Top School Exam Papers: 2013

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How to cheat in exams?

PSLE results won't show highest or lowest scores

For the first time in 30 years, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results to be released on Friday will not include the highest and lowest scores achieved by pupils in the cohort.The Ministry of Education (MOE) is leaving those scores out on the result slips from now on, said a ministry spokesman.

The PSLE "serves as a checkpoint of a student's mastery of primary-level subjects and identifies suitable pathways for secondary education", so it is not necessary to know the other scores, said the spokesman.Each candidate's own aggregate score, as well as the highest and lowest scored that year, has been on result slips since 1982. Last year, the top and bottom scores were 285 and 43.When asked if MOE encouraged schools to celebrate their own top scorers, a spokesman said schools would continue to recognise those who had done well, "but not just in academic results".

Last year, the ministry ended the practice of naming the top scorer in the PSLE. Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a blog post then that it was unhealthy to have such national focus on PSLE.Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also announced in August that pupils will in time get a grade band instead of aggregate scores for the PSLE to reduce the stress and competition over results.

Parents and educators commended the ministry's move to de-emphasise such competition.Housewife Jasmine Sng, 47, who has a son in Primary 6, said: "If your child did not do so well, knowing these scores may not be good for his self-esteem."South View Primary principal Jenny Yeo agreed. "If parents and pupils cannot change their mindsets that they need to get better results than their peers and go to a top school, then maybe this will alleviate stress for them.

"Government Parliamentary Committee for Education chairman Lim Biow Chuan said the message was not to compare results but to focus on one's own achievement.Pupils may obtain their result slips from their schools from 11am onwards on Friday. Secondary 1 postings will be out on Dec 20. Pupils who can take a third language in Sec 1 will have the option of taking Spanish next year.Spectra

Secondary, a new school for Normal (Technical) stream students along with Crest Secondary, will take its first students next year. Students eligible for the Normal (Technical) course should apply directly to either school from Nov 22 to 26.

More information is on the schools' websites at www.crestsec.edu.sg and www.spectra.edu.sg.leepearl@sph.com.sg

PM LEE: PSLE RESULTS DON’T MATTER BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL IS A GOOD SCHOOL

Post date:

22 Nov 2013 - 8:59am

The real Singapore

In a facebook post yesterday evening ahead of the release of PSLE results today, PM Lee wrote that students should not worry too much about their PSLE result as they will still be able to continue education in a “good school”.
Seeing as there are some schools that have minimum PSLE result requirements, it can only be assumed that PM Lee means to say that every school is a good school.

It seems that PM Lee is also touting the PAP’s new favourite line when it comes to education.
Does he honestly believe that every school is a good school? If he did, why did he and his children attend ‘elite’ schools?

As the Vice-Principal of Jurong West Secondary School said recently:
“How many of our leaders and top officers who say that every school is a good school put their children in ordinary schools near their home?”
(See: Jurong West Sec VP openly criticises ministers who say ‘every school is a good school’)

In his post, PM Lee had highlighted that every school has dedicated teachers and he also reminded children and parents to put more emphasis on holistic learning.

"Above all, I hope you will grow in resilience, drive and determination. For when all is said and done, these will help you succeed in life." He wrote.

Don’t judge children by PSLE score: Heng

Published: 22 November, 4:03 AM

SINGAPORE — Ahead of the release of the Primary School Leaving Examination results today, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has reminded parents not to judge their children by how they fare but to spur them to keep on learning.

Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, Mr Heng said it is “not healthy” for children to be under “undue pressure” over one exam, which he said is only one stage of a long education journey and a lifetime of learning.

The Government has moved to ease the stress of the exam for parents and students, starting with scrapping the practice of naming the top student last year and omitting the aggregate highest and lowest scores from result slips this year.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said at this year’s National Day Rally that students will eventually receive letter grades instead of scores.
In his Facebook post, Mr Heng wrote: “I understand it feels like a big day for many parents. Do remember, though, that it has been a six-year learning journey and there are many more days ahead.

