Assessment and Promotion Criteria (Old)

ASSESSMENT & PROMOTION CRITERIA
Updated 16 Jan 2023

At Hwa Chong, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. This is reflected in our comprehensive assessment modes designed to promote independent and inter-dependent learning. Hwa Chong students would thus be better equipped to become leaders and lifelong learners.

The Hwa Chong curricula include components like Oral Communication (OC) for S1-4 and Project Work (PW) for S2-4 students. Oral Communication encourages students to participate actively in discussions during lessons and evaluates students’ ability to do so. Project Work assess students on the quality of their research which encourages active inquiry and intellectual rigour. It also directs students towards independent learning and purposeful reading and reasoning. These alternative/authentic modes of assessment make up our scholastic assessments, and are complemented by academic assessments, which prepare students for the requirements of the GCE Advanced Level Examinations in College 2 (i.e. JC2).

There are two types of academic assessments in HCI: formative and summative. Students are engaged in active learning through the use of learning tasks that include pop quizzes, diagnostic tests, authentic tasks etc. Feedback from these formative assessments provide teachers with an indicator of the students’ ability so that teaching and learning activities can be designed according to students’ needs. Summative assessments take the form of common tests or class tests and examination. These summative assessments consolidate students’ learning and indicate their mastery of various subjects. Scores from the summative assessments contribute to the students grades.

We believe the above assessment protocol measures students’ general ability, depth and range of thinking, communication skills and level of passion for a particular discipline.

Secondary 1 - 4 Assessment Structure

Academic Assessments			Scholastic Assessments
Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Examination	Oral Communication	Project Work
15%	15%	70%	Oral Participation:  Higher Chinese (25%) +                  Best 3 subjects  (3 X 25%)	Proposal Evaluation	10%
				Written Report	25%
				Final Evaluation: Group presenation   Invidual communication skills	40%     10%
				Individual Performance	10%
				PW Reflection	5%
Mean Subject Grade (S1 & 2 MSG-All, S3 & 4 MSG-L2R5)

Note: There are some exceptions to the above academic assessment structure, see details that follow.

Sec 1 & 2 English and Higher Chinese

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Examination
2 X 10%	10%	70%

Sec 3 & 4 English and Higher Chinese

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Examination
2 X 15%	NA	70%

Sec 3 & 4 Integrated Mathematics

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Examination
20%	10%	70%

Sec 1-2 Science Assessment Structure

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Practical Test	Theory Examination
15%	10%	5%	70%

Sec 3 Science Assessment Structure

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Practical Test	Theory Examination
15%	10%	5%	70%

Sec 4 Science Assessment Structure

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Practical Test	Theory Examination
15%	10%	15%	60%

Sec 1 History and Sec 2 Geography Assessment Structure

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Historical /Geographical Investigation	Examination
15%	15%	2 X 15%	40%

Sec 3 & 4 Social Studies Assessment Structure

Common Test	Alternative Assessment	Issue Investigation	Examination
15%	15%	15%	55%

Promotion Criteria
Secondary 1 to 4

Level	Promotion Criteria	Promotion Criteria	Placement
	Mean Subject Grade (MSG)	Languages [English and  Higher Chinese]
Sec 1	*MSG < 6	C6	MSG ≤6.00 ®S2-IP
Sec 2	**MSG < 4	C6	MSG ≤4.00 ®S3-IP
Sec 3	***MSG < 3	C6	MSG ≤3.00 ® S4-IP MSG > 3.00 ® O-Level Class#
Sec 4	***MSG < 3	C6	MSG ≤3.00 ® College 1 (MSG ≤2.5 can take 4H2#)

Legend: IP - Integrated Programme, *Ave. of all subjects and Project Work,**Ave. of all subjects (Project Work grade will be included only if student obtains A1) ***Ave. of L2R5 (see below for L2R5)
#Sec 4 students who obtain MSG 2.5 or better are eligible to take the expanded curriculum (i.e. 4 H2 subjects) at College 1.

L2R5:

L2 = English & Higher Chinese 

R1 = Humanities /Higher Art /Higher Music /Malay Special Programme/ Bahasa Indonesia

R2 = Mathematics/Science

R3 = Humanities /Science/Mathematics/Higher Art /Higher Music /Malay Special Programme / Bahasa Indonesia 

R4 = Any other remaining subject, including Project Work

R5 = Any other remaining subject, including Project Work

Every Hwa Chong student is important. The school provides a caring environment that is intellectually stimulating and secure. Students who require more support may be placed in a structured learning environment, under the care of highly experienced teachers.  Where it is in the best interest of the students, these individuals may embark on the academic route and take the Singapore–Cambridge GCE O-Level Examinations. This is to broaden their academic options beyond secondary school.

S1- 4 ORAL PARTICIPATION RUBRICS

Frequency	Score A	Quality of Participation	Score B
No questions nor comments	0	Questions are fact-based and merely clarify the obvious.  Responses  are vague/sketchy with limited relevance and accuracy.  Merely explores the current situation	1
Only participates when called upon	1	Questions are relevant/meaningful/ and enhance the understanding of some ideas or concepts. Responses are conceptually accurate and show some ability to extract relevant points from information provided (applies some use of apt subject terminology in clarifying learning).  Explores and examines the current situation.	2	3
Occasionally* participates in **class and/or group discussions voluntarily when the opportunity arises.	2	Questions are somewhat thought provoking/ analytical or enable connection(s) to be made among ideas or concepts. Responses demonstrate the ability to interpret and analyse information provided, and grasp subject-specific concepts (applies consistent use of apt subject terminology in clarifying learning). Explores and examines issues to identify gaps.	4	5
Frequently* participates in  **class and/or group discussions voluntarily when the opportunity  arises.     **Class & Group Discussions refer to the organic interaction within the classroom context rather than  planned presentations (with pre- planning done before the  actual lesson).	3	Questions are stimulating/searching and constructively challenge the ideas presented on the subject matter. Responses are well articulated and are substantially supported by evidence gleaned from the interpretation or analysis of information provided & challenges paradigms. Shows deep understanding of subject beyond the classroom context (applies the frequent and conscious use of apt subject terminology in clarifying learning). Explores and examines issues to provide new solutions & insights from multiple perspectives.	6	7

Oral Participation (OP) Marks Computation

• Computation of Termly OP Marks (100 marks):

OP Marks of Higher Chinese (25%) + OP Marks of best 3 subjects (3 X25%) = 100%

• Computation of Final OP Marks:

Final OP Marks = Average of OP marks obtained in Terms 1-3