27 October 1999

 

Chinese Language ‘B’ Syllabus for Students with Exceptional Difficulties in Learning Chinese Language Bonus Points Scheme for Students Strong in Mother Tongue Languages for Admission to Selected Courses in NUS and NTU Extension of Bonus Points Scheme for Students Eligible to Apply to SAP Schools

  1. As a follow-up to its announcement on the review on the teaching and learning of Chinese Language (CL) in January this year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has released details of three specific measures.
  2. The underlying philosophy behind these measures is to encourage every Singaporean to study his Mother Tongue Language (MTL) in school for as long as possible, and to as high a level as he is capable of, recognising that not all students have the same home environment or natural ability in learning their MTL. They are examples of how MOE's mass customisation approach is better able to meet the needs of students with different language abilities, as well as to instil a positive interest in their MTL.

    3. Chinese Language ‘B’ Syllabus

  3. The first is the introduction of a new CL ‘B’ syllabus designed for students who, despite additional support in school and beyond, have exceptional difficulties coping with CL. The new syllabus will be introduced at the Secondary 3 and JC1 levels in 2001. Students who meet certain criteria may be allowed to offer the CL ‘B’ syllabus and take examination at the ‘O’ or ‘AO’ levels in 2002. To help students facing exceptional difficulties, a special examination will be conducted in 2001 for the Sec 4 and JC2/Pre-U3 students even though they have not previously studied the new CL ‘B’ syllabus.
  4. The CL ‘B’ syllabus, which is designed to ease the learning process of these students and sustain their interest in Chinese language and culture, will give a higher weighting to practical communication skills. Safeguards will be put in place to ensure that CL ‘B’ will not be used as a "soft option" by students who are capable of offering the standard CL syllabus. Students who obtain a pass in CL ‘B’ at the ‘O’ and ‘AO’ levels will be deemed to have met the MTL requirement for admission to JC and university respectively. However, no consideration will be given in the computation of ‘O’ level aggregate or university admission score.

    5. Bonus Points Scheme

  5. A bonus point scheme for admission to selected courses in NUS and NTU will be introduced from Academic Year 2002/2003 to encourage students who are strong in their MTLs to offer them to as high a level as they are capable of. The courses for which bonus points apply are:
    1. Chinese Language and Chinese Studies courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science in NUS;
    2. Malay Studies course offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science in NUS;
    3. South Asian Studies Programme offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science in NUS, on the condition that students who want to benefit from the bonus point scheme must offer the two optional Tamil Language modules available in the programme;
    4. Bachelor of Arts with Diploma in Education (Chinese Language and Literature specialisation) offered by NIE, NTU; and
    5. Communications Studies course offered by the School of Communications Studies in NTU.
  6. Details on the CL ‘B’ syllabus and the bonus point system are provided in Annex A and Annex B respectively.

    7. Bonus Points for Admission to SAP Schools for Top 11-30% PSLE Pupils Strong in Chinese

  7. The third is the extension of bonus points for admission to SAP schools to the top 11-30% PSLE pupils who pass Higher Chinese (HCL) at PSLE and who meet the language criteria to offer HCL in secondary school.
  8. Currently, pupils in the top 10% in PSLE who obtain grades of "Distinction", "Merit" and "Pass" in HCL at PSLE are awarded 3, 2 and 1 bonus points respectively, for admission to SAP schools. These pupils are also given a second chance to opt for SAP schools through the annual Second Option exercise.
  9. In January this year, MOE announced that the Second Option exercise for admission to SAP schools will be extended to pupils in the top 11-30% of PSLE, who meet the language criteria to offer HCL in secondary school, beginning from the 1999 PSLE. The intention is to encourage more pupils who are strong in Chinese to apply to the SAP schools. In line with this, MOE will also extend bonus points for admission to SAP schools to pupils in the top 11-30% of PSLE who pass HCL at PSLE, and are eligible to offer HCL in secondary school. This will also be implemented from the 1999 PSLE. As with bonus points for top 10% of PSLE pupils, 3 points will be awarded for a "Distinction" in HCL, 2 points for a "Merit", and 1 point for a "Pass".

