A significant score drop prompts parents to seek transparency in the assessment process.
The Singapore Examination and Assessment Board (SEAB) addressed concerns on Thursday (Dec 8) regarding the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) mathematics results, affirming that students receive full credit for any solution demonstrating correct application of concepts.
A group of 11 parents, whose children consistently achieved scores of 95 and above in school—equivalent to Achievement Level (AL) 1—were alarmed to find that their children scored between AL 3 to AL 5 in this year’s PSLE maths paper. The forum letter published in Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao highlighted the experiences of parents from Nan Hua Primary School.
“If a single child’s carelessness caused them to stumble on the exam, we have nothing to say. But when almost a third of the students in the class have a similar score gap, it’s hard not to be puzzled,” the letter stated.
These parents have since appealed to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SEAB for a review of the examination papers, despite being informed that the success rate for such appeals is nearly nonexistent.
The letter also pointed out that parents receive only the total scores and do not have access to their children’s answer sheets, making it challenging to verify whether the discrepancies were due to other factors. “If SEAB ignores parents’ calls to check the answer sheets and simply dismisses it with an excuse that the system is always accurate, this kind of operation without transparency may not be convincing to people,” the letter read, as reported by Channel News Asia.
In response, SEAB stated, “For the mathematics papers, any solution that demonstrates the correct understanding and application of mathematical concepts and skills, as requested by the question, will be given full credit.” The board emphasized that it employs rigorous processes to ensure that the PSLE papers adhere to the syllabus and maintain appropriate standards.
A panel of experienced teachers and specialists from MOE and SEAB reviews the exams to ensure a consistent balance of easy, average, and difficult questions each year.
Although the performance in the 2022 PSLE maths exam mirrors that of the previous year, candidates who believe their grades do not reflect their expected achievements may appeal their scores. “Candidates can submit their appeals for subject grades through their schools to SEAB. During the review of results, an independent senior marker conducts a thorough review of the marking and checks the accuracy of mark entries.”
