[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/theres-a-new-psle-scoring-system-heres-all-you-need-to-know\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/theres-a-new-psle-scoring-system-heres-all-you-need-to-know\/","headline":"There\u2019s a New PSLE Scoring System \u2013 Here\u2019s All You Need to Know","name":"There\u2019s a New PSLE Scoring System \u2013 Here\u2019s All You Need to Know","description":"Our little ones work so hard; isn\u2019t there no better reason to reward them based on their merit alone? MOE has just announced a revision to the PSLE grading metrics in 2021, where individuals will no longer receive a score that\u2019s dependent on how well their peers have done. Instead, a child\u2019s score will wholly […]","datePublished":"2020-11-10","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/#Person","name":"E-lyn Tham","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/","identifier":66,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1604971905330_news_singapore-psle-new-scoring-system_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1604971905330_news_singapore-psle-new-scoring-system_featured.jpg","height":628,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/theres-a-new-psle-scoring-system-heres-all-you-need-to-know\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk","name":"Mixed reactions from parents over changes to PSLE scoring system - 20Aug2013","description":"SINGAPORE: Educators have welcomed the changes to the scoring system for the Primary School Leaving Examination. However, reactions from parents have been mixed, with some saying the removal of the PSLE T-score does not necessarily take away the stress of the examination.\n\nInstead of a T-score, the PSLE will use wider bands for grading, just like those in the 'O' and 'A' levels.\n\nParents Channel NewsAsia spoke to were divided on whether the change in the PSLE scoring system would help to reduce stress, as students would still need to prepare for the exam ultimately. However, many generally agree that this is a good first step in the right direction.\n\nMs Michelle Teo, a homemaker and mother of three, said: \"I think it will help because they don't focus so much on the results and you see it as an average, it'll be better.\"\n\nMs Esther Wong, an admin executive with one daughter, had a different opinion. She said: \"I'm not those kiasu parents, but I still think that it's better to retain the score. So I will know which level my kid is in, whether she's good, above average or below average.\"\n\nOthers, like Ms Wendy Koh, a mother of two who home-schools her children, felt that the change would help parents more. She said: \"I think the relief of the stress comes for the parents because they wouldn't know (the score) and because they don't know, they would not stress out their children.\n\n\"I think it goes in that direction -- more for the parents than for the children. I think the children, it makes no sense for them whatever score they might have. They are just oblivious, especially for boys. Whether they have 280 or 210, it makes no difference to them. You put them side by side, they'll still play and have no regard for the number.\"\n\nEducators said examination stress is inevitable and some stress may be good for the child. However, not having a T-score means parents and students will not be chasing their results to the last digit.\n\nMrs Aw Ai Ling, principal of Gan Eng Seng Primary School, agreed. She said: \"This approach may help at least to moderate as well as to manage that kind of stress whereby we do not go after a point, we do not chase after a last digit.\n\n\"(What it does is it) allows our children to have more space, more time, and also that kind of self-confidence to know that 'okay, broadly I know that academically, I'm doing this way. I also have time to look after my CCA, I have time to look after some of my interests, be it music or the arts, and also spend some time to hone many of the qualities that I want to see in myself -- be it resilience, confidence or even communication skills.\"\n\nLim Biow Chuan, chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, said: \"It is a question of balancing that stress, balancing what education is all about. I think we can try to develop a child in a more holistic manner.\n\n\"Grades are important, but there are other factors that are equally important, and that will help prepare a child for a future in Singapore.\"\n\nThe Education Ministry is expected to release more details on the changes at a later date.\n\nwww.channelnewsasia.com\/news\/singapore\/mixed-reactions-from\/784110.html","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/cFthcWXgIZk\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/cFthcWXgIZk\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/cFthcWXgIZk\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/cFthcWXgIZk\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/cFthcWXgIZk\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2013-08-20T15:46:40+00:00","duration":"PT2M25S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cFthcWXgIZk","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCtgZ6QxtNO44xzKrMXRO0ew#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCtgZ6QxtNO44xzKrMXRO0ew","name":"154thmedia2013","description":"New hardwares installed~! With latest DVB-T2 & DVB-C tuners for full digital recording on all channels wef Oct 2012~\n\n154thmedia2013@gmail.com","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_nGqxtXCdThh_Xm_g_yudOEAZgt9Y4VJVsjuODzLJKh1Q=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":12468}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFthcWXgIZk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":26}]},"about":["Community","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":958,"articleBody":"Our little ones work so hard; isn\u2019t there no better reason to reward them based on their merit alone? MOE has just announced a revision to the PSLE grading metrics in 2021, where individuals will no longer receive