Student Incentive Program — Bonus Marks

General Principle

WEQSC recognises achievement beyond the classroom. A candidate who represents their school, district, state, or country in sports, NCC, Scouts & Guides, or co-curricular activity receives Bonus Marks added to their examination score.

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.

Bonus Marks are awarded only in the examination years. They are not awarded in any other class.

Bonus Marks Tiers

Bonus Marks are awarded at the following rates, according to the level at which the candidate represented:

Recognised Activities

Recognised Sport — 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.

Co-curricular Activity — Includes, but is not limited to: debate, public speaking, drama, music, dance, visual arts, science olympiad, mathematics olympiad, and academic quiz.

Recognised Uniformed Youth Organisation — Includes the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Scouts & Guides, and their national equivalents recognised by WEQSC.

Computation of Bonus Marks

Bonus Marks are calculated as a percentage of the candidate'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.

The final score after Bonus Marks is capped at the maximum aggregate mark. A candidate cannot exceed 100 per cent by addition of Bonus Marks.

Stacking of Bonus Marks

Bonus Marks from different categories stack additively, subject to the rules set out in the Secretariat's official bylaws.

The following categories are each eligible to contribute Bonus Marks independently:

• Sports representation;
• Recognised Uniformed Youth Organisation membership and participation;
• Co-curricular activity representation.

Where a candidate has multiple representations within a single category, only the highest rate within that category applies. Multiple representations within the same category do not stack with each other.

Where a candidate has representation across multiple categories, the highest rate from each category is added.

National Level representation (+50%) does not stack with any other category. Where a candidate qualifies for National Level Bonus Marks, the rate of +50% applies and no further Bonus Marks are added.

Documentation Requirements

Every Bonus Marks claim must be supported by documentation proportionate to the tier of the claim. The specific documentation required for each tier is set out in the Secretariat's official bylaws.

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.

Verification

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.

Verification ordinarily takes not more than thirty days from submission. The outcome of verification is communicated to the school through the Portal.

Fraud and Misrepresentation

A Bonus Marks claim that is supported by a forged, altered, or fraudulently obtained document is a Critical Breach.

Where WEQSC determines that a Bonus Marks claim is fraudulent, WEQSC will:

• Reject the claim;
• Notify the parent or guardian of the candidate, where the candidate is a minor;
• Classify the breach and apply the audit and sanction regime;
• Where the conduct is deliberate and serious, refer the matter to the appropriate authorities in the jurisdiction for investigation as a criminal matter.

Breach — Consequences

The following are classified as indicated:

Conclusion

The Student Incentive Program is an expression of the commitment of WEQSC to the recognition of the whole development of a candidate. All Bonus Marks procedures not expressly set out in this portal must follow the Secretariat's official bylaws.