Covid-19: GCE-Level coursework requirements tweaked, some A-Level exams postponed in light of home-based learning

SINGAPORE — Students taking some GCE-Level subjects with coursework requirements will have their deadlines extended, or be graded under new criteria in light of the ongoing full home-based learning here.

Meanwhile, those taking some A-Level examinations for subjects taught by local universities will have their exam dates pushed back till after the end of home-based learning.

The move, announced by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on Friday (April 17), is to ensure that the affected students will still be fairly assessed.

Full home-based learning was implemented here from April 8 to May 4 as part of circuit breaker measures to curb the transmission of Covid-19.

Most GCE-Level coursework cannot be done at home, due to the need for face-to-face supervision, or the use of school facilities and equipment, SEAB said.

Hence, SEAB said it would take several measures to ensure that the assessment of affected students remains fair and accurate:

• National submission deadlines for coursework will be extended by two weeks where possible

• Coursework requirements may be adjusted where appropriate, for example by reducing the number of assessment tasks

• SEAB will also accept evidence of learning from schools and apply special consideration when grading candidates in coursework subjects

Out of 34 GCE Normal (Technical), Normal (Academic), O- and A-Level subjects with a coursework component, 12 will have their submission deadlines extended by two weeks.

However, 10 subjects cannot have their coursework deadlines extended as they are too close to other examinations, said SEAB. 

The submission deadlines for the remaining 12 A-Level subjects will be unchanged, as the coursework can be carried out independently.

In the event that the full home-based learning period is extended and national submission deadlines cannot be pushed back any further without overlapping with other exams, students should submit the coursework they have completed so far, which will be assessed fairly, said SEAB.

SEAB added that the examination dates for four GCE A-Level H3 subjects taught by local universities have been pushed back to May 28, after the end of the home-based learning period.

These are:

• Game Theory (Singapore Management University)

• Geopolitics: Geographies of War and Peace (National University of Singapore)

• Semiconductor Physics and Devices (Nanyang Technological University)

• Molecular Biology (Nanyang Technological University)

The exams for these subjects will be decentralised and held at the students' respective schools, which will in turn take precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of students and examination personnel.

SEAB previously announced that all national examinations, including the GCE O- and A-Level mother tongue examinations in June, will proceed as scheduled as these are "essential milestones" for students.

"If any changes are required, given the fluidity of the current Covid-19 situation, we will certainly provide timely updates," SEAB added.