The Maturity Clause

Applicants (both Full Time, as well as Part Time and similar categories),  who satisfy the following conditions will have their application considered under the Maturity Clause ONLY if…..

  • It transpires that they do not have the necessary entry requirement for the programm of study they would like to be considered for;
  • They will be  in possession of a School Leaving Certificate and other certificates achieved at various levels, including any short courses  – depending on the course level one is aspiring to follow;
  • By the end of the same calendar year, they would have attained (at least) the age of:

icon-check 27 years, if they would be showing interest in entry to programmes at MQF Level 7

icon-check 23 years, if they would be showing interest in entry to programmes at MQF Levels 5/6

icon-check  21 years, if they would be showing interest in entry to programmes at MQF Level 4

icon-check  19 years, if they would be showing interest in entry to programmes at MQF Level 3.

  • They demonstrate that they stand to benefit and show that they can follow the chosen programme of study whilst enjoying and making the best out of the learning and educational experience, without unnecessary hurdles and difficulties which would otherwise seriously hamper such a positive experience. This is done through an interview held for the purpose and any other possible actions that gauge the applicant’s standing and sound preparation for the chosen programme of studies. This includes a Proficiency Instrument in English and/or Mathematics (depending on the selected programme of study).  Only those applicants who sit for and achieve a mark commensurate to the MCAST course being chosen, in one or both of these Proficiency Instruments – as ARD will be communicating to them via email, a few days before the Proficiency Instrument is administered – will be shortlisted to proceed with the Maturity Interview.

The Interview is intended to assess their suitability for the selected programme, particularly in terms of sharing one’s own experiential background (in terms of evidenced work experience, and related). Age is not the only criteria for eligibility. The Maturity Clause Selection Board may require candidates to undertake additional studies as part of their acceptance. The Board may recommend an alternative programme where this is considered appropriate. The Board reserves the right to evaluate the applicant’s competences through various modes of assessment – in addition to the Proficiency Instruments which would have been administered in the run up to the Interview.

Information intended to help applicants under Maturity Clause, to prepare themselves for the respective Proficiency Instrument;

English Proficiency Instrument for Maturity Clause applicants

Being an essential channel of communication, it is highly beneficial for the applicant to show that s/he is able to reach the required level of written communication in view of the programme of studies s/he is showing interest in (and passing through the Maturity Clause entry route)

This graded instrument, with increasing complexity of question type per section, is designed to assess various aspects of English proficiency, including writing, reading comprehension, analysis of visual information, and language skills. This structure  ensure its reliability as a linguistic diagnostic tool for entry at Levels 3, 4, and 5/6.

Section 1: Email Writing (20 marks)

In this section, the candidate is provided with a prompt to write a formal work-related email between 100 and 150 words based on a given scenario.  The scoring criteria would look for.

  • Clarity and idiomatic use of language
  • Coherence and organisation
  • Proper use of grammar and punctuation
  • Appropriateness of tone

Section 2:  Reading Comprehension (30 marks)

In this section, the candidate is presented with a text of approximately 500 words with a readability level of B1/B2 (CEFR levels). Following the reading of the text, the candidate needs to answer a set of 10 questions (amongst which Multiple Choice, Direct, Inferential, and Key Information Selection) from the answers of which one will gauge;

  • Demonstrating accuracy of answers
  • Demonstrating understanding of the passage
  • Demonstrating ability to infer meaning
  • Demonstrating ability to select and summarise information

Section 3:  Infographic Analysis (20 marks)

The candidate is presented with an infographic on a relevant topic in this section.  Questions are asked about the main message conveyed by the infographic, key statistics, and how visual elements contribute to the overall understanding of the information. Focus is also placed on the candidate’s ability to correlate information and describe it. The following criteria will be scored in this section:

  • Analysis of visual elements
  • Ability to extract relevant information
  • Ability to interpret, correlate, and describe information based on infographic data

Section 4: Grammar and Vocabulary (30 marks)

  • In this section, the candidate is presented with three tasks.Task 1 – candidate needs to identify and correct grammatical errors.
  • Task 2 – a vocabulary task related to the appropriate use of synonyms.
  • Task 3 – candidate is to complete a number of sentences in a way that reflects the source sentence preceding it

The final score brackets, from this English Proficiency Instrument:

  • 85% – 100% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 5/6 programme.
  • 70% – 84% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 4 programme.
  • 50% – 69% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 3 programme.

The English Proficiency Instrument is being administered on Friday 06th September 2024 starting at 0900h at the MCAST Main Campus, Paola – Room will be indicated in the communication sent to all those who will be asked to sit for this English Proficiency Instrument.  Candidates are to bring with them writing instruments.

Mathematics Proficiency Instrument for Maturity Clause applicants

Proper proficiency  placement of students within MQF Level 3, 4 and 5/6 courses, is pivotal for their academic journey. To ensure this, it is essential to have a graded Mathematics assessment that accurately evaluates the mathematical proficiency of the applicant candidate.

Core Competencies and Content Coverage:

Each MQF level requires specific core competencies and content coverage.

  • Level 3 – Focuses on foundational Arithmetic, Algebra and basic Geometry.
  • Level 4 – Builds upon Level 3 with more advanced Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry.
  • Level 6 – Requires proficiency in Calculus, advanced Algebra and Trigonometry.

The Instrument, is made up of a diverse range of questions, amongst which (but not limited to)  Multiple Choice and Problem Solving,  The difficulty level is structure in a way to be commensurate to the comprehensive coverage of the foundational material necessary for a build up from one level to another.

Level 3 questions will focus on foundational concepts and straightforward applications. Assessment tasks may include (but not necessarily limited to):

  • Numerical calculations involving Fractions, Decimals, Percentages and Units of Measure.
  • Algebraic Manipulations – Factorizing, Expanding and Simplifying algebraic expressions, changing subject of the formula and solving linear equations with one or two unknowns.
  • Straight Line Graphs.
  • Shapes and Angles
  • Perimeter, Area and Volume of regular compound shapes.
  • Pythagoras Theorem and Trigonometry
  • Data Handling

Level 4 questions will require more advanced problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of mathematical principles. Assessment tasks may include (but not necessarily limited to)::

  • Expanding further algebraic expressions including the product of two brackets.
  • Manipulate Quadratic expressions and equations.
  • Applying Laws of Indices.
  • Graphical Representations – Quadratic, Cubic and Exponential.
  • Applying Sine and Cosine Rules
  • Further Data Handling – Mean, Mode and Median of grouped data. Histograms and Cumulative frequency curve.

Level 6 questions will be significantly more challenging, involving abstract reasoning, advanced Algebra (Logarithms), Calculus (Differentiation & Integration) and intricate problem-solving strategies. Assessment tasks may include (but not necessarily limited to):

  • Simplifying expressions and solving equations by applying laws of Logarithms.
  • Differentiation of standard functions. Product Rule, Quotient Rule and Chain Rule.
  • Integration of standard functions. Applications involving definite integration.

The final score brackets, from this English Proficiency Instrument:

  • 80% – 100% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 5/6 programme.
  • 40% – 79% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 4 programme.
  • Less than 40% – candidate may proceed in being considered for an MQF Level 3 programme.

The Mathematics Proficiency Instrument is being administered on Monday 09th September 2024 starting at 0900h at the MCAST Main Campus, Paola – Room will be indicated in the communication sent to all those who will be asked to sit for this English Proficiency Instrument.  Duration is of 100 to 120 minutes.  Candidates are to bring with them writing instruments.

 

(last updated: 07 July 2024)