Parliamentary Question

2022 GCE A-Level H2 Chemistry Paper 3 Erratum

9 January 2023

NAME AND CONSTITUENCY OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Dr Tan Wu Meng, Jurong GRC

QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education regarding the reported erratum for an A-Level Chemistry exam paper on 16 November 2022 (a) when and how was the error in the exam paper discovered; (b) how were the schools alerted and what was the timeline; (c) what guidance is provided to schools on communicating examination errata and whether affected students should receive extra time; and (d) how will unexpected circumstances that arise during exams be considered in a marking process.

NAME AND CONSTITUENCY OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan, West Coast GRC

QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education whether he can provide an update on the ‘errata’ during the recent GCE A-level chemistry examination where there were differing practices across institutions such that certain schools were given extra time from 5 to 15 minutes to check and correct whilst others not given additional time.

RESPONSE

1. In the 2022 GCE A-Level H2 Chemistry paper 3, an erratum to one of the optional questions, affecting two sub-parts, worth one mark each, was issued together with the Question Paper to every student at the start of the examination.

2. During the examination, a few schools sought additional clarifications on the erratum with the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). SEAB issued the clarifications to the erratum and advised schools to give make-up time according to the duration of the announcement of the clarification. This would ensure that students continue to have the full duration of two hours to complete the paper.

3. Cambridge Assessment and SEAB will take this incident into consideration during marking and ensure that students are not disadvantaged. SEAB will also review the management of erratum to avoid such incidents in future.