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    O-Level English

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Secondary Schools - Academic Support
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    • A Offline
      A better tomorrow
      last edited by

      May I know if it is alright if the child uses their own name or write about the school ( including school’s name and address ) in o levels for situational writing ? I know it is not acceptable for mt but I’m not too sure about English . What happens if they have to write a email to the principal ? Do they use the real name of the principal from their school or just make up a name for the principal ?

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      • J Offline
        Joy of Learning 111
        last edited by

        A better tomorrow:
        May I know if it is alright if the child uses their own name or write about the school ( including school's name and address ) in o levels for situational writing ? I know it is not acceptable for mt but I'm not too sure about English . What happens if they have to write a email to the principal ? Do they use the real name of the principal from their school or just make up a name for the principal ?

        Why is it not acceptable for MT?

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        • A Offline
          A better tomorrow
          last edited by

          I heard from dd that her cl teacher told everyone not to put their name and name of of their school in their compo . They can only put fake names and fake school names in the compo ( eg 小明 , 星光中学 )so that the markers would not be able to know who they are or what school they are from to prevent biasness . However, I’m not too sure about English as it is not marked locally and I doubt that the Cambridge markers would even know what are the many names of Singapore secondary schools , let alone the names of the children.

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          • J Offline
            Joy of Learning 111
            last edited by

            A better tomorrow:
            I heard from dd that her cl teacher told everyone not to put their name and name of of their school in their compo . They can only put fake names and fake school names in the compo ( eg 小明 , 星光中学 )so that the markers would not be able to know who they are or what school they are from to prevent biasness . However, I'm not too sure about English as it is not marked locally and I doubt that the Cambridge markers would even know what are the many names of Singapore secondary schools , let alone the names of the children.

            Yes, I thought that would be the logic for MT. I don't think MOE/SEAB have an official regulation though. I am happy to be corrected. In any case, suitable moderation would diminish bias.
            I haven't heard of something comparable for English.
            I wonder if 'Cambridge' markers are actually in Cambridge. I believe that a few years ago they digitised the process and marking is farmed out worldwide.

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            • N Offline
              Newtandcucumber
              last edited by

              Joy of Learning 111:
              A better tomorrow:

              I heard from dd that her cl teacher told everyone not to put their name and name of of their school in their compo . They can only put fake names and fake school names in the compo ( eg 小明 , 星光中学 )so that the markers would not be able to know who they are or what school they are from to prevent biasness . However, I'm not too sure about English as it is not marked locally and I doubt that the Cambridge markers would even know what are the many names of Singapore secondary schools , let alone the names of the children.


              Yes, I thought that would be the logic for MT. I don't think MOE/SEAB have an official regulation though. I am happy to be corrected. In any case, suitable moderation would diminish bias.
              I haven't heard of something comparable for English.
              I wonder if 'Cambridge' markers are actually in Cambridge. I believe that a few years ago they digitised the process and marking is farmed out worldwide.

              I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.

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              • J Offline
                Joy of Learning 111
                last edited by

                Newtandcucumber:

                I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.
                Papers are set, moderated and validated in Blighty but I am not sure about the actual donkey-work of marking. However, until I hear good evidence to the contrary, I will accept your belief. Thanks.

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                • N Offline
                  Newtandcucumber
                  last edited by

                  Joy of Learning 111:
                  Newtandcucumber:


                  I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.

                  Papers are set, moderated and validated in Blighty but I am not sure about the actual donkey-work of marking. However, until I hear good evidence to the contrary, I will accept your belief. Thanks.

                  For reasons of oversight and control it stands to reason it is marked in England. That being said we do have a shortage of examiner markers across most subjects.

                  Ps.....Beware our new Best in class Platinum standard GCSEs may be coming your way. Our new GCSE in Eng Lang is scary, and I won't even mention Eng Lit.

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                  • zbearZ Offline
                    zbear
                    last edited by

                    Joy of Learning 111:
                    Newtandcucumber:


                    I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.

                    Papers are set, moderated and validated in Blighty but I am not sure about the actual donkey-work of marking. However, until I hear good evidence to the contrary, I will accept your belief. Thanks.


                    I have always been curious as to who are the actual markers of our O n A level papers? From my time to my kids' time, it has always been a mystery.

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                    • J Offline
                      Joy of Learning 111
                      last edited by

                      Newtandcucumber:


                      Ps.....Beware our new Best in class Platinum standard GCSEs may be coming your way. Our new GCSE in Eng Lang is scary, and I won't even mention Eng Lit.
                      Not a snowball in hell chance of coming Singapore's way. When England replaced traditional O levels with the GCSE and subsequently traditional A levels with modular ones, it lost many overseas markets due to the lack of rigour. Some overseas markets such as Singapore want to develop - and are successfully doing so - their own systems.

                      Nor did the IGCSE take off here. I heard that private schools in England rejected GCSEs but adopted IGCSEs.

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                      • N Offline
                        Newtandcucumber
                        last edited by

                        Joy of Learning 111:
                        Newtandcucumber:



                        Ps.....Beware our new Best in class Platinum standard GCSEs may be coming your way. Our new GCSE in Eng Lang is scary, and I won't even mention Eng Lit.

                        Not a snowball in hell chance of coming Singapore's way. When England replaced traditional O levels with the GCSE and subsequently traditional A levels with modular ones, it lost many overseas markets due to the lack of rigour. Some overseas markets such as Singapore want to develop - and are successfully doing so - their own systems.

                        Nor did the IGCSE take off here. I heard that private schools in England rejected GCSEs but adopted IGCSEs.

                        To be honest I was a sceptic, but our National Curriculum has all but eliminated functional literacy. Modular GCSEs were replaced in 2014 by more rigorous linear interim exams. Interim Eng Lang and Maths GCSEs finish in 2016, and the more difficult linear ones start in 2017. Remaining interim GCSEs are sat for the last time in 2017, and the more difficult ones start in 2018.

                        My son will sit his CIE Eng Lang O Level and Maths O Level when he is 14, as the challenge is a lot less than his Eng Lang and Maths GCSEs- and comparatively easier to attain a top grade A in O Levels, compared to a 9 in the GCSEs.

                        BTW,the exam boards are dispensing with some IGCSEs, as the new GCSEs are more demanding; the emphasis is on reasoning and explaining in the exam rather than rote-based recall of old and existing O Levels.

                        Look at the following GCSE spec papers. Are you seriously telling me that they are easy:

                        Eng Lang - http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/ ... -resources

                        Eng Lit - http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/ ... -resources

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