The Singapore Ministry of Education sees the cancellation of mid-year examinations as a way to help students focus better on learning rather than on grades. It is believed that this new development will deepen students\u2019 learning and increase their motivation to understand what they are being taught in school.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
However, this announcement has generated several questions. How practical would students\u2019 assessment be without mid-year examinations? How will teachers track learners\u2019 progress without midterm tests? And will the removal of mid-year examinations cause differences in students\u2019 performance to go unnoticed?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The truth, however, is that mid-year examinations have been from primary 3 and 5, and secondary school 1 and 3 in the previous years. These students have experienced a positive impact due to this change because mid-year examinations have been replaced with continuous assessment tests. Therefore, the Minister of Education noted that learners will continue to take regular assessments when all schools cancel mid-year examinations in 2023. So, how will regular assessment impact students\u2019 academic performance and why is it important? This article examines these questions. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why is regular assessment critical?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNow that midterm examinations have been scrapped and replaced with regular assessments, what\u2019s in it for Singaporean students? What role does continuous evaluation play in learning, and why is it necessary?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Periodic assessment provides quick feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRather than wait till final examinations, continuous assessment evaluates students\u2019 understanding per topic, providing fast feedback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This identifies their knowledge level before an examination. It enables tutors to discover students\u2019 weaknesses and strengths individually to organize personalized tutorials or change the teaching approach to meet learners\u2019 needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Additionally, periodic evaluation means that students can learn as they go, get timely feedback on their performance, and improve their weaknesses early. This makes it easy to understand more complex topics, enabling them to build on existing knowledge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Therefore, adopting this approach is an excellent way for teachers to receive quick reports on students\u2019 comprehension and adjust their teaching strategies for improvement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n- It promotes students engagement<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Statistics show that <\/a>engaged<\/a> students are 2.5 times more likely to acquire excellent grades in school and are 4.5 times more likely to be more enthusiastic about the future than their disengaged peers.<\/a> However, although students\u2019 engagement is crucial to their academic success, approximately one-fourth of students are not <\/a>engaged<\/a> in school.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nContinuous assessment boosts students\u2019 engagement because it requires them to regularly demonstrate what they\u2019ve learned. Since they are tested frequently, they are encouraged to participate actively in school work.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For example, rather than wait till the end of the term, they will study earlier to pass their continuous assessments. As a result, they become fully involved in academic activities, increasing their chances of success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n![\"Regular](\"https:\/\/www.explico.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Explico_blog_103265537.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- It boosts retention<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A study shows that 70% of students forget what they were taught within 24 hours<\/a>. Also, 90% of what is taught is lost within a week<\/a>. Often, this happens due to a lack of regular assessment because students aren\u2019t constantly reminded of what they\u2019ve been taught. However, continuous evaluation allows students to revisit what they\u2019ve learned. It also encourages them to demonstrate and apply their knowledge frequently, enabling them to retain information longer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRegular assessment vs examinations<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nExaminations are an excellent way to evaluate learners\u2019 knowledge of a course. The results may stand as a yardstick to measure their abilities and understanding of a field of study. Some tutors also test retention and an individual\u2019s ability to work under pressure with examinations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
While all these perks are beneficial to students, examinations are not all-encompassing, making them an inadequatw benchmark to test learners\u2019 understanding levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For example, results are only a snapshot of students\u2019 knowledge because it tests students\u2019 understanding on several lessons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Conversely, continuous assessments test learners’ knowledge on a specific lesson, enabling teachers to evaluate them on every aspect of a topic. This provides a comprehensive and accurate view of students\u2019 understanding levels, allowing teachers to discover their high and low points for necessary improvement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Rather than wait till final examinations, continuous assessment evaluates students\u2019 understanding per topic, providing fast feedback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This identifies their knowledge level before an examination. It enables tutors to discover students\u2019 weaknesses and strengths individually to organize personalized tutorials or change the teaching approach to meet learners\u2019 needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Additionally, periodic evaluation means that students can learn as they go, get timely feedback on their performance, and improve their weaknesses early. This makes it easy to understand more complex topics, enabling them to build on existing knowledge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Therefore, adopting this approach is an excellent way for teachers to receive quick reports on students\u2019 comprehension and adjust their teaching strategies for improvement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- It promotes students engagement<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Statistics show that <\/a>engaged<\/a> students are 2.5 times more likely to acquire excellent grades in school and are 4.5 times more likely to be more enthusiastic about the future than their disengaged peers.<\/a> However, although students\u2019 engagement is crucial to their academic success, approximately one-fourth of students are not <\/a>engaged<\/a> in school.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Continuous assessment boosts students\u2019 engagement because it requires them to regularly demonstrate what they\u2019ve learned. Since they are tested frequently, they are encouraged to participate actively in school work.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For example, rather than wait till the end of the term, they will study earlier to pass their continuous assessments. As a result, they become fully involved in academic activities, increasing their chances of success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- \r\n
- It boosts retention<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A study shows that 70% of students forget what they were taught within 24 hours<\/a>. Also, 90% of what is taught is lost within a week<\/a>. Often, this happens due to a lack of regular assessment because students aren\u2019t constantly reminded of what they\u2019ve been taught. However, continuous evaluation allows students to revisit what they\u2019ve learned. It also encourages them to demonstrate and apply their knowledge frequently, enabling them to retain information longer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Regular assessment vs examinations<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Examinations are an excellent way to evaluate learners\u2019 knowledge of a course. The results may stand as a yardstick to measure their abilities and understanding of a field of study. Some tutors also test retention and an individual\u2019s ability to work under pressure with examinations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
While all these perks are beneficial to students, examinations are not all-encompassing, making them an inadequatw benchmark to test learners\u2019 understanding levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For example, results are only a snapshot of students\u2019 knowledge because it tests students\u2019 understanding on several lessons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Conversely, continuous assessments test learners’ knowledge on a specific lesson, enabling teachers to evaluate them on every aspect of a topic. This provides a comprehensive and accurate view of students\u2019 understanding levels, allowing teachers to discover their high and low points for necessary improvement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It boosts retention<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n