    10. For Further Information

  10. Information on the above changes are posted on the MOE website at http://www1.moe.edu.sg/clb. Parents and members of the public can also contact the MOE Hotline 1800-471 2220 for further clarifications.

 

    Annex A

    (I) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE ‘B’ SYLLABUS
        Introduction

    1. The Chinese Language ‘B’ syllabus (CL ‘B’) will be introduced at the secondary and pre-University levels to meet the needs of a small group of students who, despite additional support in school and beyond, still have exceptional difficulties coping with the subject. The objective of introducing the syllabus is to ease the learning process for these students, so as to keep them interested in the subject to facilitate the transmission of culture and values.
    2. One of the distinctive features of the syllabus is that it places greater emphasis on practical communication skills, especially on the listening and speaking skills, and relatively less emphasis on writing skills. Another feature is that it requires students to study a number of famous Chinese stories written in simpler language and to participate in cultural activities arranged by the school. This makes the lessons more lively and interesting and ensures that students have some knowledge of Chinese culture.

      3. Examination

    3. In line with the emphasis on the teaching of communication skills in the CL ‘B’ syllabus, a higher weighting will be allocated to Listening Comprehension and the Oral Test in the ‘O’ and ‘AO’ levels CL ‘B’ examinations. Compared with the existing CL examinations, the weighting for Listening and Speaking will increase from 20% to 40% at the ‘O’ level and from 10% to 30% at the ‘AO’ level. The existing CL syllabuses at the ‘O’ and ‘AO’ levels are being revised, and there will also be an increase in the weighting for the Listening and Speaking components in the new syllabuses. But the weighting will still be lower than that for CL ‘B’.
    4. CL ‘B’ will be introduced at the Sec 3 and JC1 levels in 2001. However, to provide help earlier to students who have exceptional difficulties in coping with CL, the Ministry of Education has decided to allow Sec 4 and JC2/Pre-U3 students who meet certain criteria to take the CL ‘B’ examination at the ‘O’ or ‘AO’ level in 2001, even though they have not been taught the CL ‘B’ syllabus. For example, Sec 4 students who fail their CL in Sec 3 (49% or below) in the school examination in 2000, may, with the approval of the Principal, opt to offer CL ‘B’ examination. Similarly, JC2 and Pre-U3 students who obtain E8 or below in CL at the GCE ‘AO’ level at JC1 and Pre-U2 in 2000, may opt to sit for the CL ‘B’ paper in 2001.

      5. Teaching Materials

    5. The teaching package for CL ‘B’ will be made available for Sec 3 students in 2001. The Sec 4 students and the JC2/Pre-U3 students who take the CL ‘B’ paper in 2001 will use the existing textbooks and teaching materials. Guidelines on how the existing textbooks/ materials can be adapted to prepare students for the CL ‘B’ examinations at the ‘O’ and ‘AO’ levels in 2001, will be issued to schools and JCs by the end of 1999. Briefings and workshops will be conducted for teachers in 2000.

      6. Eligibility Criteria

    6. To ensure that CL ‘B’ will not become a soft option for students, we will only allow students who have encountered exceptional difficulties coping with the CL syllabus to switch to the CL ‘B’ syllabus. Principals will decide on students’ eligibility for CL ‘B’ based on the Eligibility Criteria listed below :
    Eligibility for CL ‘B’ at Sec 3

    Only students who obtain Grade C or below in PSLE will be considered.

    Eligibility for CL ‘B’ at the ‘O’ Level

    Students who are not eligible for CL ‘B’ at Sec 3 but fail CL at Sec 3 (49% or below) or obtain E8 or below in the Sec 4 Mid-year ‘O’ level examination, or fail CL at the ‘N’ level examination (ungraded), will be considered for eligibility to switch to the CL ‘B’ syllabus at the ‘O’ level examination.

