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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

SubjectExamination
date
Topics excluded from examinationsQuick comments from educators surveyed
English1 Oct NONENIL
Mother tongue5 Oct
Higher mother tongue7 Oct
Mathematics Standard2 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 Foundation2 Oct Geometry, Pie Charts, Volume- Takes up 10-15% of the examination
Science Standard6 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 Foundation6 Oct

Section 2: O Level Examinations

SubjectExamination dateTopics excluded from examinationsQuick comments from educators surveyed
EnglishP1 & P2: 20 Oct
P3: 22 Oct
NONENIL
Chinese*18 Jun *
Higher ChineseP1 & P2: 3 Nov
Elementary MathematicsP1: 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 MathematicsP1: 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
ChemistryP1: 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
BiologyP1: 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
PhysicsP1: 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 Geography26 Oct - Topic 4: What are the trends and challenges in the production of food crops?
Combined History26 Oct - Reasons for the end of Cold War
Pure GeographyP1: 27 Oct
P2: 30 Oct
- Topic 6: How can we manage the current and future spread of infectious diseases?
Pure HistoryP1: 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 AccountsP1: 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

SubjectExamination dateTopics excluded from examinationsQuick comments from educators surveyed
EnglishP1 & P2: 15 Sep
NONENIL
MathematicsP1: 6 Oct
P2: 9 Oct
- Circle Properties- An independent topic that is challenging to students who are weak in geometry and visualising skills
Additional MathematicsP1: 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 AccountsP1: 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 StudiesP1: 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 GeographyP2: 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 HistoryP2: 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

SubjectExamination dateTopics excluded from examinationsQuick comments from educators surveyed
General PaperP1 & P2: 2 Nov NONENIL
H1 EconomicsP1: 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 EconomicsP1: 12 Nov
P2: 18 Nov
- Theme 3.3 Globalisation and the International Economy
H1/ H2 MathematicsP1: 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 MathematicsP1: 23 Nov 2020
P2: 25 Nov 2020
- Non-parametric tests - Takes up around 10% of Paper 2
H1/ H2 PhysicsP1: 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 ChemistryP1: 24 Nov
P2: 5 Nov
- Nanomaterials- A relatively new theme, added in 2018
- Takes up 3 - 8% of the examination
H2 ChemistryP1: 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.

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