Full Subject-Based Banding - ACS (BR)

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9 questions inFull Subject-Based Banding

Under Full SBB, will students still take GCE O- and N-Level examinations at the end of their secondary education?
From the 2027 graduating cohort, students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examination. The SEC will reflect the subjects and subject levels that students offer. All graduating cohorts before 2027 will continue to take the GCE O- and N-Level examinations.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
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What are the outcomes of Full Subject-Based Banding in ACS(BR) so far? How have the students benefitted?
Students who have participated in FSBB were generally happy to take subjects at a more demanding level and to continue doing so. Their knowledge of the subject deepened; and their confidence and motivation increased. Their classmates viewed them positively, and were also motivated to work harder upon seeing them take higher-level subjects.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
How are Posting Groups different from the N(T), N(A) and Express streams? Is it just a renaming or rebranding of the existing system?
Posting Groups are only used for the purposes of admitting students into secondary schools and to guide the initial subject levels students offer at the start of S1. Having three Posting Groups ensures schools remain accessible and continue to have a good mix of students across diverse learner profiles, and students have opportunities to interact with other students with different interests and backgrounds. Once in school, students will be organised in mixed form classes and will spend about a third of their curriculum time taking six Common Curriculum subjects together i.e. Art, Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), Design and Technology (D&T), Food and Consumer Education (FCE), Music, and Physical Education (PE). Under Full SBB, eligible students will also have more flexibility to take subjects at different subject levels depending on their subject-specific strengths and learning needs, and have access to a wider range of subject offerings and programmes. While the three Posting Groups will map to the PSLE Score ranges of the existing N(T), N(A) and Express streams, they will not shape or define students‚Äô secondary and post-secondary experiences and pathways, unlike the existing academic streams.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
With Full SBB, the form teacher may not have the opportunity to teach the whole class. How will the form teacher stay connected with all the students in the class?
The school will be intentional in creating opportunities for Form Teacher (FT) time to build strong teacher-student relationships, social mixing to build peer support culture and relationships, and enactment of CCE (i.e., CCE Lessons, level-wide programmes, Learning Journeys etc).
ACS (BR) 1y ago
Are students free to offer any subject and subject level combinations under Full SBB?
Under Full SBB, students have greater flexibility to customise their learning according to their strengths, interests and learning needs. Throughout secondary education, students may offer compulsory subjects (i.e., English Language, Mother Tongue Language, Humanities, Mathematics and Science) at a more or less demanding level if they meet the eligibility criteria and in consultation with their school. In upper secondary, all students will offer at least 5 and up to 9 examinable subjects. They may offer upper secondary elective subjects at subject levels that suit their strengths, interests and post-secondary aspirations. The school will also decide on upper secondary subject and subject level offerings based on considerations such as resourcing and timetabling. The school will continue to advise students on upper secondary subject and subject level combinations based on holistic considerations, including students‚Äô learning progress and development needs, and post-secondary articulation pathways.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
With the removal of Mid-Year Examinations (MYE) for all secondary school levels, would there still be mid-year inserts for offering subjects at a more demanding level in S1?
With the removal of Mid-Year Examinations, schools could decide on S1 Mid-Year inserts based on results from Weighted Assessments and the teachers‚Äô professional judgement of the students‚Äô ability to manage the subject at a more demanding level. However, as there is no S1 mid-year insert juncture for Humanities, this does not apply to Humanities subjects.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
Can students offering a subject at a more demanding level at lower secondary revert to their original subject level at upper secondary?
Students who offer a subject at a more demanding level in lower secondary should be encouraged to continue offering the subject at the same subject level in upper secondary to further deepen their mastery of content and skills in the subject area of strength if they are able to cope with the demands of the subject at that subject level (typically, obtain at least an overall pass in the subject(s) in S2).
ACS (BR) 1y ago
How is the standard of G1 and G2 MTL pitched, compared to MTL 'B'?
The MTL 'B' Syllabus is pegged at a standard between G1 and G2 MTL. While both MTL 'B' and G1 MTL curricula share a common focus on developing oral communication skills, MTL 'B' has more emphasis on reading and writing compared to G1 MTL. Nonetheless, the 2021 secondary MTL curriculum has incorporated writing in the form of technology-aided text input into both the G1 MTL and MTL 'B' curriculum, to equip students with the necessary skills required for the 21st century. G2 MTL, on the other hand, emphasises more broadly on the development of students' listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students who can benefit from the development of broader MTL skills but find G3 MTL too demanding can consider offering G2 MTL.
ACS (BR) 1y ago
How does taking the various G3, G2 & G1 subjects impact entry to post-secondary education?
As students will offer a more diverse combination of subjects at different subject levels arising from Full SBB, the admissions criteria for post-secondary pathways have been reviewed to provide more options for different learner profiles, while ensuring that students continue to have the fundamentals to thrive in their chosen pathway.
ACS (BR) 1y ago