    Eligibility for CL ‘B’ at the ‘AO’ Level

    Students who obtain E8 or below in the ‘O’ level or ‘AO’ level examination will be considered for eligibility to switch to the CL ‘B’ syllabus at the ‘AO’ level examination.

    Others

    Students who re-enter our education system and are unable to cope with the CL syllabus will be considered for the CL ‘B’ syllabus (e.g. students who return from overseas).

    1. Students who are eligible for the CL ‘B’ syllabus but opt not to offer it, may continue with the CL syllabus. Students who had opted for CL ‘B’ but wish to switch back to CL at the ‘O’ or ‘AO’ level will, in general, be allowed to do so.

      2. Additional Safeguard Measures

    2. The following additional safeguard measures are in place to discourage students who can cope with CL from switching to CL ‘B’ :
    Students who pass CL ‘B’ will only be given a ‘Pass’ or ‘Merit’ grade. The purpose of awarding a ‘Merit’ grade is to reward those students who have put more effort into the study of the subject. A ‘Pass’ or Merit’ in CL ‘B’ at the ‘O’ and ‘AO’ levels will be accepted as meeting the minimum Mother Tongue Language requirement for entry to JC and university respectively. These grades cannot be used for the computation of points for JC or university admission.
    Students offering CL ‘B’ at the ‘O’ or ‘AO’ level are allowed to take the examinations only at the end of Sec 4 and JC2/Pre-U3 respectively. As they are weak in CL, they will need more time to learn the language and should not rush into taking the examinations before they complete the programme.

 

Centres

  1. As the number of students offering CL ‘B’ will be very small in most of the schools, secondary schools in the same cluster will work together to form centres for the CL ‘B’ lessons. Schools with a sizeable number of CL ‘B’ students (15 or more) may start their own classes. JCs and Centralised Institutes will arrange their own CL ‘B’ classes.

    2.  

    Annex B

    (II) Bonus Points for Admission to MTL-Related Courses in NUS and NTU for Students Strong in their MTL at AO- or A-Level

  2. With effect from Academic Year 2002/2003, students who have done well in their MTL at ‘A’ or ‘AO’ level will be eligible for bonus points for admission to the following MTL-related courses offered by NUS and NTU, as stated in Table 1 below:

    3. Table 1

    (I) Undergraduate Course

    (II) Who’s Eligible for Bonus Points

    (III) Conditions
    (a) Chinese Language course offered by Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FASS), NUS

    (b) Chinese Studies course offered by FASS, NUS

     

    		 (a) 2 bonus points will be awarded to students for a pass (grades A-E) in Higher Chinese (HCL) at ‘A’ level; or

    (b) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who:

    i. pass (graded A-E) CL at ‘A’ level, or

    ii. obtain quality grades (A1-B4) in HCL at ‘AO’ level, or

    iii obtain Distinction (A1 or A2) in CL at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (c) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who obtain a B3 or better in General Studies in Chinese (GSC) at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (d) subject to a cap of 2 bonus points in total.

     

    		 As students apply for admission to the FASS, and not directly to read a particular subject, the bonus points will apply to those who satisfy the language criteria in (II), and commit to study Chinese Language or Chinese Studies upfront during application. Admission to the university will be conditional upon the students' commitment to offer the specified courses or subjects.

    Number of bonus points awarded to the student will be computed by adding the highest number of bonus points that a student is eligible for, based on one of the subjects that he has taken in (II)(a) or (II)(b), to the bonus point, if any, that he might be eligible for from (II)(c).

     
    (c) Malay Studies offered by NUS (a) 2 bonus points will be awarded to students for a pass (grades A-E) in Higher Malay (HML) at ‘A’ level; or

    (b) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who:

    i. pass (graded A-E) ML at ‘A’ level; or

    ii. obtain quality grades (A1-B4) in HML at ‘AO’ level; or

    iii obtain Distinction (A1 or A2) in ML at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (c) subject to a cap of 2 bonus points in total.

    As students apply for admission to the FASS, and not directly to read a particular subject, the bonus points will apply to those who satisfy the language criteria in (II), and commit to study the Malay Studies course, upfront during application. Admission to the university will be conditional upon the students' commitment to offer the specified courses or subjects.

