In Singapore, students taking their PSLE in 2016 to 2020 will still be affected by the T-Score system.

Short of "transformed score", the Primary School Leaving Examination aggregate score is the sum of the T-scores in all four subjects - English, Maths, Science and Mother Tongue.

It is an adjusted score that shows how well a pupil does relative to his peers.  It is calculated using the following formula:

• T-Score = 50 + [10 x (raw score - mean) / Standard deviation]

 
• Raw score shows how good a pupil is in the subject.

 
• Mean refers to the average mark scored by the cohort.

 
• Standard deviation measures the "spread" of marks among the cohort.

So if a pupil scores 80 in a subject, the average mark scored by his cohort is 60 and the standard deviation is 14, the T-score for the subject will be:

50 + [10 x (80 - 60) / 14] = 64.29

This way of ranking has been criticized for fuelling unnecessary competition among pupils, who have to outdo one another to get a better score.

Notes to Parent

• PSLE T-Score will be remove from 2021; this will impact 2016 pupils who start schools in Primary 1.

 
• Replace with a new scoring system similar to 'O' and 'A' level grading system.

 
• Purpose is not to grade students how well they do in relative to their PSLE peers.

How Parents Can Help Their Child with PSLE

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