With the introduction of the new PSLE Achievement Level (AL) Scoring System, Singapore’s education landscape has shifted significantly, particularly in how students are assessed and placed in secondary schools after their PSLE examinations.
The Difference Between T-Scoring and the New AL Scoring System
Previously, the T-score system was used to determine students’ placement in secondary schools. The T-score compared each student’s performance to others in the same cohort, making it a relative grading system. Under this model, students were ranked based on their raw scores, and even a small difference in marks could lead to significant differences in T-scores. This resulted in students being highly competitive, as they were constantly measured against their peers.
In contrast, the new PSLE AL Scores shifts the focus from relative ranking to individual performance. Students are now placed into one of eight Achievement Levels (ALs) based on their raw scores for each subject. This allows students to focus more on mastering the subject matter rather than worrying about outperforming their classmates.
For example, scoring between 85-89 marks will earn a student an AL2 regardless of how others perform. This change reduces the emphasis on minor score differences and encourages holistic learning rather than competitive ranking.
Moreover, the previous T-score system could potentially generate up to over 200-possible score variations. Whereas from 2021 onwards, with the AL scoring system, that complexity has been streamlined to only 29 possible PSLE scores. With the AL scoring system, the Ministry of Education (MOE) aims to foster a healthier learning environment by rewarding students for their actual achievement rather than their ranking. This system better reflects the student’s mastery of a subject and provides a clearer path to academic growth.
How the New PSLE AL Scoring System Works
Under the new system, a broader banding system known as Achievement Levels (ALs) is employed. This change places focus more on a student’s individual performance rather than their ranking among peers. Each subject is graded from AL1 to AL8, with AL1 being the highest level of achievement (representing a score of 90 marks and above), while AL8 represents a score below 20 marks.
Breakdown of PSLE AL Scores:
– AL1: 90-100 marks
– AL2: 85-89 marks
– AL3: 80-84 marks
– AL4: 75-79 marks
– AL5: 65-74 marks
– AL6: 45-64 marks
– AL7: 20-44 marks
– AL8: Below 20 marks
Students’ total PSLE scores will be the sum of the AL scores from all four subjects, with the best possible total score being 4 and the highest being 32. The lower the score, the better the overall performance.
Implications for Secondary School Admission
Secondary school placements are now determined based on the total AL score instead of the relative ranking among students. This change has introduced more transparency in the admission process, where students are grouped based on similar academic abilities rather than competing for fractional differences in T-scores.
The new AL system retains academic rigour but allows students more flexibility in choosing schools. In cases where multiple students have the same total score, tie-breaking is based on the following criteria in order:
1. Citizenship (priority is given to Singapore citizens),
2. Higher Mother Tongue grades,
3. School choice order,
4. Computerised balloting (if all other factors are equal).
For students looking to maximise their AL scores, performing well across all subjects is crucial. WRITERS AT WORK’s focus on English tuition in Singapore equips students with the skills needed to excel in key areas like comprehension and composition writing. Whether you’re looking for the best English tuition in Singapore or wondering how to start a composition, understanding the PSLE AL Scoring system is key to preparing your child for success.
Preparing for the PSLE English Exams
With the new PSLE AL system, it is important to consider how this affects students choosing secondary school options as it places equal emphasis on core subjects. Students now have a wider range of secondary schools to apply to, but the selection process is still competitive. This makes it vital to choose the best English tuition in Singapore for your child’s needs. WRITERS AT WORK offers English tuition classes that teach students how to write a good composition — a critical component of the PSLE English paper. Through structured practice and exposure to PSLE past year papers, students learn how to craft compelling essays and narratives that demonstrate both creativity and a strong command of the English language.
The new PSLE AL scoring system represents a significant shift in how students are assessed and placed in secondary schools. Understanding how this system works is crucial for both parents and students. WRITERS AT WORK is here to provide the support your child needs to excel in their studies. From English composition to creative writing skills, our tuition programs are designed to equip students with the confidence they need to succeed under the new PSLE AL scoring system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. How Does My Child Benefit From Writing Classes?
Writing classes build systematic thinking and logic in children. Crafting a story plot is the same as thinking, step by step, what events chronologically happen in the context of a given scenario. Students will be able to express their ideas and thought processes in a coherent and concise manner, which will help them in their other subjects as they will be able to formulate sentences to better understand the material. English proficiency is a highly transferable skill.
2. Which Tuition Centre Is Good for English?
WRITERS AT WORK is an excellent option to help your child prepare for their English Language classes at school at any level. WRITERS AT WORK teaches students how to write compositions which are the basic building blocks for all communication, whether it be in school or outside in the workplace.
3. Why Is It Important to Attend English Enrichment Classes?
Students will be able to develop important skills such as critical thinking which will serve them well in all areas of life. Students will learn how to incorporate critical thinking and analysis skills when they read comprehension passages and plan their ideas and arguments out for essays.
4. Why Do People Study Creative Writing?
Writing is an essential skill which is useful even when a child grows up to become a working adult. Communication is the basic foundation of any society, and people study how to write to better communicate their ideas to people. At school, academic performance is measured by how well students can communicate what they know in the context of an examination.
