Part IV — Financial Framework
Chapter 17 — Student Incentive Program — Bonus Marks
Chapter 17
Student Incentive Program — Bonus Marks
WEQSC recognises achievement beyond the classroom. A student who
represents their school, district, state, or country in sports,
NCC, Scouts & Guides, or co-curricular activity receives Bonus
Marks added to their Class 10 or Class 12 examination score. The
tier of representation determines the percentage of Bonus Marks
awarded. National representation also carries the Elite Support
Tier under Chapter 18. This chapter sets out the tiers, the
stacking rules, the verification requirements, and the
consequences of fraud.
17.1 General Principle
17.1.1
Bonus Marks are additional marks awarded to a student's final
score in a Class 10 or Class 12 WISE Examination, in
recognition of representation in sport, uniformed
organisations, or co-curricular activity, at a level
specified in this chapter.
17.1.2
Bonus Marks are added to the aggregate score, not to individual
subject scores. The final percentage stated on the credential
reflects the aggregate score after the addition of Bonus Marks.
17.1.3
Bonus Marks are awarded only in Class 10 and Class 12. They are
not awarded in any other class.
17.1.4
Bonus Marks are awarded on the basis of documented
representation. Documentation requirements are set out in
Section 17.6. A claim that cannot be supported by the required
documentation is not admissible.
17.1.5
Bonus Marks are personal to the student. They are not
transferable, assignable, or exchangeable for cash or any other
benefit.
17.2 Bonus Marks Tiers
17.2.1
Bonus Marks are awarded at the following rates, according to the
level at which the student represented:
| Tier |
Type of Representation |
Bonus Marks |
Additional Support |
| School Level |
Sports (any recognised sport, M/F) |
+10% |
— |
| NCC — enrolment and participation |
+10% |
— |
| Scouts & Guides — membership and participation |
+10% |
— |
| District Level |
Sports — district competition |
+10% |
— |
| Co-curricular activity — district competition |
+10% |
— |
| State Level |
Sports or co-curricular activity — state competition |
+20% |
— |
| National Level |
Sports, co-curricular, or academic representation of the country |
+50% |
Elite Support Tier (Chapter 18) |
17.2.2
A "recognised sport" for the purposes of this chapter is a sport
recognised by the competent national sports authority in the
School's jurisdiction, or by any international sports federation
recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
17.2.3
"Co-curricular activity" for the purposes of this chapter
includes, but is not limited to: debate, public speaking,
drama, music, dance, visual arts, science olympiad, mathematics
olympiad, and academic quiz.
17.2.4
"Recognised Uniformed Youth Organisation" carries the meaning given
in the Definitions Register. The Schedule of Recognised Uniformed
Youth Organisations, maintained by WEQSC as Appendix W, lists the
organisations currently recognised for the purposes of this chapter.
A School may apply to WEQSC for the addition of a national
organisation to the Schedule; applications are decided by WEQSC
on the basis of the criteria in the definition.
17.3 Computation of Bonus Marks
17.3.1
Bonus Marks are calculated as a percentage of the student's
aggregate examination score — that is, the score out of the
maximum aggregate mark for all subjects combined, before the
addition of any Bonus Marks.
17.3.2
Worked example. A Class 12 student has an
aggregate examination score of 400 out of a maximum aggregate
of 500. The student represented the state in athletics. The
Bonus Marks rate is 20 per cent. Bonus Marks = 400 × 0.20 =
80. Final score = 400 + 80 = 480 out of 500. Final percentage
= 96 per cent.
17.3.3
The final score after Bonus Marks is capped at the maximum
aggregate mark. A student cannot exceed 100 per cent by
addition of Bonus Marks.
17.3.4
Bonus Marks do not affect the Internal Assessment component or
the WISE Examination component of the score. They are applied
to the aggregate after those components have been combined.
17.3.5
Bonus Marks do not affect the grade awarded in any individual
subject. They affect only the aggregate and the final
percentage.