“When the results are out, please do remember not to judge your own child, or others’ children, by a number. Give them a hug for the good work they’ve put in all year (and to yourselves too, parents, because I know you’ve walked this journey with the children) and continue to motivate them to learn and to develop their confidence.” He added that teachers will also appreciate a word of thanks.
Mr Heng added: “There are many areas where our children can shine and we should encourage and help them (do) their best in these areas. As parents, neighbours, teachers, friends, let us take care of the spirits of our children — let us raise our children together to be curious, confident, caring young people, filled with a love for learning and for this world, so that they may succeed in the next phase of education and in life.”

The minister also said he hopes parents and children will spend “good bonding time” together and fully enjoy the coming school holidays.
PM Lee also mentioned in a Facebook post yesterday that he was confident that students would be able to continue their education in a good school, regardless of their PSLE results.

PSLE results released without top and bottom scores

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – Fri, Nov 22, 2013

For the first time, the highest and lowest scores for the Primary School Leaving Examinations were not published when the results were released to graduating Primary Six students on Friday.

Primary schools around Singapore, no longer allowed to trumpet the T-scores of their top-performing students, adopted creative ways to honour their graduating cohorts.

At St Joseph's Institution (Junior), for instance, the former St Michael's School, about 15 to 20 names of boys who scored 250 and above for their PSLE were read out.

Peiying Primary School took a more uplifting approach. The names of its top 15 students were announced to the cohort, but the top students from each class were also honoured, as were students who did well overall — taking into account leadership in co-curricular activities or achievements in sports or other contributions to the school.

Account director Mrs Siva, whose daughter collected her results from Peiying on Friday, said she was pleased to see that students from all classes in the cohort were recognised for their achievement.

"I think it's good because children from every class, even the slightly weaker classes, were honoured on stage," she told Yahoo Singapore. "Some students were nervous, of course, but on the whole, the mood was very upbeat — the school did a lot better than previous years."

She noted that Peiying's principal mentioned the cohort did well overall, and the foundation classes did better than before, too.

"The teachers were also very encouraging; a lot of them came up to congratulate the students and take photos with them," she added.

Over at CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace, the names of students who scored more than 230, more than 240 and more than 250 were displayed, and the girls were honoured accordingly -- a method homemaker Alice Lock felt was positive for the students.
"A lot of kids get recognised, not just the high scorers -- for instance, as long as you're in the 250 range you're happy -- the whole group of them stood up and were happy," the 38-year-old told Yahoo Singapore.
With the top islandwide score unknown, however, she admitted she and several other parents of graduating students had mixed feelings about the change.

"Since I'm not sure what the highest score is, I don't know at this point whether my daughter can comfortably go into the first school she would like to choose," she said. "Knowing the top score islandwide is useful in giving me a perspective of how well the rest did, so I will know how much chance my daughter has in going to that school... right now it's so uncertain (because) it's not transparent."

According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 43,047 Primary 6 students sat for the PSLE this year, with 97.5 per cent of them assessed to be "suitable" to proceed to secondary school. Of these, 66.7 per cent are eligible for the Express stream, 19.9 per cent for Normal (Academic) and 10.9 per cent for Normal (Technical) streams.

This is the first year time that the highest and lowest PSLE T-scores islandwide were not published on PSLE certificates, or announced publicly, following the Ministry's decision to withhold the names of the top performers, as well as those broken down by racial profiling.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said, “It is not healthy for the children if we put undue pressure on them over one exam. There are many areas where our children can shine, and we should encourage and help them reach their best in these areas.”

Last year, in a bid to stem the obsession with academic grades, the names of the top scorers of the PSLE were withheld.

PSLE results: Why girl's 164 score makes her family proud

Linette Heng The New Paper Monday, Nov 25, 2013

She took her score of 164, wrapped it in joy and presented it with a smile to her family.
Their response: We're so proud of you. Both Syahera and Skye Poh (see report on right) and their families are beacons of light for those in a dark place after getting their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results.

They believe that great results don't make you great. That what makes you great is you.
Primary 6 student Syahera's score should be able to get her into the Normal Academic stream. It is something the 12-year-old was hoping for.
"I'm so happy," the bubbly girl said. "I hoped to get 180, but I'm very happy because I improved my grades for Science and English."

She had a C for English, A for Malay, 1 for Foundation Maths and 2 for Foundation Science.
Foundation subjects are offered to students who failed at least two subjects in Primary 4.
The Fengshan Primary student went to school alone to collect her results. Her grandmother was unwell and had to take care of her younger cousins. Her father and grandfather were at work.
This is not unusual as life is a day-today struggle, even though she has a loving family.
Syahera's inspiring story was featured in The New Paper earlier this month.

