If you’re a Filipino parent, teacher, or Grade 11 student gearing up for School Year 2025–2026, you’ve probably heard about the Strengthened Senior High School (SHS) Curriculum. Recently, the Department of Education (DepEd) released Memorandum No. 074, s. 2025, introducing interim guidelines for assessment and grading during this pilot run.
But what does that really mean for you?
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Will grading be tougher?
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How will Work Immersion be evaluated?
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What happens if a student struggles in certain subjects?
This guide breaks down the essentials in plain language so you can confidently navigate the changes ahead.
Why the Change in Grading Matters
The SHS program is evolving to make sure Filipino learners graduate with stronger academic foundations and real-world skills. Unlike the old system that grouped subjects into Core, Applied, and Specialized, the new Strengthened SHS Curriculum introduces three streamlined categories:
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Core Subjects (foundation learning like math, science, communication)
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Academic Electives (specialized academic pathways)
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Technical Professional (TechPro) Electives (skills and career readiness)
To match these changes, assessment and grading had to be updated—ensuring that grades now better reflect both academic mastery and employable skills.
Key Highlights of the New Grading Guidelines
1. Grading Components Stay Familiar—but with Tweaks
DepEd is keeping the classic Written Works, Performance Tasks, and Quarterly Assessment system, but with important adjustments:
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Core & Academic Electives: Written Works (25%), Performance Tasks (50%), Quarterly Assessment (25%)
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TechPro Electives: More emphasis on practical tasks—Performance Tasks weigh up to 60%–65%
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Work Immersion: No quarterly exams. Grading focuses on Written Works (20%) and Performance Tasks (80%) like resumes, mock interviews, workplace journals, and supervisor evaluations
👉 This means less focus on exams and more on applied learning, especially in hands-on and career-oriented tracks.
2. Communication Subjects Are Combined but Graded Separately
“Effective Communication” (English) and “Mabisang Komunikasyon” (Filipino) are packaged together as one subject but taught separately.
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Students will attend two English sessions and two Filipino sessions per week
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Grades for English and Filipino are reported individually but averaged for the final combined subject grade
👉 This ensures both languages are valued equally while still giving clear insights into each student’s strengths.
3. Work Immersion Gets a Major Upgrade
For many SHS learners, Work Immersion is the most exciting (and nerve-wracking) part of the curriculum. Under the new guidelines:
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Pre-Immersion Activities: Resume writing, workplace readiness quizzes, and role-playing
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During Immersion: Supervisor evaluations, punctuality tracking, actual work accomplishments
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Post-Immersion: Portfolios, reflection papers, and a culminating presentation
👉 The focus is now on real-world skills like teamwork, communication, and professionalism—better preparing students for future jobs or higher education.
4. Clear Promotion and Retention Rules
At the end of the school year, here’s what determines if a student moves up:
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Passed all subjects (≥75%) → Promoted to Grade 12
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Failed 1–2 subjects → Remediation required
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Failed 3+ subjects OR failed remediation → Retained in the same grade level
👉 This provides a fair balance between maintaining standards and offering support for struggling learners.
How Teachers and Parents Can Support Students
For Teachers
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Give timely, constructive feedback—not just grades
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Use integrative performance tasks (like project-based learning)
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Offer remediation right away for students who fall behind
For Parents
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Help teens build good study habits and time management
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Support them in preparing resumes, reflection papers, and workplace skills for Work Immersion
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Encourage open communication about academic struggles
For Students
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Take performance tasks seriously—they now carry more weight than ever
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Stay on top of Work Immersion requirements from day one
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Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback or attend remediation sessions
Why This Matters for the Future of Filipino Students
The new grading system isn’t just about numbers on a report card. It’s designed to:
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Build holistic skills (academic + practical)
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Ensure students graduate with employable competencies
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Promote a culture of continuous feedback and growth rather than one-time exams
In short, it prepares learners not just to pass but to thrive beyond high school.
Conclusion: Preparing Together for SY 2025–2026
The DepEd Interim Guidelines on Assessment and Grading may feel like a big shift, but they’re meant to make learning more relevant, practical, and future-ready.
For teachers, it’s a call to innovate assessment.
For parents, it’s a reminder to support both academics and workplace readiness.
For students, it’s a chance to shine through performance, not just exams.
💡 Your next step: Start reviewing the grading components for your track, prepare early for Work Immersion, and embrace the opportunities this pilot curriculum brings.
