A School of the Brothers

Welcome to SJI Junior

Introduction

New Vice-Principal

• Miss Faith Yak

P5 Year Head

• Mrs Chitra Segar

Journey through Primary 5 and 6

• Prime Years in Primary School Life

• Tween Years – From child to teenager

• Preparing for PSLE

• Moving on to Secondary

P5 and P6 Issues

• Removal of SA1 at P5

• Enhanced Discipline System

• Remedials

• P5 to P6 Movement• Move En Bloc with individual changes

• Teachers may not follow

CCA Matters

• Selection for School Representation based on Competency, Character and Commitment

• Teacher and Coach will make final decision on school representation

• 2 Phase CCA Policy

• Those without CCA can still join at P5

External CCA Recognition

• Boys with training in sports and games not offered by School

• Achievement will be recorded if boys register in competitions under the school

• Other events will not be recorded

UPDATES ON PSLE SCORING & S1 POSTING FROM 2021IT’S PART OF A BIGGER STORY

© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT

GROUP, 2019

OVERVIEW

2

How PSLE Scoring Works

How S1 Posting Works

Presentation of results in Achievement Levels

Subject-based Banding (Primary Schools)

Scoring for Foundation Subjects

All

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Eligibility for Higher Mother Tongue Language

(HMTL) in Secondary Schools

Use of Higher Chinese Language (HCL) for

Admission to SAP Schools

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MTL

Scoring for Mother Tongue Language (MTL)-

exempt students and students studying an

Asian Language/ Foreign Language (AsL/FL)

in lieu of an MTLMTL

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AsL

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FL

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Over the years, we have been fine-tuning the education system to help ourstudents discover and develop their strengths and interests, while movingaway from an over-emphasis on academic results.

Our PSLE scoring changes aim to:

Reduce fine differentiation at a young age

Recognise students’ level of achievement, regardless of how their peershave done

THE PSLE CHANGES ARE PART OF A BIGGER STORY

9

PSLE Microsite

THE PSLE REMAINS A USEFUL CHECKPOINT

To understand where our children are at in their learning after six years of primary school

Gauge their learning needs so that they can progress to a secondary school and take subjects at a suitable level

10

HOW PSLE SCORING WORKS

Changes to the PSLE scoring and S1 posting

What you need to know about the new PSLE scoring system

FROM T-SCORE TO WIDER SCORING BANDS

Reflects a student’s individual level ofachievement

Unlike the current T-score, students’ ALfor each subject will reflect their level ofachievement, rather than how they haveperformed relative to their peers.

ALRAW MARK

RANGE

1 ≥ 90

2 85 – 89

3 80 – 84

4 75 – 79

5 65 – 74

6 45 – 64

7 20 – 44

8 < 20

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FROM T-SCORE TO WIDER SCORING BANDS

13

Students’ scores are differentiated finely. Studentscan have a T-score aggregate of less than 80 tomore than 280, which gives more than 200possible different T-score aggregates.

Students will be placed in fewer groups of PSLEScores. Students’ PSLE scores (the sum of theAL for each subject) will range from 4 to 32,which gives 29 possible different scores.

Reduces fine differentiation of students

Students with similar scores in each subject will be grouped into

wider bands measured in Achievement Levels (ALs).

The PSLE Score replaces the T-score aggregate.

It is obtained by adding the ALs of four subjects.

The PSLE Score ranges from 4 to 32, with 4 being the best.

Students will be placed in secondary school courses based on their PSLE score – Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical).

ENGLISH

MOTHER TONGUE

MATHEMATICS

SCIENCE

AL3

AL2

AL1

AL2

PSLE SCORE: 8

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PLACEMENT

OUTCOMEPSLE SCORE

EXPRESS 4 – 20

EXPRESS /

N(A) OPTION21 – 22

N(A) 23 – 24

N(A) / N(T) option 25

N(T)26-30, with AL7 or better in

both EL and MA

FROM T-SCORE TO WIDER SCORING BANDS

AL bands and mark ranges are set based on the learning

objectives of the curriculum, and mirror the way we learn:

• When we learn something new, after some initial practice,

we often find ourselves improving significantly.

• But as we get better, the improvements become small

steps, and finally, as we reach a high level, we inch just a

little further, even after much learning and practice.

The ALs were designed to reflect this reality of learning. They

help educators, students, and parents know how ready

students are to access the curriculum at the next level.

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WHY ARE THE AL BANDS NOT EVEN?

ALRAW MARK

RANGE

1 ≥ 90

2 85 – 89

3 80 – 84

4 75 – 79

5 65 – 74

6 45 – 64

7 20 – 44

8 < 20

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The PSLE is a placement exam, thus there is no passing

or failing mark. It determines how ready students are to

access the curriculum at the next level, and the most

appropriate course for them.