17.3.6
The credential issued to the student records the aggregate
score before Bonus Marks, the Bonus Marks applied, and the
final score. Each component is separately identified, so that
any reader can see both the raw achievement and the bonus.
17.4 Stacking of Bonus Marks
17.4.1
Bonus Marks from different categories stack additively, subject
to the rules in this section.
17.4.2
The following categories are each eligible to contribute
Bonus Marks independently:
- Sports representation;
- Recognised Uniformed Youth Organisation membership and participation;
- Co-curricular activity representation.
17.4.3
Where a student has multiple representations within a single
category — for example, representation in two sports at state
level — only the highest rate within that category applies.
Multiple representations within the same category do not stack
with each other.
17.4.4
Where a student has representation across multiple categories,
the highest rate from each category is added. For example, a
student who represents the state in athletics (+20%), holds
NCC membership (+10%), and holds Scouts & Guides
membership (+10%) receives a total of +40%.
17.4.5
National Level representation (+50%) does not stack with any
other category. Where a student qualifies for National Level
Bonus Marks, the rate of +50% applies and no further Bonus
Marks are added, irrespective of other representations the
student may hold.
17.4.6
The maximum total Bonus Marks under this chapter, other than
for National Level representation, is +40%.
17.4.7
Bonus Marks under this chapter are independent of Bonus Marks
that may be conferred by the Local Education Authority under
any national scheme. Where a student is entitled to both, the
WEQSC Bonus Marks and the national Bonus Marks are applied
sequentially, subject to the total not exceeding the maximum
aggregate mark.
17.5 Application of Bonus Marks to the Final Score
17.5.1
Bonus Marks are calculated and applied by WEQSC, not by the
School. The School's function is to submit a Bonus Marks claim
under Section 17.6. WEQSC verifies the claim and applies the
Bonus Marks.
17.5.2
A Bonus Marks claim must be submitted by the School through the
Portal not less than ninety days before the examination date.
A claim submitted after that date may not be considered in
time for the examination results, and the Bonus Marks may be
applied only on a subsequent re-issue of the credential, if
the claim is subsequently verified.
17.5.3
A claim that is verified by WEQSC is reflected in the aggregate
score. A claim that is not verified is not reflected, and the
School and student are so notified with reasons.
17.5.4
A student may not submit a Bonus Marks claim directly. All
claims are submitted by the School. Where a student believes
that a claim has not been submitted on their behalf, they may
report the matter to WEQSC under Chapter 35.
17.6 Documentation Requirements
17.6.1
Every Bonus Marks claim must be supported by documentation
proportionate to the tier of the claim. The following documents
are required:
| Tier |
Required Documentation |
| School Level |
Certificate or letter from the School, signed by the
Senior Officer, stating the student's name, the activity,
the period of participation, and the level of
participation. Where the activity is NCC or Scouts &
Guides, the enrolment number and the name of the unit
are also required.
|
| District Level |
Certificate or letter from the district-level organising
body or authority, stating the student's name, the
event, the date, the level of participation (participant,
runner-up, winner), and the authority's official seal
or reference number.
|
| State Level |
Certificate or letter from the state-level organising
body or authority, with the official seal or reference
number, stating the same particulars as for District
Level.
|
| National Level |
Certificate or letter from the national organising body
or authority, or from the competent national sports or
education authority, with the official seal or reference
number. Where the representation is international, the
certificate or letter from the international organising
body or the national authority that nominated the
student.
|
17.6.2
All documents must be provided in PDF format through the
Portal. Where the document is in a language other than
English, a certified English translation must be provided.
17.6.3
The document must be genuine. A document that is forged,
altered, or obtained by misrepresentation is subject to the
fraud provisions in Section 17.9.
17.6.4
WEQSC may require the School to produce the original document
for inspection. Where the School cannot produce the original,
WEQSC may verify the document directly with the issuing
authority.
17.6.5
The School must retain a copy of each document submitted in
support of a Bonus Marks claim for the period specified in
Chapter 21, and must make the copy available for inspection
at audit.