Three generations of her family have lived in the same one-room rental flat and she is their hope of breaking the poverty cycle.Their tiny flat in Chai Chee is home to six, including her grandparents, an uncle and her younger cousins, aged six months and four. She helps with the chores and to take care of her cousins.There is no study space, except for a lone bed in the afternoon and the top of the washing machine in the kitchen at night.
When TNP called on Friday, her grandmother, Madam Suryah, 54, could hardly contain her joy at Syahera's result.

"Education is very important. My youngest sister, who is very clever, had a chance to do her O levels, but my father had no money for that. So for Syahera, I'm going to make sure that she carries on studying, no matter what happens."Whenever it's her exams, I won't ask her to help with the chores unless I'm really sick and stuck in bed," said Madam Suryah, who suffers from chronic asthma.
The rest of the family were excited about her results too. They were sending her messages non-stop on Friday, asking her about it.Her grandmother cooked Syahera's favourite bee hoon as a reward, and the family celebrated her result with prayers in the evening.
"I'm very proud of her. At least she can make it to the Normal Academic stream, without tuition, which we cannot afford," said Madam Suryah.

Her grandparents are concerned about the expenses when Syahera enrols into secondary school. They are planning to check out schools for their financial assistance schemes.
"We will apply for a bursary. In primary school, there are Part A textbooks for the first half of the year and we can buy the rest of the Part B textbooks in June. But I'm not sure if we have to buy all the textbooks at one go in secondary school," said Madam Suryah.

Syahera, who loves art and photography, hopes to be the first in her family to attend polytechnic. Her parents were both educated up to Secondary 2; the same as her father's three brothers. Her father and uncles are shipyard workers. She isn't sure what her birth mother is doing now as they meet only once or twice a year.

Syahera, whose dad does not live with her, said: "My father told me that I'm the cleverest in the family. I'm going to continue to work hard.
"I am very excited about secondary school, to meet new friends and teachers," she said.
As far as we're concerned, Syahera's an A in our book.

Mixed reactions from parents over changes to PSLE scoring system

NDR 2013: PSLE scores to use wide bands for grades like O' levels

The PSLE T-score, long a source of stress for students and parents, will eventually be removed and replaced with bands similar to those used for O' and A' levels, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday.

He said the move was to the remove the fine distinctions in the T-score and ease excessive competition to chase every point: "An A* is still an A*, whether you score 91 marks or 99 marks."
The move would not take place immediately, however. He said it would take several years to do.
Calling the PSLE one of the most important examinations, he said that many believe it "determines a large part of a student's future", and felt tremendous stress. Doing away with the T-score would help to lessen this pressure, said Mr Lee who added that he does not know his own PSLE score..

When he took the exams in 1963, the scores were kept confidential, he said, and students were only told whether they had passed or failed and which school they were posted to. "Luckily I passed," he quipped.

The changes to PSLE scoring, though, will only kick in in a few years time.
In an effort to make sure that top secondary schools are accessible to more students, the Ministry of Education will also broaden Direct School Admissions categories, he said.
With this change, "special qualities" such as character, resilience, drive and leadership, will also be considered in admitting students into these schools.

Another change Mr Lee announced will let all secondary one students take a subject at a higher level. But this is provided they have done well in it in the PSLE.
Currently, only students in upper secondary levels are allowed to do so.
This will provide more flexibility in tailoring their education to their abilities and development, he said.

PSLE: ST's Sandra Davie tells you how to choose the best secondary school

This is the one question I get on secondary school postings every year - what if my son were to miss out on a place in his first choice school. Will he still be able to get into his second choice school despite meeting the entry score, as he had listed it as his second choice?

The short answer is yes - if he meets the entry score then he is likely to gain a place in his second-choice school.

Students get to go to the secondary school of their choice based on their aggregate score in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). First, students are ranked according to their detailed aggregate scores that extend to decimal points.

The No 1 student will be posted to the school on top of his list of six choices. Likewise, the second student and so on, until there are no more vacancies in the school. The student who fails to get his top choice will be sent to the school next on his list. If the school is also full, he will be sent to his third-choice school, and so on

In situations where there are two or more students with the same rounded aggregate score (yes, scores are actually rounded to the nearest whole number) vying for the last place in a school, they will be posted based on their citizenship status with Singapore citizens getting first dibs followed by permanent residents and then international students.

