Students who were unable to sit for the GCE O-and A-level Mother Tongue language examinations in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be given special consideration and assessed fairly, said the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).
It said that the students will not be disadvantaged.
Some students who missed the mid-year written examination tested positive for COVID-19 and were subsequently placed on leave of absence (LOA), Stay-home Notice (SHN) or Home Quarantine Order (HQO).
Earlier this month (7 July), four more students from four different schools reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. They hail from the following schools: Bedok View Secondary School, East Spring Primary School, Jurong West Primary School and Jurong West Secondary School.
Photo: File photo
Students and staff who were in contact with the confirmed cases were also required to undergo a 14-day leave of absence by the Ministry of Education (MOE) or home quarantine order from the health ministry.
Special Consideration for Affected Candidates
There can be special consideration for candidates affected by COVID-19, an SEAB spokesman told The Straits Times.
The condition however, is that students will have to sit for the remaining oral and listening comprehension examinations scheduled this month.
The special consideration application is also applicable to candidates outside of the COVID-19 period, such as those facing unexpected situations such as illness, injury, or the bereavement of a family member.
Affected candidates will have to submit relevant documents including medical reports or statement from a qualified medical practitioner via their respective schools to SEAB to support their application for special consideration.
Private candidates on the other hand, will have to submit them directly to SEAB.
Students who missed exams due to COVID-19 can be granted special consideration. Photo: Screengrab/SEAB
Typically, students will have to complete at least 50% component weighting of the total assessment for the affected subject in order to qualify for special consideration application, among others.
However, in light of the COVID-19 situation—which is considered an “exceptional circumstance”—SEAB will assess special consideration on a case by case basis for affected candidates who have not completed at least 50% component weighting of the total assessment for the affected subject.
Photo: iStock
All applications are subjected to a rigorous review process and assessed individually.
How Will Candidates Be Affected?
A grade will be awarded to affected students who missed exams due to COVID-19.
According to SEAB, the marks will be projected “based on multiple sources of evidence” including their performance in other papers for the affected subject in the national examination.
They include:
- Oral and listening comprehension
- Performance of the school cohort in the same examination
- Candidate’s school-based assessment
Affected candidates can also decide if they wish to sit for the year-end paper—there is a second round of written examinations at the end of the year.
This option is available to students yearly, and not specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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