A student who has scored at least an AL 7 in English

Language and Mathematics can progress to the N(T)

course.

Similar to today, students who do not qualify for Express,

N(A) or N(T) have to repeat the PSLE, or progress to a

specialised school such as NorthLight School or

Assumption Pathway School.

WHAT IS THE NEW PASSING MARK, SINCE AL6 SPANS ACROSS 45-64?

ALRAW MARK

RANGE

1 ≥ 90

2 85 – 89

3 80 – 84

4 75 – 79

5 65 – 74

6 45 – 64

7 20 – 44

8 < 20

WHAT REMAINS WHAT CHANGES

The T-score Aggregate will be replaced

by the PSLE Score, to reduce the fine

differentiation of our students at a young age based on exam scores.

Students will be assessed based on their own

achievement, instead of comparing them to their peers.

Same 4 subjects are

tested, and scores are

awarded to guide students’ choices for

the next stage of their

education journey

Curriculum is

continually updated.

This is not related to the PSLE scoring

and S1 posting

changes.

IN SUMMARY…

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HOW S1 POSTING WORKS

CHOICE ORDER OF SCHOOLS WILL MATTER MORE

Academic merit, i.e. the PSLE Score, remains the first criterion for secondary school posting.

If two students with the same PSLE Score vie for a place in a school, the following tie-breakers will be used:

1. CITIZENSHIP

2. CHOICE ORDER OF SCHOOLS

3. COMPUTERISED BALLOTING

(NEW)

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CHOOSING SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Consider your child’s strengths and interestswhen making school choices in order to find a school that would help your child learn and thrive best.

Each school has its own distinctive programmes, culture and niche areas. There are many ways to find out more about secondary schools’ distinctive programmes such as:-

i. MOE’s SchoolFinder tool;

ii. secondary schools’ websites;

iii. school open houses.

MOE SchoolFinder Tool

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PRESENTATION OF RESULTS IN ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS

New Field to compute “Total AL Score”

Update from “Grade” to “AL”

AL will notbe reflected

for WA

PRESENTATION OF RESULTS IN ALs Starting from the 2020 P5 cohort, schools will present school-based examination results of

P5 and P6 students in ALs.

2020 P6 students will not be affected, nor will P1 to P4 students.

This will help familiarise students and parents with the new AL scoring system.

The AL reflects the mastery of a broader curriculum, rather than for topical or component

performance. As such, AL will not be reflected for weighted assessments (WA).

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SUBJECT-BASED BANDING

(PRIMARY)

OFFERING DIFFERENT SUBJECT

COMBINATIONS

SUBJECT-BASED BANDING (PRIMARY)

Offers students the option of Standard and Foundation Subjects,

depending on their strengths.

Allow students to focus on and stretch their potential in the subjects

they are strong in while building up the fundamentals in the subject

they need more support in.

The new PSLE scoring system will not change the considerations for

deciding on a student’s subject combination.

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SUBJECT-BASED BANDING (PRIMARY)

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Schools will continue to recommend based on the following:

Student’s aptitude, motivation and performance in each subject;

Student’s ability to cope with a particular subject combination; and

Whether the subject combination focuses sufficiently on literacy

and numeracy, and facilitates the student’s articulation to

secondary school and beyond.

Offering subjects at Foundation level is not a disadvantage to the

students. It enables them to focus on building up strong

fundamentals in these subjects and better prepares them for

progression to secondary school.

SCORING FOR FOUNDATION LEVEL SUBJECTS

Under the current PSLE grading system, Foundation subjects are graded in 5 scoring bands from Grade 1 to U.

FOUNDATION SUBJECTS GRADED IN 5 BANDS TODAY

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Current System

GradeRaw Mark

Range

1 85 – 100

2 70 – 84

3 50 – 69

4 30 – 49

U < 30

Under the new AL system, to reduce fine differentiation among students, Foundation subject grades will be graded in 3 scoring bands from AL A to C.

Like Standard subject ALs, the Foundation subject ALs will reflect a student’s level of achievement, rather than how they have performed relative to their peers.

FOUNDATION LEVEL SUBJECT GRADES TO BE LESS FINELY DIFFERENTIATED

Foundation Level

AL Reflected on

Result Slip

Foundation Raw

Mark Range

A 75 – 100

B 30 – 74

C < 30

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For the purpose of S1 posting, Foundation level AL A to AL C will bemapped to AL 6 to AL 8 of Standard level subjects respectively, toderive a student’s overall PSLE Score.

Similar to the current PSLE scoring system, this mapping is basedon the learning and assessment load of the subjects, and informsstudents of their readiness to access the curriculum at thesecondary level.

FOUNDATION LEVEL SUBJECT GRADES

Foundation Level

AL Reflected on

Result Slip

Foundation Raw

Mark Range

Equivalent

Standard

Subject AL

Standard Raw

Mark Range

A 75 – 100 6 45-64

B 30 – 74 7 20-44

C < 30 8 <20

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A student’s PSLE Score is the sum of the four AL scores across his/herStandard and Foundation subjects.

