examination will be counted toward the trainee's final grade. The 'old' interim examination was used to assess a trainee's progress and did not play a role in the grade issued for the final examination. It has been eliminated.
The aim of the Ordinance to Test the Extended Final Examination for the Occupation Management Assistant for Retail Sales is to definitively assess the individual's core skills in the commercial field after just two years' training, rather than at the end of training, and to document his/her level of vocational competence. Under the Ordinance, Part 1 of the extended final examination for the three-year training programme for the occupation 'management assistant for retail sales' will be identical with the written final examination for the two-year training programme for the occupation 'sales assistant for retail sales'. This will streamline the examination structure and additionally ensure that the commonalities in core competences and examination design allow permeability and the transfer of credits which in turn will facilitate mobility between occupations.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) will conduct an evaluation of the ordinance. This evaluation will examine whether and the extent to which this type of examination is suited to adequately measure and assess vocational competence in retail trade occupations. The evaluation will cover three entire years of training in which the structure, content and assessment of Part 1 and Part 2 of the extended final examination and the elective 'Basics of Entrepreneurism' are examined on a scientific basis. The findings from this evaluation will provide ideas and suggestions for whether this type of examination can be used in the training programmes for other commercial occupations. The ordinance will be operative until 31 July 2015. A decision on whether to pass legislation to make the extended final examination permanent law must be made during this period.
Issue 2/2009 of the BIBB journal "Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis - BWP" (Vocational Training in Research and Practice) features an article on the new examination in the retail trade field. This publication goes on sale in early April.
Point of contact at BIBB for further information:
Hannelore Paulini-Schlottau, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 107 2423
