New PSLE scoring system sees more Singapore pupils qualifying to take secondary school subjects at higher level
March 10, 2022
Original Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/new-psle-scoring-system-sees-more-pupils-qualifying-to-take-secondary
More pupils eligible for the Normal courses in secondary schools can take subjects at a more demanding level following the roll-out of the new Achievement Level (AL) scoring system.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that about 65 per cent of pupils who qualified for the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) courses this year can take at least one subject at a more demanding level in secondary school.
This was due to the new scoring system, the ministry added in releasing the Primary School Leaving Examination results on Wednesday (Nov 24).
Under the T-score, or transformed score, system last year, 47 per cent of Primary 6 pupils eligible for normal courses had qualified to take secondary school subjects at a higher level.
Under the AL scoring system, students from Normal courses can take more challenging Normal (Academic) or Express subjects in Secondary 1 based on their scores in individual subjects.
PSLE candidates this year were the first cohort of pupils to be graded under the AL system.
The new system, first announced in 2016, reduces fine differentiation of pupils' examination results by grouping similar scores in eight scoring bands, said the ministry.