    Number of bonus points awarded to the student will be the highest number of bonus points that he is eligible for, based on one of the subjects he has taken in (II)(a) and (II)(b). There will be no addition of bonus points even if the student has taken two or more of the subjects listed in (II)(a) and (II)(b).
    (d) South Asian Studies programme offered by NUS (a) 2 bonus points will be awarded to students for a pass (grades A-E) in Higher Tamil (HTL) at ‘A’ level; or

    (b) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who:

    i. pass (graded A-E) TL at ‘A’ level; or

    ii. obtain quality grades (A1-B4) in HTL at ‘AO’ level; or

    iii obtain Distinction (A1 or A2) in TL at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (c) subject to a cap of 2 bonus points in total.

    		 As students apply for admission to the FASS, and not directly to read a particular subject, the bonus points will apply to those who satisfy the language criteria in (II), and commit to study the South Asian Studies programme, and in particular take up the two optional Tamil Language modules offered in the programme, upfront during application. Admission to the university will be conditional upon the students' commitment to offer the specified courses or subjects.

    Number of bonus points awarded to the student will be the highest number of bonus points that he is eligible for, based on one of the subjects he has taken in (II)(a) and (II)(b). There will be no addition of bonus points even if the student has taken two or more of the subjects listed in (II)(a) and (II)(b).
    (e) BA with DipEd (Chinese Language and Literature specialisation) offered by National Institute of Education, NTU

     

     

     

    		 (a) 2 bonus points will be awarded to students for a pass (grades A-E) in Higher Chinese (HCL) at ‘A’ level; or

    (b) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who:

    i. pass (graded A-E) CL at ‘A’ level, or

    ii. obtain quality grades (A1-B4) in HCL at ‘AO’ level, or

    iii obtain Distinction (A1 or A2) in CL at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (c) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who obtain a B3 or better in General Studies in Chinese (GSC) at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (d) subject to a cap of 2 bonus points in total.

    		 As students apply for admission to the Arts with Dip. Ed. programme, and not directly to read a particular specialisation, the bonus points will apply to those who satisfy the language criteria in (II), and commit to study Chinese Language and Literature upfront during application. Admission to the university will be conditional upon the students' commitment to offer the specified courses or subjects.

    Number of bonus points awarded to the student will be computed by adding the highest number of bonus points that a student is eligible for, based on one of the subjects that he has taken in (II)(a) or (II)(b), to the bonus point, if any, that he might be eligible for from (II)(c).

    (f) Communications Studies course offered by NTU (a) 2 bonus points will be awarded to students for a pass (grades A-E) in Higher MTL at ‘A’ level; or

    (b) 1 bonus point will be awarded to students who:

    i. pass (graded A-E) MTL at ‘A’ level, or

    ii. obtain quality grades (A1-B4) in HMTL at ‘AO’ level, or

    iii obtain Distinction (A1 or A2) in MTL at ‘AO’ level;

    and

    (c) subject to a cap of a maximum of 2 bonus points in total.

    Number of bonus points awarded to the student will be the highest number of bonus points that he is eligible for, based on one of the subjects he has taken in (II)(a) and (II)(b). There will be no addition of bonus points even if the student has taken two or more of the subjects listed in (II)(a) and (II)(b).

    Admission to the university will be conditional upon the students' commitment to offer the Communication Studies course.

     

  3. The bonus points are intended to provide a clear signal to encourage students, who have the interest and aptitude, to continue with the study of their MTLs in university. The implementation of the changes from Academic Year 2002/2003 is to serve notice to students who are proceeding to JC1 in year 2000, to consider offering MTL at ‘A’ level or Higher MTL at ‘A’ or ‘AO’ level. 
 

 

1 North Buona Vista Drive Singapore 138675
Tel: 68721110 Fax: 67755826
Email: contact@moe.edu.sg
For Feedback & Comments, please click here

Copyright 2000 Ministry of Education. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy     Terms of Use