The Academic Journey
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A typical Singaporean students’ academic journey towards the ‘O’ Levels is one that is marked by commitment, diligence and concentration on academic achievement. Students in Singapore go through a rigorous and regimented educational system from an early age that prepares them for the ‘O’ Level examinations, which they sit for at the end of their secondary school education. If you’re a Singaporean parent, national examinations might have been a cause of stress to you as well as your child! This article will break down the academic journey leading up to ‘O’ Levels and assess various alternatives to study for it.
Starting from primary school, students receive a comprehensive education in various subjects. This includes English, Mathematics, Science, Mother Tongue languages and humanities. As students progress to the secondary school level, the curriculum becomes more specialised and demanding. On top of the core subjects, they also choose elective subjects and the focus begins to shift towards preparing for the ‘O’ Level examinations.
The ‘O’ Level examinations are seen as a significant milestone for Singaporean students. The results of the ‘O’ Level examinations determine the eligibility for admission into junior colleges, polytechnics or other post-secondary institutions. They pave the way for further education and career opportunities.
Advantages vs Disadvantages
Advantages of Taking ‘O’ Levels under the Public School System
Support system: The preparation for the ‘O’ Level examinations intensifies in the final year of secondary school. Students go through rigorous revision and practice sessions to ensure they are well-prepared for the examinations. To support their academic journey, students often attend supplementary classes and participate in school-based remedial programmes. They are organised by the school itself and the teachers come up with the programme schedule to lend their support to these students.
The school sets up continuous assessments and internal examinations. The students are then given feedback to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. This enables the students to be familiar with the expectations of the ‘O’ Level examinations. Beyond the extensive studying, students also complete past year papers and seek guidance from their teachers to familiarise themselves with the examinations.
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Inclusion of CCA towards grades: Alongside the academic curriculum, students also participate in co-curricular activities (CCAs), which include sports, arts, leadership and community service. Their CCAs are also graded and can be counted towards their ‘O’ Level grade.
Natural discipline and access to resources: The students do not have to engage much in planning as the school does it for them. The structured and organised quality instils discipline in the teenagers. This decreases their tendency to be distracted and increases focus in students. All they have to do is turn up as the resources and coaching are provided to them. For example, lab sessions for practical examinations are scheduled for the students. Outside of school, finding a lab to practise for Science practicals is not easy. Such as this, there are many other opportunities that are provided with ease to students under the public school system. Overall, this is the academic journey of Singaporean students that are under the public school system.
Price: The local government has made primary and secondary school education as affordable as possible. Sitting for ‘O’ Levels the traditional way is therefore much cheaper overall.
Disadvantages of Taking ‘O’ Levels under the Public School System
Stress and Pressure: The frequent internal examinations and tests can prove to be a double-edged sword. They can be a source of high-stress for students. The grading also puts pressure to perform well, which may lead to anxiety and negatively impact mental and emotional well-being.
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Inflexibility of school hours: School strictly starts at 7.40am or so, and ends close to 2pm. When students sit for their ‘O’ Level examinations, the hours extend to include supplementary classes and night study programmes as mentioned above. The constantly long hours of studying and waking up early can cause insomnia in students. Research shows that early school start times make students less productive and attentive in school. Hence, students have no choice but to deal with getting less sleep, which may result in lesser efficiency in their work.
Limited Assessment Scope: The school curriculum tends to focus on memorisation and regurgitation of information such as definitions and formulas. Understandably, this helps in recalling answers. However, there are other ways of assessing a question, which involves a different set of skills like creativity, problem-solving or practical application. The school’s limited assessment scope may not fully reflect a student’s true abilities and potential.
Increased Competition: Examinations may create a competitive environment among students, which could result in unhealthy comparisons and a sense of rivalry. Some students might experience excessive peer pressure and dissatisfaction with themselves, which could hinder teamwork and a positive learning environment.
Advantages of Taking ‘O’ Levels Privately
Alternative approaches: Instead of using the conventional ‘teaching to the test’ approach, private candidates have opportunities for more holistic and creative learning experiences. This gives them a different perspective to approach the curriculum and tackle the questions.
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Flexibility: Private ‘O’ Level candidates have more flexibility in terms of setting their study schedule, pace and choice of subjects. They can tailor their learning approach to suit their individual body clock, needs and preferences. Private candidates also have the flexibility to choose when to take their examinations, allowing them to prepare and sit for the ‘O’ Levels at a time that aligns with their readiness and personal circumstances.
