PSLE results: 98.4% of students can progress to secondary school under new scoring system

SINGAPORE: For the sixth consecutive yr, 98.4 per cent of Primary 6 students who sat for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) made it to secondary school, this time under the new Achievement Level (AL) scoring system. The PSLE outcomes had been launched from 11am on Wednesday (Nov 24). This is the primary cohort of students scored under the new system. Under the AL system, Primary 6 students will obtain ALs of 1 to 8 for every of their 4 topics, with 1 being one of the best rating and eight, the bottom. Their general rating would be the sum of these ALs. The system produces 29 attainable scores, in contrast to the earlier T-score system, which has about 200 variations. “The outcomes under the AL scoring system have remained very stable. So we hope that the students and the parents will feel assured about the PSLE and about the new scoring system,” mentioned MOE's director-general of schooling Wong Siew Hoong. “We made a deliberate shift away from the old T-score system so students do not chase the last mark. An obsessive over-emphasis on exam results is not healthy for the development of our children.” The course eligibility of this yr’s Primary 6 cohort is “largely comparable” to that of the earlier cohort under the T-score system, mentioned the Ministry of Education (MOE) in a press launch. A complete of 39,119 Primary 6 students sat for the PSLE this yr, with 98.4 per cent eligible to enter secondary school, mentioned MOE.Students eligible for the Express course made up 68.4 per cent of the cohort, with 18.9 per cent for the Normal (Academic) course and 11.1 per cent for the Normal (Technical) course. A bigger proportion of students in 2021 made it to the Express course, in contrast to 66.3 per cent in 2021. For the Normal (Academic) course, the quantity of students eligible fell from final yr's 21.2 per cent. This lower corresponds with the “slightly higher” proportion of students qualifying for the Express course, mentioned MOE on the briefing. Students with a PSLE rating between 4 and 20 are eligible for the Express course. Students who obtain a rating of 21 or 22 are provided an possibility between the Express course and Normal (Academic) course, whereas these with scores of 23 or 24 are eligible for the Normal (Academic) course. This yr, 11.1 per cent of students are eligible for the Normal (Technical) course, comparable to final yr’s 11 per cent. Students with a PSLE rating of 25 are provided an possibility between the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) programs. Those who scored between 26 and 30 and achieved AL7 or higher in English and Mathematics are eligible for the Normal (Technical) course. About 65 per cent of students who certified for the Normal programs are eligible to take not less than one topic at a more demanding degree, a rise from 47 per cent of students within the Normal programs within the 2021 cohort. This is due to the change within the subject-based banding eligibility standards under the achievement degree system, mentioned the Education Ministry. Under the new AL scoring system, students within the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) programs can take topics at a more demanding degree from Secondary 1, relying on their AL scores for the person topics. If they rating AL5 or under for a sure topic, they've the choice to take that topic in secondary school on the Express degree. Candidates who didn't qualify for entry to secondary school can select to retake the PSLE subsequent yr, mentioned the Education Ministry. They can additionally apply to Assumption Pathway School and NorthLight School, which supply programmes with a more “experiential and hands-on learning” method, with a advice from their major school principal, mentioned MOE. Similar to final yr’s proceedings, PSLE candidates acquired their leads to their lecture rooms, as a substitute of as a cohort within the school corridor like in earlier years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SCHOOL SELECTION 

MOE launched the indicative rating vary of each secondary school in April this yr, which serves as a “starting point” for students and fogeys in selecting the secondary colleges to apply for. These are the scores of the primary and final pupil admitted into every school under the new scoring system. The rating of the final pupil can be the cut-off level for that school.Students eligible for secondary school can apply for his or her selections on the MOE Secondary 1 posting web site from 11.30am on Wednesday to 3pm on Nov 30, mentioned the Education Ministry. The Secondary 1 posting outcomes can be launched between Dec 22 and 24. “The new AL scoring system means students have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from, as schools will be less differentiated by cut-off points,” mentioned Mr Wong. “Do consider the schools' distinctive programmes, the co-curricular activities, their ethos, culture, and of course the student's daily commute to and from school.”