Programme components

In January, students must attend a half-day briefing by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Gifted Education Branch (GEB), MOE.

At the briefing, you will meet your NUS Supervisor to discuss administrative matters and plan your consultation schedule. This introductory session is not meant for you to discuss your research content.

After the briefing, you will be given a familiarisation tour of the FASS campus and NUS Library. You will also need to complete the NUS matriculation procedures and get your NUS student card.

After the briefing, you will start on your independent study and research under the guidance of your NUS Supervisor. You will meet them to get their expert guidance and feedback in a series of consultation sessions.

Your research topic and focus

There is no need to rework your initial research proposal as it does not need to be submitted with your Extended Essay for grading. However, your NUS Supervisor may ask you to refine or rework your proposal if they think that the process is beneficial to you.

You are advised to keep to the topic and focus you first selected, where possible. The topics offered have been approved as they are within the subject's scope at the A-Level, and are valid extensions of learning from the current H2 syllabi of the various subjects.

You can, with the support of your NUS Supervisor, change the topic or focus of your Extended Essay, provided you understand that it may result in possible consequences for you. Changing the topic of focus of your research may result in work that does not follow H3 requirements in terms of learning outcomes or standards. It may also be disadvantageous to you if the new topic or focus demands knowledge or skills that are not built upon those from the H2 level. If you wish to change your topic or focus of your Extended Essay, please get in touch with your Teacher Co-ordinator and GEB officers.

Consultation sessions

Discussions of your essays should be carried out during these sessions with your NUS Supervisor. There should be no email discussions of your research. Such sessions should be held as face-to-face meetings, except for extraordinary circumstances where alternative modes are needed and used with approval.

You may arrange a maximum of 6 consultation sessions. These sessions should end by the mentorship period for the year, which is normally at the end of May. You are advised to have at least 1 meeting close to the end of the mentorship period. Beyond the supervision period, you have to continue your research and writing to complete your Extended Essay on your end. You are strongly advised to use your time wisely and plan your schedule of work in advance.

You may give a draft of the work you have done to your NUS Supervisor before your scheduled sessions. However, to help you work independently, you are encouraged to take notes of their feedback during the discussion. Your NUS Supervisor will not provide written feedback on your drafts.

Though you may have your NUS Supervisor's expert advice to guide you, it is still your responsibility to craft your research questions and design, implement your research plan, interpret and analyse your research material and data, reach informed conclusions and write your Extended Essay. Your Teacher Co-ordinator cannot be involved in your research and writing process.

Find out what you can expect of your NUS Supervisor and Teacher Co-ordinator.
 

Resources

You will have access to the NUS Library for resources from the date of your matriculation to the submission date of your Extended Essay.

Please seek help from the NUS Library staff if you encounter problems with access to library resources.

There are no funds for purchase of additional resources outside of NUS Library resources. Please ensure that your scope of research investigates an area in which data and resources are available.

Content

The Extended Essay is the final product you submit to be assessed for the learning you have gained from this programme.

It must be your original work and free from plagiarism.

It should also not replicate the content of any other paper you have offered or are offering for the A-Level examination. That means that your Extended Essay should not:

• Repeat the same research topic or areas of study if you are taking both NUS-MOE HSSR and MOE H3 Research.
• Use the primary texts that are used in corresponding H1 or H2 subjects for NUS-MOE HSSR in Literature in English, Chinese Language and Literature, or Malay Language and Literature.

Language

If you take the NUS-MOE HSSR (Chinese Language and Literature), your Extended Essay must be written in Chinese. Similarly, Extended Essay for NUS-MOE HSSR (Malay Language and Literature) must be written in Malay.

The Extended Essay for the other NUS-MOE HSSR subjects should be written in English.

Word limit

The word limit is:

• 4,500 to 6,500 words for Chinese Language and Literature.
• 3,500 to 4,500 words for all other subjects.

As with other MOE H3 Research guidelines, assessment will only be based on the main body of the Extended Essay within the word limit.

The word limit includes quotations and in-text citations. It excludes, where applicable:

• Abstract
• Content page
• Title and content of diagrams, such as graphs, charts, tables, illustrations, and maps
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography or references
• Appendices
• Glossary
• Footnotes
• Page numbers

Format

You may refer to the suggested presentation format. Please check with your NUS Supervisor for specific instructions or preferred format as these may vary by disciplines.

Your research proposal does not need to be submitted for grading with your Extended Essay.

Learn how to submit your Extended Essay.

Assessment

Your Extended Essay will be:

• Assessed by your NUS Supervisor and a second assessor from a panel of examiners.
• Reviewed by the panel of examiners to ensure consistency across all assessments.
• Graded Distinction, Merit, Pass or Ungraded, in alignment to the grading of all H3 subjects.

Find out more about the assessment rubrics.