What You Need to Know About the New PSLE Scoring System Score

The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is a big exam for students in Singapore. It marks the end of primary school and helps decide which secondary school a student will attend. In 2021, Singapore introduced a new way to score the PSLE. Instead of using the old T-score system, the PSLE AL score was introduced to make things clearer, fairer, and less stressful for students. Let’s take a closer look at what the PSLE AL score is, how the new PSLE scoring system works, and how it affects students.

What Is the PSLE AL Score?

The PSLE AL score stands for Achievement Level score. Under the new PSLE scoring system, students are no longer ranked based on how they do compared to others. Instead, students are graded on their own performance in each subject.

The four subjects are:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Mother Tongue (e.g., Chinese, Malay, Tamil)

Each subject is scored with AL1 to AL8, with AL1 being the best score. Here’s how the scoring works:

• AL1: 90 marks and above
• AL2: 85 to 89 marks
• AL3: 80 to 84 marks
• AL4: 75 to 79 marks
• AL5: 65 to 74 marks
• AL6: 45 to 64 marks
• AL7: 20 to 44 marks
• AL8: Below 20 marks

The total score is the sum of the AL scores from all four subjects. The PSLE AL score can range from 4 (best) to 32 (lowest).

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How Does the New PSLE Scoring System Work?

The new PSLE scoring system works differently from the old system. Here’s how it works:

1. Individual Scores, Not Relative Performance: Under the old T-score system, students were ranked based on how well they did compared to others. This created a lot of stress. The new system focuses only on each student’s own performance. This means students are not compared to their classmates.
2. Total PSLE AL Score: After scoring in each subject, the AL scores are added together to form a total score. This total score will be between 4 and 32.
3. Secondary School Placement: The PSLE AL score is used to decide which secondary school a student will go to. Secondary schools use the total score to decide on placements.
4. Tie-breaking: If two students have the same PSLE AL score, other factors like school choice and citizenship may be considered. If necessary, a computerized balloting system is used to break ties.

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Why Was the New PSLE Scoring System Introduced?

The new PSLE scoring system was introduced to address a few issues with the old system. Here’s why the change was needed:

1. Less Stress: The old system made students compete with each other. This caused a lot of stress. The new system allows students to focus on their own performance, which helps reduce pressure.
2. Fairer Grading: The PSLE AL score is based on how well each student does in their own subjects, not how they compare to others. This makes grading fairer and gives a clearer picture of a student’s abilities.
3. Encouraging Learning: The new system encourages students to focus on learning and improving, rather than just competing for the top score.
4. Simpler Placement: The PSLE AL score system is easier to understand, making the process of placing students in secondary schools simpler and clearer.

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Benefits of the New PSLE Scoring System for Students

The PSLE AL score system offers several benefits for students:

1. Less Competition: Students no longer need to worry about how they compare to their classmates. The focus is on their own achievements, which reduces competition and stress.
2. Fairer Assessments: Since students are assessed individually, the PSLE AL score gives a fairer reflection of each student’s abilities.
3. Encouragement to Learn: The new system encourages students to learn for the sake of understanding the material, not just to get a higher score than their friends.
4. Easier to Understand: The PSLE AL score system is simpler to understand. The total score makes it easy for students and parents to know how they performed.

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Tips to Help Your Child Prepare for the PSLE

If you’re a parent, it’s important to know how the PSLE AL score works so that you can help your child prepare for the exam. Here are a few tips:

1. Create a Study Plan: Help your child develop a regular study routine. Studying a little every day can help reduce last-minute stress.
2. Focus on Understanding: Encourage your child to understand the concepts, not just memorize facts. This will help them in the long run.
3. Stay Positive: Celebrate the effort your child puts into their studies, not just the final results. A positive mindset can make a big difference.
4. Support Their School Choices: Once the results are out, help your child decide on the best secondary school based on their interests, not just academic ranking.

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Conclusion

The new PSLE scoring system and the PSLE AL score are positive changes that aim to reduce stress, make grading fairer, and encourage students to focus on learning. The PSLE AL score system is simple and easy to understand, making it a more transparent way to assess students’ performance.

For parents, understanding how the new system works will help you better support your child during their PSLE preparation. With the right approach, your child can do their best, focus on their learning, and feel less stressed about the process.