Parliamentary Replies
Reveal PSLE Raw Scores
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC
Question
To ask the Minister for Education (a) for the past 3 years, what is the trend for the raw scores of the four core subjects of English, Mother Tongue Language, Science and Mathematics at PSLE; and (b) will the Ministry consider releasing the raw scores for greater transparency so that parents can make more informed decisions on their children’s education.
Response
Currently, PSLE results are reported in terms of (a) subject grades for each of the 4 subjects, and (b) an aggregate score for the 4 subjects.
Subject grades, viz. A*, A, B and so on indicate the level of achievement of a pupil in a subject, i.e. how well a pupil has mastered the knowledge and skills required for the subject. These are assigned on the basis of raw scores.
Trends in raw scores, as reflected in the proportions of students who took four standard subjects and scoring A* to C, have remained relatively stable in the past 3 years (Please see Table 1). The trends for specific grade distribution have also remained relatively stable during the 3-year period, with 1 to 2%-point variation.
Table 1 Percentage range of students1 who obtained A* to C for each subject at the PSLE (from 2007 to 2009)
| Subject | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL | Mathematics | Science | MTL | |
| Proportion of Students obtaining A* to C | 97-98% | 83-84% | 90-92% | 98% |
The PSLE aggregate score reflects the overall performance of a pupil in comparison with his or her peers, and is used for the purpose of the Secondary 1 posting exercise.
The subject grades and aggregate score provide sufficient information on a child’s performance at the PSLE, and raw scores are not necessary. Together with the child’s performance in regular assignments and assessments in schools, parents will have adequate feedback on their child’s progress in education.
Footnote
- Students who took four standard subjects at the PSLE↵