Students taking Foundation subjects are eligible for the ExpressCourse, as long as they meet the course placement criteria.

With Full Subject-based Banding in secondary schools, students mayalso take subjects at a higher level for those that they are strong in.

SCORING OF FOUNDATION SUBJECTS FOR S1 POSTING

ENGLISH

FOUNDATION

MOTHER TONGUE

FOUNDATION

MATHEMATICS

SCIENCE

AL3

ALB

ALB

AL5

PSLE SCORE: 22

PLACEMENT

OUTCOMEPSLE SCORE

EXPRESS 4 – 20

EXPRESS /

N(A) option21 – 22

N(A) 23 – 24

N(A) / N(T)

option25

N(T)26 – 30, with AL7 or

better in both EL and MA30

ELIGIBILITY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL HIGHER MOTHER

TONGUE LANGUAGE (HMTL)

ELIGIBILITY FOR HMTL IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

For students who do not meet the above criteria, secondary schools

will continue to have the flexibility to offer HMTL to students, if they

are assessed to have high ability and interest in MTL and are able to

take HMTL without affecting their performance in other subjects.

ELIGIBLITY CRITERIA FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL HMTL

(i) PSLE Score of 8 or better

OR

(ii) PSLE Score of 9 to 14 inclusive; and attain

AL1 / AL2 in MTL or

Distinction / Merit in HMTL

The eligibility criteria for taking HMTL is intended to ensure that

students can cope with the higher academic load, and takes

reference from the current criteria.

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USE OF HCL FOR ADMISSION INTO SAP SCHOOLS

USE OF HCL FOR ADMISSION INTO SAP SCHOOLS

Current System

Students’ HCL grades give posting advantage for SAP

schools

Currently, for admission to SAP schools,

students are awarded bonus T-score

points based on their HCL grade:

3 points for Distinction

2 points for Merit

1 point for Pass

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2nd 8 DISTINCTION

8 MERIT

8 PASS

8 NO HCL

9 DISTINCTION

7 NO HCL1st

3rd

4th

5th

6th

New System

The HCL posting advantage for entry to SAP schools will

continue

Students will be ranked taking into account their

performance in HCL.

This posting advantage applies before the tie-

breakers for S1 posting.

SCORING FOR MTL-EXEMPT AND

STUDENTS STUDYING AN ASIAN

LANGUAGE/ FOREIGN LANGUAGE

(AsL/FL) IN LIEU OF AN MTL

For students who are exempted from MTL or take an AsL/FL in lieuof an official MTL, their PSLE result slip will only reflect the threesubjects they have taken.

However, for the purposes of Secondary 1 posting, these studentswill need an assigned MTL score so that they have a PSLE scorecomprising four subjects

To determine the assigned MTL score, reference is made toMTL scores of other students who have achieved similar scoresin English, Mathematics, and Science.

This is the same approach taken in today’s T-score system.

SCORING FOR MTL-EXEMPT AND AsL/FL STUDENTS

36

In reviewing the score assignment for these students under the newPSLE scoring system, we needed to strike a balance between:

Acknowledging that students have valid reasons for seekingMTL exemption or taking an AsL/FL, and

Ensuring some parity between scoring for exemption,Foundation and Standard MTL.

SCORING FOR MTL-EXEMPT AND AsL/FL STUDENTS

37

Under the new scoring system, the assigned MTL score will :

Take reference from peers with similar scores for English,Mathematics and Science;

While maintaining parity of treatment with students who takeFoundation MTL (who will score between AL 6 to 8).

Hence, students will receive an assigned MTL score between AL 6to 8 in PSLE.

SCORING FOR MTL-EXEMPT AND AsL/FL STUDENTS

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FAMILIARISING STUDENTS AND PARENTS

WITH THE NEW SYSTEM AND GUIDING THEM IN

MAKING SUBJECT CHOICES

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In summary

2020Primary 5

2021Primary 6

2019Primary 4

Scoring for Foundation level subjects – to guide students and parents on whether to take Foundation level subjects at PSLE

Release of Indicative AL COPs – to guide students and parents in making school choices

School Results in Achievement Levels (ALs) –to familiarise students and parents to the new system

Eligibility for Secondary School HMTL – to guide students and parents on whether to take HMTL at PSLE

THANK YOU!

MOE Changes to Affiliation Policy

• MOE will reserve 20% of places in each course (Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical)) at every affiliated secondary school for application from students who do not benefit from affiliation priority.

• This is to also address concerns that affiliates may receive an excessive advantage in school admissions.

• MOE will implement this change starting from the 2019 PSLE cohort for admission into Secondary 1 in 2020.

