Full question: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the number of examinations in school.
Source: Modified version of a Jurong Sec 2 2019 MYE paper
Answering tips:
This is a discursive topic; you will need to present two advantages and two disadvantages for this essay. Aside from knowledge about education in Singapore, you will likely need an awareness of (somewhat) recent trends in parenting, as well as student wellness (e.g. mental health) to answer this question. Read up!
Model Essay:
Examinations were made to assess how well a student knew their material, and to give them (and their concerned parents) a way to track their progress. Why are we then trying to reduce their numbers instead? It appears that despite the stated purposes and benefits of examinations, concerns have surfaced regarding the stress caused by examinations, and whether they are even useful to begin with. Here, I will look at some advantages and disadvantages of reducing the number of examinations in school.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Stated | Declared; said out |
| Surfaced | “Appeared” (think of something previously unknown floating up from the deep sea) |
| Writing tip: use of the (brackets)This can be done so to add on extra information to a piece of text + give it extra emphasis. In the use case above, we add on that the parents of a stated student can also benefit indirectly from an exam. Do use this only sparingly – use it too much, and it can become distracting! | |
One clear advantage for reducing the number of examinations in school is lesser psychological stress on students, and more time for them to rest. Students juggle multiple subjects in school as well as non-academic commitments such as co-curricular activities – and even the need to have personal rest and relaxation. Many students already are not getting sufficient sleep; the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has called this situation “a public health crisis[1]”. When basic biological processes are seen as burdensome, we need to reflect on whether the demands placed on students are still sustainable.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Juggle | To balance and keep up |
| Commitments | Responsibilities; things one must do/carry out |
| Biological | Relating to natural bodily processes |
| Burdensome | In a way that is tiring and a bother to do |
| Sustainable | Can be done over a long period of time |
Reducing the number of examinations can also be beneficial to the way classes are conducted. Lesser focus will need to be placed on exam-specific answering techniques. This means educators and students both have greater space to enjoy more interactive and investigative-based learning, such as hands-on practicals and project-based tasks (or even assessments). These alternative methods can give rise to more engaging forms of learning. Furthermore, it can develop vital soft skills such as critical evaluation and teamwork, areas which an examination may not be able to accurately assess.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Investigative-(based learning) | Researching and examining facts to learn more about them. This can be used to describe a style of learning where personal research is required. |
| Project-based | Relating to things done as a project, as opposed to an examination. |
| Critical evaluation | To judge something and assess its merits and flaws |
Yet, reducing the number of examinations in schools can be disadvantageous in the long run. Examinations remain one of the most surefire ways to track whether a student is able to understand and apply concepts taught in class. It can also gauge how a student is performing in comparison to their peers, given that every student taking the same exam has undergone the same curriculum as well. Major examinations such as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) have therefore been retained for its tried-and-tested means of assessing a student’s future educational options, across generations. Examinations continue to hold an important spot in the vast majority of assessment frameworks as well, both academically and professionally.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Surefire | Definite; very clear |
| Gauge | Determine; benchmark |
| Curriculum | A syllabus; subjects studied in a school and topics they include |
| Vast | Extremely large |
| Professionally | In a work setting or meant for work Note: This word is used to refer to a professional qualification. This is awarded by organisations other than schools. These organisations often function for a specific job industry. |
When reducing the number of examinations, are we unwittingly disadvantaging the lower-income households in the process? While schools have tried to reduce examinations, concerned parents have voiced opposition; tuition centres swiftly responded to demand by opening new classes, promising mock exams to fill this gap. We are now seeing something of an arms race, where only the more financially secure families can afford multiple tuition classes while those with more restricted spending powers lag behind.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Unwittingly | Unintentionally |
| Arms race | A competition between two or more countries where each of them continuously spend to grow their military might and outperform the other countries |
| Lag behind | To fall behind and be much slower than others |
Overall, reducing examinations can translate to lesser stress for students, allowing them to be better rested and therefore perform better. Perhaps it may even encourage schools to reinvent how they conduct lessons. However, we do need to ask, in academically-centric Singapore, whether reducing the number of examinations is truly beneficial for the students. True change may come about only when Singaporeans from all walks of lives come together and have that discussion about what education truly means for each of them.
| Vocabulary List | |
| Reinvent | To redesign and improve |
| Centric | Focused |
(540 words)
[1] https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/gia/article/sleep-deprivation-in-singapore-a-public-health-crisis