The Scholarship Examination (also known as the Grade 5 exam) is a highly competitive Sri Lankan examination conducted by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education. It is optional for students to undertake it during the final year of primary school (Grade 5 (usually ages 9-10)). Based on the results of the exam, students could transfer to prominent national schools. The exams are held in three mediums: Sinhala, Tamil and English.
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The examinations were introduced by the late Hon. Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara, who took the initiative in establishing free education when he was the Minister of Education. Under this initiative the government established Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (MMV - Central Colleges) that were scattered around the island. The Scholarship Examination was a means for gifted students from villages to move to better schools with government scholarships.
Annually based on demand for individual schools, cut-off marks are set by the Ministry of Education. Schools ranking based on cut off marks for 2009;[1]
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In recent years the exam has become extremely competitive, therefore many claim that it puts unnecessary pressure on students at an early age.