Everything You Need To Know About The Changes To The PSLE, O/N/A Level
Dates of examination and Common Last Topics excluded.
5-minute read
Posted on: 6 May 2020
Last updated: 10 May 2020
Gearing your child up for a national exam this year? Unsure of how the circuit breaker will affect the examinations? Overwhelmed by scattered pieces of information? Our article consolidates changes to the examinable topics at every national examinations and some comments from educators.
Common Last Topics (CLTs) are those identified by Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) which will be excluded in the national exams but they will still be taught in schools.
As we will be actively updating these tables to reflect the latest changes and incorporate new information regarding national exams, do check back this page periodically.
Last but not least, with the Term 2 holidays in session, students should be utilising this period to brush up and deepen their understanding of examinable content as well as build up critical thinking and problem-solving skills. One way is by practising questions that require integrated knowledge across various topics.
Section 1: PSLE
Subject | Examination date | Topics excluded from examinations | Quick comments from educators surveyed |
---|---|---|---|
English | 1 Oct | NONE | NIL |
Mother tongue | 5 Oct | ||
Higher mother tongue | 7 Oct | ||
Mathematics Standard | 2 Oct | Speed, Volume, Pie Charts, Solid Figures and Nets | - Takes up 10-15% of the examination - Could mean greater emphasis on topics such as Algebra and Geometry which are crucial for Secondary math |
Mathematics Foundation | 2 Oct | Geometry, Pie Charts, Volume | - Takes up 10-15% of the examination |
Science Standard | 6 Oct | Interactions with Environment (Food webs, adaptations, Man and the Environment) | - Takes up 15 - 20% of the examination - Could give students room to strengthen other topics e.g. Forces and Energy which are more conceptually challenging - Students could broaden exposure to question types and train creative problem solving skills as PSLE Science typically contains 1-2 unanticipated questions to differentiate A and A* students |
Science Foundation | 6 Oct |
Section 2: O Level Examinations
Subject | Examination date | Topics excluded from examinations | Quick comments from educators surveyed |
---|---|---|---|
English | P1 & P2: 20 Oct P3: 22 Oct | NONE | NIL |
Chinese* | 18 Jun * | ||
Higher Chinese | P1 & P2: 3 Nov | ||
Elementary Mathematics | P1: 19 Oct P2: 21 Oct | Vectors in two dimensions | - Challenging chapter for the average student - An important topic that takes up 5 - 10% of the examination - For JC-bound students, be sure that your 2021JC teacher does not assume prior knowledge, and a note of caution - Vectors is one of the most (arguably the most, in fact) demanding topics in A Level JC1 |
Additional Mathematics | P1: 23 Oct P2: 26 Oct | Proofs in plane geometry | - Most students (and teachers) will rejoice as this is a chapter they shun - Standalone topic and typically takes up 4hrs of teaching time - Takes up to 5% of the examination - Good students used to find this topic a breeze, they will now have to improve on accuracy to differentiate themselves |
Chemistry | P1: 11 Nov P2: 27 Oct | Organic Chemistry: - Fuels and crude oil - Alkanes - Alkenes - Alcohols - Carboxylic acids - Macromolecules | - One of the most challenging themes in Chemistry - Takes up to 15% of the examination in 2019 and 2018 O Levels - However, for students who are aiming for JC, the exclusion of this theme may mean that they need to spend their holidays with organic chemistry as it makes up one full topic, out of four, of the extension syllabus in A Level |
Combined Sciences (Chem) | P1: 12 Nov P3: 27 Oct | Organic Chemistry: - Fuels and crude oil - Alkanes - Alkenes - Alcohols - Carboxylic acids |
|
Biology | P1: 10 Nov P2: 28 Oct | Organisms and their Environment: - Energy Flow - Food Chains and Food Webs - Carbon Cycle - Effects of Man on the Ecosystem - Environmental Biotechnology - Conservation | - Usually tested in Section B (Free-response Questions) - Takes up 5-10% of the examination - For students considering to take Biology in JC, these topics will be linked to a major theme typically taught in JC Year 2. Thus, students will need to catch up on these topics prior to entering JC |
Combined Sciences (Bio) | P1: 12 Nov P4: 28 Oct |
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Physics | P1: 9 Nov P2: 29 Oct | Electromagnetic Induction: - Principles of electromagnetic induction - The a.c. generator - Use of cathode-ray oscilloscope - The transformer | - Takes up around 5% of the examination - A load off the students in terms of revision, but schools will still be teaching this theme as it is essential for JC |
Combined Sciences (Phy) | P1: 12 Nov P2: 29 Oct P3: 27 Oct | Magnetism and Electromagnetism: - Laws of magnetism - Magnetic properties of matter - Magnetic field - Magnetic effect of a current - Application of the magnetic effect of a current - Force on a current-carrying conductor |
|
Social Studies# | 26 Oct | -Issue 3: Being part of a Globalised World: a) Different responses to tensions arising from some security impacts of globalisation b) How do we respond to tensions arising from some security impacts of globalisation? | - Content reduced (less to remember!) but skills examined remain unchanged |
Combined Geography | 26 Oct | - Topic 4: What are the trends and challenges in the production of food crops? | |
Combined History | 26 Oct | - Reasons for the end of Cold War | |