If there is still a tie, between two Singapore citizens for example, the one with the higher unrounded aggregate score will be posted into the school first. If there two have the same unrounded aggregate score, then posting into the school will be determined by a computerised ballot.
Students who fail to get a place in any of their choice of schools will be posted to a school near their home which still has vacancies. However, they must have met the school's lowest PSLE aggregate. Those still without a school will be posted to schools in other postal districts that still have vacancies.
What other considerations should parents have?

Distance is still important, as students should not spend hours travelling to and from school. For a student, time spent travelling can be better used to take up sports or co-curricular activities.
Parents are often torn between a more competitive and less competitive school.
They should take note of the research done on the "Big Fish, Little Pond Effect", which shows that students may actually do better in a less popular - or what researchers term a "less selective" - school.
Research into that effect suggests parents should focus on getting their child into a school that will boost his confidence in his academic ability. They are likely to accomplish more, be more persistent and have higher aspirations if they feel competent in what they do, are confident and feel positively about themselves.

A student's confidence depends not only on his own accomplishments, but also on the relative accomplishments of his classmates and schoolmates.
This means students who view themselves as of low or average ability will get a confidence booster if they attend an average-performance school. The reverse is likely to be the case in a high-achieving school.

The bottom line: The top secondary school may not be the right school for your son or daughter.
Parents should consider carefully their child's strengths and weaknesses. Does he thrive in competition, or wilt under stress? Will his self-esteem be dashed if he goes from being first in class to being 30th?

It is also important to consider the sports and co-curricular activities that a school offers as they are crucial to the development of character and soft skills such as communication and teamwork in children.

In the end, instead of aiming for a top school, parents should pick a school that will help bring out the potential in a child, be it in the academics, sports or arts.

By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent

PSLE results 2013: More pupils made it to Express stream

More pupils who sat the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year made it to the Express stream in secondary school compared to last year.

Of the 43,047 Primary 6 students who took the exam, 66.7 per cent qualified for the Express stream, up from 63.1 per cent last year. Of the cohort, 19.9 per cent made it to the Normal (Academic) stream and 10.9 per cent to the Normal (Technical) course.

Results released on Friday showed that overall, 97.5 per cent of the cohort were assessed suitable to proceed to secondary school, similar to last year.But in a departure from previous years, the result slips handed out to pupils on Friday came without the highest and lowest scores achieved by pupils in the cohort. The Ministry of Education, which announced the change earlier this week, said it was to allow pupils to focus on their own achievements and holistic development.

Last year, the top and bottom scores were 285 and 43. This followed the ministry's decision last year to end the practice of naming the top PSLE scorer so as to bring balance to the over-emphasis on academic results.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Examsutra Roadshow

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Teachers to be consulted on new code of conduct

Sandra Davie
The Straits Times
Sat Jan 5 2013

SINGAPORE - It is important to maintain the trust that parents have in educators, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, noting that over the next few weeks, school heads will be consulting teachers on the new code of conduct drawn up by the ministry.

His comments last Wednesday came after several cases of teacher misconduct made the news last year, including a 32-year-old female teacher who was jailed for having sex with a 15-year-old male student in her school.

In the most recent case, former River Valley High School principal Steven Koh is being probed by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.

The issue is believed to centre on travel agencies set up in schools under his watch.

Mr Heng said that despite the scandals, many parents remain confident of educators and added that the teaching profession will "emerge out of this stronger".

He said much thought had gone into drawing up the code and ministry officials have done extensive consultation for over a year and also looked at codes used in other countries.

"So I think it is a good set of documents which will serve as a baseline document that would guide our educators," he noted.

The new Code of Professional Conduct for Educators incorporates two documents currently used by teachers - the Civil Service Instruction Manuals and the Ministry of Education internal conduct guidelines.

It will also focus on the teaching ethos, which is a set of professional beliefs, practices and conduct.

Areas covered in the new code will include maintaining professional educator-student relationships and the dos and don'ts on social websites.

There are about 33,000 teachers in schools.