Personalised Attention: Private candidates may receive more personalised attention from their tutors or instructors. Often, private institutions have a smaller class size with more opportunities for one-on-one instruction. This can lead to a more focused and targeted learning experience. This results in individualised support and remedial assistance in areas where they need the most. This can help address specific learning gaps or challenges.
Disadvantages of Taking ‘O’ Levels as a Private Candidate
Self-Motivation and Responsibility: Private candidates have to take greater ownership of their learning journey. This is dependent on their self-motivation, discipline and the level of responsibility since they have to navigate their studies independently. They also set their own time and pace, which can be difficult to manage.
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Cost: The cost of sitting for private ‘O’ Level tuition and paying for examination fees can be significantly higher compared to local, non-private schools. This may pose a financial burden for some individuals or families.
Limited Resources: Private candidates may also have limited access to resources and facilities compared to those available in public schools. They may need to rely on self-study materials and online resources to supplement their learning. This is especially the case for Science practicals where lab sessions make a difference. Hence, the lack of structure may create challenges.
Social Interaction: Private candidates also miss out on the social interactions and the collaborative learning opportunities that are often present in a conventional school environment. This can affect the overall learning experience and personal development.
The Importance of Practice
It’s important to carefully weigh these factors and evaluate one’s learning preferences, resources and support systems to determine what would be the best academic route. As assessed above, there are different ways for one to prepare themselves for the ‘O’ Level examinations.
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However, one aspect that students from either route will mutually agree upon is that practice is required. Any sincere student sitting for a major examination will be seen constantly practising. Practice is important in education and is widely acknowledged as being essential to success and mastery across a range of academic disciplines. Here are some benefits behind the act of practising in education:
Reinforcement in Learning: Practice aids in the consolidation and reinforcement of the knowledge and abilities learnt in the classroom. It enables students to put what they have learnt into practice, which helps them remember and understand it better. Practice and repetition improve memory retention and retrieval, ensuring that ideas are imprinted in long-term memory.
Skill Development: Many subjects, such as Mathematics, Sciences, Languages and Arts, require the development of specific skills. Students can become more proficient and confident in their capabilities by regularly practising these skills. Consistent practice fosters competence and encourages mastery, whether the activity is doing experiments, writing essays or solving equations.
Critical Thinking and Skills Transfer: When students regularly practise, they transfer knowledge and skills from one context to another. This allows them to recognise patterns and principles that are applicable across different problems and situations. Practice enables students to see the broader applications of what they have learnt and then adapt their knowledge to new problems. Through practice, they learn to identify patterns, evaluate information and make connections, which help them to solve complex problems. These skills are invaluable in real-world contexts and prepare students for future challenges.
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Building Confidence and Motivation: As students keep practising and progress, they build confidence in their abilities. This motivates them to continue learning and exploring new challenges. Regular practice helps students overcome obstacles, build resilience and instils a sense of achievement. This builds their confidence in examinations.
Effectiveness of TYS
The ‘Ten Year Series’ (TYS) is great practice material to develop the set of abilities required for ‘O’ Level examinations. The Ten Year Series is designed to help students practise and revise past examination questions. The TYS familiarises them with the format, style and content of the examinations, which enhances their examination preparedness and confidence.
The TYS covers a wide range of subjects across different educational levels, including primary school, secondary school and junior college (pre-university). Common subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and various subjects at the junior college level.
They contain a compilation of past year examination papers from previous years. These papers are typically sourced from previous national examinations and come with
answer keys and detailed solutions. This allows students to check their answers, identify areas of improvement and understand the reasoning behind each solution.
The TYS serves as a useful resource for students to review and practise questions similar to those on examinations. Students can evaluate their comprehension of subjects, cultivate their problem-solving abilities and enhance their time management during examinations by attempting a range of questions. These supplementary materials aim to provide students with extra support and guidance in their examination preparation.
The Singapore Ten Year Series is widely available in bookstores, educational centres and the official website of SAP . Students and teachers often incorporate the TYS as part of their examination preparation toolkit as it is a useful resource for practice and revision.
Conclusion
By a myriad of methods such as school textbooks, assessment books, TYS, consultation with teachers and engaging in active learning strategies, students can achieve a comprehensive understanding of the subjects, which will help them to ace their ‘O’ Level examinations. Since the ‘O’ Level examinations in Singapore are a critical juncture for secondary school students, they should give proper consideration to the route they want to take. And if they are fixed to either one of the routes, they should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of their pathway. In this way, they assess how to work with the limitations and benefits they have.
