Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced major change to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Starting from 2021, the PSLE scoring system will be replaced with a new grading system, no longer awarding students a T-score, but rather “achievement levels”.
The T-score system, which has been in place since 1982, is a numerical score awarded to students based on their performance in the PSLE. The score is calculated by comparing a student’s performance to that of their peers, with the existing system, using only grades A, B, C, D, and E, with A being the highest and E being the lowest.
Under the new system, the MOE will award students a “descriptor” called achievement levels, which is a qualitative assessment of their performance. Students will be graded on a scale of 1 to 8, with 1 being the highest and 8 being the lowest. The narrower grade bands provide for more specific assessment of a student’s performance, highlighting potential stronger subjects with more differentiated bands at the higher levels (AL 2-4), where previously would only be considered as an ‘A’ grade under the T-score system.
The MOE has said that the new system will be more inclusive and will better reflect a student’s academic performance, taking into account the student’s performance in other areas such as co-curricular activities and character development. It will also help to reduce the amount of stress and pressure placed on students by the current T-score system.
The new system is expected to provide a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of students’ academic performance. This is because it will allow for more precise distinctions between students’ scores, allowing teachers and parents to better track their progress. In addition, the new system will also provide a more comprehensive assessment of students’ abilities. This is because it will allow for the recognition of students who have achieved high scores in specific areas, such as mathematics or science.
The new system is intended to reduce the emphasis on academic results and to give students a more holistic assessment of their abilities. It is also intended to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety associated with the PSLE.
The MOE has also announced that the PSLE will be shortened from six papers to four papers. This will reduce the amount of time students need to spend preparing for the exam.
The new system is expected to be implemented in 2021. The MOE has stated that it will be working closely with schools to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
The MOE has also announced that it will be introducing a new Primary School Leaving Examination Preparation Programme to help students prepare for the new system. The programme will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the new system.
The MOE has stated that it is committed to providing a fair and equitable assessment system that takes into account the different abilities of students. It is hoped that the new system will provide a more accurate assessment of students’ abilities and will help them to achieve their full potential.
Overall, the new change to the PSLE scoring system is expected to provide numerous benefits for students, teachers, and parents. It will provide a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of students’ academic performance, allow for the recognition of students who have achieved high scores in specific areas, and reduce the pressure on students.
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