Clearer conduct guidelines for teachers

Stacey Chia | The Straits Times | Sat Jan 12 2013

SINGAPORE - A new code of conduct for teachers will spell out more clearly guidelines on dealing with students and take in possibly tricky scenarios that developments like social media pose.

The code is expected to be released by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, schools have been briefing teachers on it, through sessions where scenarios and their solutions are discussed.

The Straits Times understands teachers will be reminded that inappropriate relationships with students are not allowed.

Some teachers said they were told that getting involved with students is prohibited - even if they are no longer teaching at the same school.

Under the new guidelines, teachers are also likely to be advised against adding students as Facebook friends.

Instead, they may be encouraged to set up a separate group page to interact with students.

The move follows calls for stricter guidelines in the wake of a string of scandals involving teachers, including that of a female teacher who had sex with a teenage boy from her school.

The Ministry of Education first announced in November last year that it had completed work on a Code of Professional Conduct for Educators to help teachers uphold high standards amid an environment that is becoming "increasingly complex".

Ahead of its official roll-out, some schools have conducted briefings for teachers in the past week.

Others are expected to do so soon.

The new code incorporates two documents currently used by teachers - the Civil Service Instruction Manuals and the Ministry of Education internal conduct guidelines.

But it is likely to include more advice on what teachers should do in tricky situations. For instance, teachers may be told that tattoos, while not forbidden, should be concealed at all times in school.

Teachers said the discussion went beyond just notifying them of the guidelines.

They were also asked for their views and responses to situations which may be less clear-cut, via case studies raised by principals for discussion.

Said one secondary school principal: "For instance, teachers know they should not be in any inappropriate relationship with students, and it is stated in current guidelines, but some things are not as clear-cut."

The principal cited a scenario which describes a teacher who forms a close but professional relationship with a student. The teacher then leaves for another school, and the relationship continues and becomes romantic.

"Teachers will be asked to discuss if this is appropriate, but the bottom line is no. By discussing, you cover all bases which may not be able to be spelt out in a document," he said.

Another scenario discussed was on befriending students on social media. "In the primary schools it is clear-cut, pupils are not supposed to be on social media websites, since they are not of age. But in the secondary school, it can be a useful teaching tool," said the principal.

Another principal said that by getting teachers to think about the various facets of an issue, "there is meaning to the guidelines" when they see the code.

A primary school teacher said the discussion serves as a good reminder because teachers may not be always conscious about their actions. Asked if he felt that the guidelines were too restrictive, he said: "When we signed up to be teachers, we knew that more is expected of us as we are supposed to be role models."

But a secondary school teacher felt that the briefings were "unnecessary and childish". "We should be able to judge a situation for ourselves, are these things that need to be spelt out?"

Operations manager Rex See, who has two children in Primary6 and Secondary 3, said he is glad more is being done to address the issue of personal conduct among teachers.

Said Mr See, 47: "Children pick up everything from their parents and teachers, so it is important that they are also good role models."

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Kudos for A-listers but in low-key mode

By Stacey Chia and Sandra Davie

The Straits Times
Sunday, Jan 13, 2013

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Education (MOE) last Thursday kept to its new approach of not singling out the nation's top scorers when the O-level results were announced.

But that did not stop some schools from revealing their A-listers - albeit in a more low-key manner.

At Nan Hua High School, Jaryl Boey, who scored nine A1s, was singled out when the results were announced.

But the school took pains to highlight the 16-year-old's co-curricular record, leadership potential and community work.

Xinmin Secondary flashed slides complete with the names, results and photos of two top students - Serena Mok Jia Xin and Chinese national Zhang Heng Chao - who scored nine A1s.

The principal also invited 38 other students with six or more distinctions up on stage.

Some schools took a more subtle approach.

CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, which produced two of the nation's three top scorers last year, did not announce the results of its top students this year.

But it was not hard guessing who aced the exams.

Lee Kai Yi and Malaysian Liew Jia Hui - both scored nine A1s - went on stage to receive academic achievement awards given to students with the best O-level results.

MOE had announced that it will no longer name the top scorers of national examinations here, starting with the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in November last year.

The move was intended to balance out the "over-emphasis on academic results".

It led to an information blackout when the PSLE results were announced.

In line with its new approach, its press release last Thursday on the O-level results stated only the overall performance of the cohort.

