Gabriel N. Aquino, a Grade 1 student of Southville International School and Colleges (SISC), is a topnotcher in the Standards-Based Assessment (SBA) Math exam held last Academic Year 2011-2012. According to the Asian Psychological Services and Assessment (APSA) Inc., Aquino got the highest mean scaled ability score among 6,110 Grade 1 examinees.

With an approach far different from traditional assessment, the SBA evaluates students’ performance based on the required standards for a specific grade level rather than comparing it with other students. The SBA test measures student competencies in the core subject areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science.