Pure Geography | P1: 27 Oct P2: 30 Oct | - Topic 6: How can we manage the current and future spread of infectious diseases? | |
Pure History | P1: 28 Oct P2: 5 Nov | - Reasons for the end of Cold War - Reunification and establishment of independent Communist Vietnam, 1975 - Establishment of Independent Indonesia, 1949 |
|
Principles of Accounts | P1: 30 Oct P2: 29 Oct | - Financial Statement Analysis | - An independent topic that is unpopular with students, removal will be a load off them but unlikely to result in major changes to the examination |
*This is the revised date for Mother Tongue
#This reflects the general date for combined humanities
Section 3: N(A) Level Examinations
Subject | Examination date | Topics excluded from examinations | Quick comments from educators surveyed |
---|---|---|---|
English | P1 & P2: 15 Sep | NONE | NIL |
Mathematics | P1: 6 Oct P2: 9 Oct | - Circle Properties | - An independent topic that is challenging to students who are weak in geometry and visualising skills |
Additional Mathematics | P1: 12 Oct P2: 13 Oct | - Application of Integration: Definite integrals and Area of a Region | - An important and conceptual topic in Calculus that is heavy on application, weaker students will rejoice at its exclusion |
Principles of Accounts | P1: 12 Oct P2: 14 Oct | - Correction of Errors | - A relatively easy and independent topic, should not cause major changes to the examination |
Combined Sciences (Chem) | P3 & P4: 7 Oct P5 & P6: 9 Oct | Organic Chemistry: - Fuels and crude oil - Alkanes - Alkenes | - One of the most challenging themes in Chemistry - Students often find it confusing and difficult to apply the concepts of this theme |
Combined Sciences (Bio) | P1 & P2: 5 Oct P3 & P4: 7 Oct | Reproduction: - Asexual reproduction - Sexual reproduction in plants - Sexual reproduction in animals - Sexually transmitted diseases | - A topic with a lot of technical terms and detailed processes, it would save students a lot of time in revision |
Combined Sciences (Phy) | P1 & P2: 5 Oct P3 & P4: 7 Oct | Practical Electricity: - Electrical Power and energy - Dangers of electricity - Safe use of electricity | - A topic that requires mainly memory and recall rather than application of concepts - Does not take up a significant percentage of total marks in the examination |
Social Studies | P1: 14 Sep | - Issue 3, Chapter 9: How do we respond to tensions arising from some economic impacts of globalisation? | - Content reduced (less to remember!) but skills examined remain unchanged |
Combined Geography | P2: 8 Oct | Global Tourism - Is tourism the way to go? Key Question 3: Developing tourism at what cost? - Assess the impact of tourism on a country - Explain how tourism can be made sustainable - Discuss the roles of various groups in taking care of the tourist areas |
|
Combined History | P2: 6 Oct | World War II in Europe and the Asia Pacific - Reasons for the outbreak of WWII in the Asia Pacific - Economic crisis in Japan - Japan’s expansionist foreign policy - Weaknesses of League of Nations - Japan’s worsening relations with the USA World War II in Europe and the Asia Pacific - Reasons for the defeat of Japan - Allied victory in Europe Economic and military might of USA - Overextension of Japanese empire |
Section 4: A Level Examinations
Subject | Examination date | Topics excluded from examinations | Quick comments from educators surveyed |
---|---|---|---|
General Paper | P1 & P2: 2 Nov | NONE | NIL |
H1 Economics | P1: 12 Nov | Monetary policy: - Centered on interest rates - Centered on exchange rates | - Might still have questions which weave in concepts related to these topics - Students who actually learn these themes might be able to give better analysed and balanced answers |
H2 Economics | P1: 12 Nov P2: 18 Nov | - Theme 3.3 Globalisation and the International Economy | |
H1/ H2 Mathematics | P1: 3 Nov P2: 6 Nov (H2 only) | - Correlation and Linear regression | - A topic that is relatively easy to understand and score, compared to other topics in Statistics, as answers can largely be derived from the GDC |
Further Mathematics | P1: 23 Nov 2020 P2: 25 Nov 2020 | - Non-parametric tests | - Takes up around 10% of Paper 2 |
H1/ H2 Physics | P1: 27 Nov P2: 17 Nov P3: 19 Nov (P3 for H2 only) | - Nuclear Physics | - Takes up around 10% of the examination - Definitely a huge load off the student |
H1 Chemistry | P1: 24 Nov P2: 5 Nov | - Nanomaterials | - A relatively new theme, added in 2018 - Takes up 3 - 8% of the examination |
H2 Chemistry | P1: 24 Nov P2: 5 Nov P3: 11 Nov | - An Introduction to the Chemistry of Transition Elements - Catalytic role of Fe2+ in the I– /S2O82– reaction | - May not have significant changes to the exams as this usually appear as sub-questions or in practicals - However, could possibly appear as application question |
H1/ H2 Biology | P1: 26 Nov P2: 18Nov P3: 20 Nov (P3 for H2 only) | - Impact of Climate Change on Animals and Plants | - Definitely a load off the students as this topic is content-heavy and application-based - General knowledge is key should there be questions with this concept woven in |
This is a non-exhaustive list, showing only the most commonly taken subjects during the national examinations. For the complete list, please refer to:
PSLE: https://tinyurl.com/y8kedbty
O Level: https://tinyurl.com/yx9j5wgx
N(A) Level: https://tinyurl.com/y3sm2oh5
A Level: https://tinyurl.com/y3llxrfe
Special thanks to Mr Leong, Mrs Tan and Mr Lee who have given their valuable inputs for this article. For more information on our programme offerings, feel free to contact us.