MOE said of the class of 2012, 81.3 per cent scored at least five passes - close to the 81.9 per cent seen in 2011.

A total of 37,259 students sat the O levels last year

Previously, the ministry, in its release, would name nearly a dozen top students. It would also list schools that had at least one student scoring seven A1s or more.

Principals who named the top scorers defended their move, saying that most of them are all-rounders and are good role models for the younger ones.

Said Xinmin Secondary principal Ong Hong Peng: "This helps us to recognise the efforts of the students and to motivate students of the current graduating levels."

Still, a few other schools visited by The Straits Times toed the ministry's line all the way.

At Crescent Girls' School, principal Tan Chen Kee revealed only the names of 38 students who scored seven or more A1s and the Edusave Character Award recipients.

She said: "I did not want all the attention to go to the top scorer - we should celebrate the achievements of the whole cohort."

However, parent Felicia Tan, 40, felt schools could be less uptight about naming the O-level top scorers.

Said the accountant, who has a daughter in Secondary 3 at Crescent Girls': "Maybe for the PSLE, it is understandable as the students are much younger. But why with the older students at O levels and A levels?"

Schools refrain from naming top O-Level scorers

Today On-line
by Ng Jing Yng

SINGAPORE - In line with the Ministry of Education's (MOE) call to provide students with a well rounded education, schools yesterday struck a balance between lauding their top O-Level scorers and highlighting those who exhibited strong character traits.

Across schools which TODAY visited, school principals took pains to share heartwarming stories of students who beat the odds and avoided singling out top pupils.

At Saint Joseph's Institution, for example, Principal Koh Thiam Seng praised 85 boys who scored at least six A1s, instead of naming his school's top pupil.

Chung Cheng High School (Main) highlighted students from every class and lauded three pupils who were leaders in both their CCAs and academics.

Principal Pang Choon How said: "By celebrating as a cohort, I hope this will inspire students that results are not everything and an education is also meant (to) help students learn more about themselves."

Likewise at CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls' School, Principal Tan Wai Lan made it a point to commend three classes which had improved the most from their preliminary examination results.

The GCE O-Levels is the second national examination after the MOE announced that it would no longer name top scorers publicly. The first to follow the move was the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), which saw parents questioning if it was fair to the top scorers.

In a media release yesterday, the MOE steered clear of naming top pupils by race and schools which produced the perfect six-pointer students.

The ministry only shared that 81.3 per cent of 37,267 candidates who sat for last year's GCE O-Levels scored five or more passes, while 95.5 per cent of candidates scored three or more passes. Close to 100 per cent (99.8) had passed at least one O-Level subject.

The impact of omitting names of top O-Level scorers seemed to be less apparent as compared to the PSLE. Discussion on Internet forums centred on personal results, rather than schools' performances. Parents interviewed were divided on the decision not to name the top student.

"By naming the top scorers, it will not only motivate other students, but also credit those who have worked hard for these achievements," said parent Yinly Ng.

Another parent, Mr Victor Lee, felt that not naming top scorers reduces stress among students.

"After all, grades do not matter as much as character," he added.

With additional reporting from Louisa Tang, Desiree Tay and Heng Wei Xiang

2012 'O' Levels...

AsiaOne

Thursday, Jan 10, 2013

SINGAPORE - The Education Ministry released the GCE O level results on Thursday to a total of 37,267 students. 99.8 per cent had passed at least one O-level subject, and 81.3 per cent scored five or more passes.
This is similar to the previous O level results where 81.9 per cent scored four or more passes, 95.3 per cent had at least three O-level passes and 99.9 per cent passed at least one O-level subject.

Private school candidates who sat for last year's GCE O levels fared better than the previous batch of O-level students.

Out of 3,113 private candidates, 2,803 students, or 90 per cent, were awarded certificates today, compared to last year's 89.5 per cent.

90.5 per cent of Sec 4 Normal Academic students who sat for one or more subjects have obtained at least one pass.

These students, who had earlier accepted conditional offers in the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) or Direct-Entry-Scheme into Polytechnic Programme (DPP) at ITE in December 2012. will have their conditional offers automatically confirmed if they meet the eligibility criteria.

In order not to place too much emphasis on academic results, the Ministry did not name top scorers for the O-levels in a similar way to not naming PSLE and N-level top scorers.