Frequently Asked Questions

To ensure the well-being of students and staff, safe management measures such as wearing of surgical masks and conducting examinations at well-ventilated venues, will be implemented in schools and examination venues during the conduct of the national examinations.

Oral Examination

You will not be allowed to sit for the oral examinations if you:

• have been tested positive for COVID-19;
• are on medical leave due to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI); or
• are recovering from contagious diseases (e.g. chickenpox, Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD))

For School Candidates

Your school will reschedule you to sit for your oral examination on another day after you have recovered, or apply special consideration for you if you only recover after the end of the oral examination period (including the Make-Up oral examination).

For Private Candidates

Please inform SEAB immediately by writing to seab_gce_admin@seab.gov.sg. You will be advised on the rescheduled oral examination date, or the procedure to apply special consideration if you recover after the end of the oral examination period (including the Make-Up oral examination).

Listening Comprehension or Written Examinations

You will not be allowed to sit for the examinations

• if you have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the first 72 hrs. You are allowed to sit for examinations if you are
  • tested ART negative after 72 hrs; or
  • on Day 7 (if fully vaccinated) or Day 14 (if not fully vaccinated), after 12pm.

You should follow MOH’s Health Protocols to self-isolate for 72 hours or see a doctor if you are unwell.

If you are on MC due to ARI and/or fever (non-ARI), you will be allowed to sit for the examinations if you have fully recovered and are visibly well (no fever, not showing ARI symptoms). You are NOT required to do a self-swab ART before you leave your place of residence on each examination day.

For School Candidates

Please inform you school immediately if you are tested positive for COVID-19 or on MC due ARI and/or fever (non-ARI).

For Private Candidates

Please inform SEAB immediately by writing to seab_gce_admin@seab.gov.sg if you are tested positive for COVID-19 or on MC due to ARI and/or fever (non-ARI)

MOE and SEAB will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and provide updates if there are any changes to the examination arrangements.

If you are on SHN served by ICA, please inform your teacher at least 3 days before the examination. Your teacher will follow up with SEAB and advise you on the arrangements to sit for your examination.

For Private Candidates

Please inform SEAB at least 3 days before the examination, so that you can be advised of arrangement to sit for your examination on time.

Masks are allowed to be removed only during the reading aloud/oral presentation and oral interaction segments of the oral examination. This is so that the oral examiners can clearly articulate the oral prompts and candidates to deliver clear oration during the examinations.

You must wear surgical masks or reusable masks of equivalent effectiveness at all times. Refusal to put on a face mask is an offence in Singapore under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

Do note that the invigilator may ask you to remove your mask to verify your identity when taking attendance.

If you are unable to sit for the oral examination or a paper with valid reasons (including COVID-19 related reasons), you can apply for special consideration through your school.

Special consideration is a well-established procedure which awards candidates who miss any national examination paper(s) with valid reasons with projected grades through a fair and rigorous evidence-based methodology. In awarding a grade, SEAB will consider multiple sources of data, such as the candidate’s performance in the other papers for that affected subject in national and school-based examinations as well as the school cohort's performance in national and school-based examinations, to ensure a fair assessment for all candidates.

All special consideration applications are assessed on each case’s merit, to ensure that the grades awarded are as accurate and fair as possible.

For Private Candidates

You must inform SEAB immediately if you miss your scheduled examination with valid reason, by writing to seab_gce_admin@seab.gov.sg. You will be advised on the procedure to apply special consideration.