PSLE New Scoring System & Achievement Levels (AL)

Under the AL grading system, there are eight different PSLE scoring bands awarded for all standard PSLE subjects. The scoring range for each PSLE standard subject is as follows:

Under the AL grading system, there are three different PSLE scoring bands awarded for all foundational PSLE subjects. The scoring range for each PSLE foundation subject is:

There will be no bonus points under the new AL system like there used to be with the T-score system for Higher Mother Tongue.

However, if 2 students have the same AL score, the student with better Higher Chinese grades will be given priority if he/she is applying to a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) School. This advantage applies before other tie-breakers for Secondary 1 posting.

An example of the order of consideration for students gaining admission to an SAP School:

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The final PSLE score will be the sum of the 4 subject scores. It would range from 4 to 32, with 4 being the best possible total score.

An example of a student scoring an Achievement Level Score of 15 is as follows:

Under the new system, there are no passing or failing grades for the individual subjects.
For each individual subject, an Achievement level of 8 is considered “Ungraded”.

To progress to the Normal Techinical N(T) course, a student have to obtain a PSLE AL score of 26 to 30 in addition to scoring an AL7 or better in both English Language and Mathematics can progress to the N(T) course.

Under the new system, the maximum score you can get under the new PSLE system is the lowest score of 4.

The first batch of PSLE students using the new scoring system will take the PSLE in 2021.

MOE will only release indicative COPs for now.

Here’s the latest updated 2020 table showing the respective PSLE scores and expected placement outcomes.

The indicative Achievement Level Cut-Off-Point (AL COP) ranges for the different school types will be derived based on the previous year cohort’s PSLE results and school choices.

Based on the score of the last student admitted, MOE will take the lowest and the highest indicative AL COPs of schools within each school type (Government and Government-aided Schools, Autonomous Schools and Independent Schools) to obtain the range of indicative AL COPs.

The simulation is purely indicative and the actual AL COP for a school may vary from year to year, as they depend on the PSLE results and school choice patterns of each P6 cohort.

With the new grading system, there will be more students with the same AL score due to wider scoring bands.

Hence, there would be more tie-breaking, particulary if students pick the same school.

The order of tie-breaking is first based on citizenship, followed by choice of school. Subsequently, a computerised ballot will be used if there is still a tie.

Balloting will be computerised and conducted centrally by MOE HQ, the same balloting process for admission to Junior Colleges / Centralised Institute, Polytechnics and ITE.

Under the new AL banding system, more secondary schools will likely have similar AL Cut-off Points (AL COP).

This was done intentionally as the MOE wants parents to choose schools not just purely based on academics but to consider other factors, such as:

• The school’s environment and culture
• Whether the school programmes fit the child’s interests and aspirations
• Proximity to their homes

Parents are encouraged to research on each school’s programmes such as: Co-Curricular Activities (CCA), Learning for Life Programme (LLP), Applied Learning Programme (ALP)

Another important point to note is that choice of schools will now be used as a tie-breaker (from 2021 onwards), so be sure to choose your schools wisely!

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As part of the shift towards a less academic-driven focus, MOE wants parents and students to give more consideration about school choices and not just look purely at the cut-off points.

By placing a greater weight on the order of choice of schools, families will have to think more carefully about the school’s culture, CCAs and programmes, as well as proximity to their homes.

This will result in students entering secondary schools which better suit their interests and needs.

The main purpose of the new AL scoring system is to have students less finely differentiated by having more students with similar AL scores.

Under the old T-Score grading system, there would be 300 possible T-scores as compared to the new AL system with only over 29 possible AL scores.

The PSLE examination papers and answers are marked by teachers from the MOE and SEAB.

After the end of the last PSLE papers, there will be around four days spent marking the PSLE scripts. Throughout the four-day “Marking Days”, teachers from all over Singapore will go to secured, centralised locations to look through and grade every individual PSLE paper.

During the marking process, each written exam script will be marked and verified separately by two teachers. A third teacher will also examine the marks awarded by both teachers to make sure that they are similar. If the difference in the scores is too big, the paper will be re-marked by a third teacher.

To help with consistency and accuracy of marking, all teachers will be given a comprehensive marking scheme that standardises the marking process. In addition, all written papers should be anonymous and randomised across the marking locations, minimising the chances that a teacher will mark their student’s paper.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are shaded on optical answer sheets (OAS) and will be digitally marked with an optical mark recogniser. If they are any errors with the OAS, the OAS will be marked by a teacher physically.

The bell curve grading is no longer used in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), the Ministry of Education (MOE) has said.

This means a student’s score would not be weighted against his peers.

For example, if a student scores 92 in a subject, he will receive an AL1 grade automatically.

In 2020, 98.4% of Primary 6 students are eligible for Secondary Schools.

This is broken down into 66.3% eligible for Express course, 21.2% for Normal (Academic) course and 11% for Normal (Technical) course.