O-Level English
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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. -
Joy of Learning 111:
I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.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. -
Newtandcucumber:
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 believe it is still marked in Inglaterra. -
Joy of Learning 111:
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.
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.Newtandcucumber:
I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.
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. -
Joy of Learning 111:
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.Newtandcucumber:
I believe it is still marked in Inglaterra.
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. -
Newtandcucumber:
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.
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.
Nor did the IGCSE take off here. I heard that private schools in England rejected GCSEs but adopted IGCSEs. -
Joy of Learning 111:
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.
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.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.
Nor did the IGCSE take off here. I heard that private schools in England rejected GCSEs but adopted IGCSEs.
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 -
Newtandcucumber:
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.
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.Joy of Learning 111:
[quote=\"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.
Nor did the IGCSE take off here. I heard that private schools in England rejected GCSEs but adopted IGCSEs.
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[/quote]So you believe Singapore's O Level assessment books and TYS will be (more) difficult enough than those available in the UK to prep your child for the revamped GCSE syllabus? Would our materials be useful to you guys in the UK? -
Newtandcucumber:
Hopefully you mean 'illiteracy'.
To be honest I was a sceptic, but our National Curriculum has all but eliminated functional literacy.
The import of what I wrote is that England has lost overseas markets and that such markets when lost are not likely to be regained even if England fixes its rigour.
Of course, your son can try to game whatever systems are in place. My style of teaching in Singapore is to try to inculcate in students the confidence to handle whatever is thrown at them.
With regard to the GCSE spec papers, I decline to make a proper judgement as I do not have the time to fully study them. However, a quick perusal suggests that they are entirely manageable. I presume your experience in the UK is in the state sector. -
Hi joyoflearning
Apologies, I meant illiteracy.
I am not a teacher or a tutor. My sons are at superselective state grammar schools. I use the SG TYS for son who is the Key Stage 3 ages 11 to 14 cohort. The questions are similar in challenge to his class work and homework.
As to your smug and pious barb about ‘gaming’, I too inculcate a love of learning, too. That is why their results helps the school to hold a top 20 position, by academic results.
In relation to gaming the system, is that not what Singaporeans do with assessment guides and TYS year in and year out.
Ps. Gaming is a synonym for Kiasu.
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