a score that\u2019s dependent on how well their peers have done. Instead, a child\u2019s score will wholly reflect how well he or she has done for the subject, without having to worry about those around them!What brought this change?This new scoring system will allow the child to focus on learning \u2013 which is really what school should be all about. Emphasis is placed on an all-rounded and holistic education, where academic results are just part of the pie. The new system hopes to shine light on individual interests and strengths, and help these children grow as a person.Every achievement is significant, no matter how big or small \u2013 which is something the new scoring system hopes to reflect.What\u2019s the difference?Up until 2020: T-scoreNow, each student is given an absolute T-score for each subject. This T-score gives an indication of the student\u2019s performance compared to the performance of his peers. This is naturally based on the same levels of any subject.\u00a0The final aggregate PSLE score is the sum of the T-scores of all four subjects, which are derived from the raw score of each student compared against his or her peers\u2019. In a nutshell, the T-score is an indication of how well each student has done in relativity to his or her peers (or the Bell Curve, in university speak).\u00a0This results in over 200 possible T-scores, which leads to rather fine differentiation among the students.\u00a0From 2021 onwards:\u00a0 AL ScoreIn contrast, the new 2021 metrics gives each student an AL Score, which is an indication of how well students have performed based on the subject\u2019s learning objectives.\u00a0Compared to over 200 possible T-scores, there will now only be 29 possible AL scores. This will allow students to not be so finely differentiated, allowing them to have a wider range of schools to choose from. MOE also hopes that with such a grading metric, parents and students will be able to consider additional factors such as co-curricular activities and culture, other than simply focusing on schools\u2019 cut-off points.Tell me more.AL stands for \u2018Achievement Levels\u2019, with each PSLE subject being graded based on a range of eight ALs:AL1: \u2265 90AL2: 85-89AL3: 80-84AL4: 75-79AL5: 65-74AL6: 45-64AL7: 20-44AL8: <20A student\u2019s final PSLE score will be derived from the sum of the four ALs (one for each subject). This will range from 4 to 32, with 4 being the highest possible score.To break it down even further, here\u2019s an example of the PSLE score will be calculated:English Language: 90 marks (AL1)Mother Tongue Language: 86 marks (AL2)Mathematics: 82 marks (AL3)Science: 87 marks (AL2)Total PSLE score: 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 8To help students and parents get used to the new scoring system, P5 and P6 students \u2013 starting from the 2020 P5 cohort \u2013 will start receiving their results in such a manner.Which schools can the students apply for?Until 2023, each child will be able to apply for various secondary school courses based on their PSLE scores. Here are the aggregate AL scores required for the various placements:Express: 4-20Express\/N(A) Option: 21-22N(A): 23-24N(A)\/N(T) Option: 25N(T): 26-30, with an AL7 or higher in both English language or MathematicsFor more detailed information, check out MOE\u2019s website.How has this been received?There have been mixed reactions to the unveiling of the new system. A quick look on MOE\u2019s Facebook page showed public opinion tending more towards a negative outlook:Ministry of Education, Singapore\/FacebookIt seems as if the plan to alleviate stress for the children might have backfired, with the new system putting more pressure on both parents and children.Ministry of Education, Singapore\/FacebookIt\u2019s widely perceived that the biggest issue doesn\u2019t lie with the grading metrics, but with the syllabus. It seems as if the syllabus taught to the children might be a little too much to handle, with schools rushing to finish the curriculum.\u00a0Ministry of Education, Singapore\/FacebookMany netizens have also questioned the logic of the AL scores, where scores of 45 and 64 are placed in the same band of AL6.\u00a0No one-size-fits-all solutionEven though this new scoring system has only just been implemented, it was first mentioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his 2013 National Day Rally speech. This video from Channel 5 in 2013 showcased the difference in reactions across the board. Some said that the new change won\u2019t necessarily eliminate the stress of the examination, with educators countering this by claiming that some stress is inevitable.Others, on the other hand, acknowledge that this is a \u201cgood first step in the right direction\u201d, without parents and children having to chase their scores down \u201cto the last digit\u201d. Aw Ai Ling, Principal of Gan Eng Seng Primary School, saw the AL scores as having the ability to \u201callow our children to have more space, more time, and\u2026 self-confidence\u201d, and to be able to better hone their strengths and interests outside academics.\u00a0Indeed, there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all solution. As stated by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung in 2019, the changes to the PSLE scoring system is part of a significant reform to the current education system. Other changes include eliminating streaming in secondary schools by 2024, more secondary school places reserved for non-affiliated students from 2019, subject-based banding for all secondary schools from 2018, as well as increased aptitude-based admissions for tertiary education.Results may not show immediately, but we\u2019ll get there in time! What\u2019s your take on the issue?"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"There\u2019s a New PSLE Scoring System \u2013 Here\u2019s All You Need to Know","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/theres-a-new-psle-scoring-system-heres-all-you-need-to-know\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]