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Example 1: Affiliate demand more than 80% of places (say, 85 eligible affiliates)in a school with 100 places

(1) Affiliated students• All 85 eligible affiliates – i.e. those who scored

above the Affiliate Minimum PSLE score Requirement (AMR) and indicated the secondary school as their first choice – will be admitted, as there are enough vacancies (100) available.

• The lowest score of the admitted affiliates (i.e. the 85th student) is the affiliate cut-off point (COP).

(2) Students without affiliation priority• There are 15 remaining places for

students without affiliation priority to be posted, who will be admitted based on their PSLE scores

• The lowest score of the admitted non-affiliates is the non-affiliate COP.

Before policy change

100% of S1 places

85 15

Students with affiliation priority

Students without affiliation priority

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Example 1: Affiliate demand more than 80% of places (say, 85 eligible affiliates)in a school with 100 places

Students with affiliation priority

Students without affiliation priority

After policy change

80% of S1 places 20% of S1 places

80 20

(1) Affiliated students• 80 eligible affiliates will be posted based on their PSLE

score until 80% of places are filled. • The affiliate COP is that of the 80th student. The affiliate

COP may increase compared to previous years, and may be higher than the AMR i.e. not all eligible affiliates would be admitted, even if they meet the AMR.

• The remaining 5 eligible affiliates with the lowest PSLE score will not be posted in the priority queue. They will be considered together with other students without affiliation priority, based on PSLE scores.

• If they are not posted to this school, they will be considered for their next choice school.

20% of places reserved for non-affiliates from 2019 S1 Posting

Reminder: In order to benefit from affiliation priority, your child must meet the AMR and choose it as your first choice.

(2) Students without affiliation priority• Students without affiliation priority will

be considered for admission into the 20 ring-fenced places, based on their PSLE scores. This includes the 5 eligible affiliates not posted earlier. They will be considered together with the other students based on merit.

• As there are more places available for those without affiliation priority, the non-affiliate COP may decrease.

Affiliation to St Joseph’s Institution (SJI)

• Based on the demand and academic performance of previous cohorts of affiliates in our school, we do not expect to be affected by the change in affiliation priority for boys qualifying for SJI.

• All of our affiliate applicants are likely to gain admission to SJI. Regardless, we still encourage all our students to continue to work hard and do their best, as always.

Affiliation to St Patrick’s School (SPS)

• Based on the demand and academic performance of previous cohorts of affiliates in our school, we anticipate that a small number of our affiliates applying to the Express and Normal course may potentially not gain admission on the basis of affiliation priority.

• If so, these students will be considered together with non-affiliated students for posting into the school based on their PSLE scores. Any affiliates who are eventually not posted to their first choice will be considered for their next choice school.

• Affiliate Cut-off for Express for S1 2020 change from 188 to 201.

• Those who offered NA/Express (188 to 200) advisable to opt for NA

Direct School Admission

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Changes to DSA

• DSA-Sec provides students an opportunity to enrol in a school based on their talents, potential and achievements that cannot be demonstrated through the PSLE.

• To encourage students to tap on the expanded DSA opportunities, the DSA-Sec application process will be simplified

• From the 2019 DSA-Sec, students will be able to apply for DSA through a centralised DSA-Sec Application Portal, using a common application form.

• The portal will simplify and streamline the DSA application process, making it convenient for all students.

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Examples of Choice Combinations

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A student can apply to up to three different schools, with no restrictions on the talent areas.

If a student choose two areas in one school, he/shecan apply to two different schools only.

A student cannot use all three choices on one school. He/she can leave the third choice blank or choose another school.

EXAMPLE 1

Talent(s) School(s)

Choir School A

Choir School B

Choir School C

EXAMPLE 2

Talent(s) School(s)

Choir School A

String Orchestra School A

Choir School B

EXAMPLE 3(Not allowed)

Talent(s) School(s)

Choir School A

String Orchestra School A

Mathematics School A

DSA Reminders

• Choose schools judiciously

• Develop student’s strengths and interests appropriately

• Check the MOE DSA-Sec around April.

• Once accepted, posting is final

• P5 Results considered if applying for DSA under academic areas eg IP

• Testimonials and letters of recommendation not required

• Applicants interested in SOTA and SSP will have to apply directly to the schools and follow their timelines.

What You Can Do

• Inculcate Good Study Habits

• Help Establish regular Place and Time of Study

• Identify and Prioritise Areas of Weakness

• Plan Study Schedule and Goals

• Try to recall or apply without cues

• Spread Study Everyday

• Encourage them to Talk to you about their progress and fears

• Give Assurance to them

• Beware of Over-Reliance on Tutors

What You Can Do

• Keep channels open with the school

• Check Student Diary Daily / ClassDojo / Parents Gateway

• Encourage and Build Confidence

• Balance Stress

• Manage Own Expectation

• Pray or Relate to higher purpose