17.7 Verification by WEQSC
17.7.1
WEQSC verifies every Bonus Marks claim at State and National
Level directly with the issuing authority. Claims at School
and District Level are verified by sample and by reference
to the School's records.
17.7.2
Verification ordinarily takes not more than thirty days from
submission. The outcome of verification is communicated to
the School through the Portal.
17.7.3
Where verification is not possible — for example, because
the issuing authority cannot be reached, or because the
document's genuineness cannot be confirmed — WEQSC may
refuse the claim. The refusal is subject to appeal under
Chapter 35.
17.7.4
Where verification reveals a pattern of unsupported claims
from a School — whether negligent or deliberate — WEQSC may
conduct an enhanced review of the School's Bonus Marks claims
for the current and preceding two Academic Sessions.
17.8 Coordination with Other Provisions
17.8.1
Bonus Marks under this chapter are available to every student,
regardless of gender, class, stream, or receipt of any
scholarship or support under Part IV.
17.8.2
A student who receives the Elite Support Tier under Chapter 18
receives National Level Bonus Marks under this chapter. The
two provisions operate together and are not alternatives.
17.8.3
Bonus Marks do not substitute for attendance. A student who
is ineligible to sit the WISE Examination under Chapter 13
may not sit the examination, irrespective of any Bonus Marks
claim.
17.8.4
Bonus Marks do not affect the issue of a credential where
the student has otherwise satisfied the requirements for
the credential. They affect the score stated on the
credential.
17.9 Fraud and Misrepresentation
17.9.1
A Bonus Marks claim that is supported by a forged, altered,
or fraudulently obtained document is a Critical Breach.
17.9.2
Where WEQSC determines that a Bonus Marks claim is fraudulent,
WEQSC will:
- Reject the claim;
- If Bonus Marks have already been applied to the student's score, adjust the score and re-issue the credential, with a note on the credential recording the adjustment and its reason;
- Notify the parent or guardian of the student, where the student is a minor;
- Classify the Breach and apply the audit and sanction regime in Chapters 28 and 29; and
- Where the conduct is deliberate and serious, refer the matter to the appropriate authorities in the jurisdiction for investigation as a criminal matter.
17.9.3
Where the student or the student's parent or guardian has
participated in the fraud, the student may be additionally
subject to the sanction regime in Chapter 35 relating to
Examination Irregularities, including cancellation of the
affected examination result.
17.9.4
A student who did not participate in the fraud, but who
benefited from it unknowingly, is not personally sanctioned.
The Bonus Marks are nonetheless removed, and the credential
is corrected.
17.9.5
A School that submits a fraudulent Bonus Marks claim, whether
directly or through the conduct of any person acting on its
behalf, commits a Critical Breach and may be subject to
Suspension or Termination under Chapter 29.
17.10 Breach — Consequences
17.10.1
A Breach of any provision of this chapter is subject to the
audit regime in Chapter 28 and, where applicable, to the
suspension and termination regime in Chapter 29.
17.10.2
The following are classified as indicated:
| Breach | Classification |
|---|
| Submitting a fraudulent Bonus Marks claim |
Critical |
| Failing to submit a Bonus Marks claim for an eligible student |
Major (Minor if isolated and promptly remedied) |
| Submitting a Bonus Marks claim supported by a document of unverifiable origin |
Major |
| Failing to retain documentation in support of a Bonus Marks claim |
Minor (Major if repeated) |
| Influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of a Bonus Marks verification |
Critical |
| Submitting a Bonus Marks claim after the deadline without reasonable excuse |
Minor |
17.10.3
Nothing in this chapter displaces the School's or the student's
right of appeal under Chapter 35.
Further Resources
- Bonus Marks programme overview —
wise.weqsc.org/bonus-marks
- Claim submission portal —
wise.weqsc.org/portal/bonus-marks
- Documentation templates —
wise.weqsc.org/forms/bonus-marks
- Recognised sports and activities list —
wise.weqsc.org/bonus-marks/recognised
- Verification status —
wise.weqsc.org/portal/bonus-marks/status