As students set sail on their O-Level English and A-Level General Paper (GP) studies, they may encounter unexpected waves in the form of examination syllabus revisions. This blog post will serve as a trusty compass, highlighting the key O-Level and A-Level changes and the knowledge to navigate these waters smoothly.
Charting a New Course: Understanding the O-Level Changes
The revised English O-Level Examination Syllabus was implemented in 2023. Here's a glimpse of the key changes:
1. O-Level English Visual Text Comprehension (Paper 2):
With an emphasis on reading and understanding in diverse contexts.
- Now uses two related texts (previously one), often shorter and more relevant to daily life (e.g., social media posts)
- Introduces comparative questions requiring deeper analysis of the interconnections of the two visuals.
Here are the changes in format or marks and/or questions:
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
| Visual Text Comprehension |
Questions based on one visual text |
Questions are based on two related texts including comparative questions |
| Visual Text Type |
Lengthy (posters, websites) |
Shorter (such as social media posts and website excerpts) |
2. O-Level English Oral Communication (Paper 4):
With an emphasis on planning and speaking
- “Reading Aloud” replaced: The section is replaced with a "Planned Response" question where you analyse a video clip and answer a prompt within two minutes.
- Video-based assessment: The entire exam revolves around a single given video clip.
- Planned response question: You'll need to prepare and deliver a 2-minute response based on the video and prompt.
- Continued discussion: You'll then discuss the video's topic with the examiner.
Here are the changes in format or marks and/or questions:
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
Part One |
Reading aloud, 10 marks |
No more Reading aloud section Planned response question (based on the video clip and prompt), 15 marks |
|
Part Two |
Spoken interaction based on video clip, 20 marks |
Spoken interaction based on the same video clip, 15 marks |
3. O-Level English Essay Writing (Paper 1):
With an enhanced emphasis on language skills in writing
- Students will have a clearer understanding of what contributes to their essay scores and can work on targeted areas for improvement (Content or Language)
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
Marking focus |
Overall, 30 marks for the essay, combining Content and Language |
Content and Language (separate marks), 10 marks for Content and 15 marks for Language |
Charting a New Course: Understanding the A-Level Changes (General Paper for JC)
The revised English A-Level GP Examination Syllabus will be implemented this year, in 2024. Here's a glimpse of the key changes:
1. A-Level Reading Comprehension (Paper 2):
- The revised A-Level English examination syllabus now requires students to analyse three passages in Paper 2.
- This move away from alternating between one or two passages format demands a broader understanding from students as all three passages will be used to test their comprehension and answering skills
- An increased focus on comparison questions also requires students to demonstrate the ability to connect ideas and cross-reference the texts.
- The second passage in this new format will specifically test students' ability to summarise key information effectively.
For Reading Comprehension Passages
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
|
One or two argumentative passage(s) totalling about 1200 words |
Three passages totalling about 1200 words Two passages are argumentative One passage is a “personal” text with an argumentative slant (e.g. personal recount, blog post, speech) |
|
|
The Reading Comprehension questions refer to only one passage at a time |
New Reading Comprehension comparison question type, which tests for connections between Passage 1 and 3, as well as 2 and 3 In total, there will be about 4-6 marks allocated to these comparison questions |
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
Summary question |
Summary sourcing comes from only a few paragraphs |
Summary sourcing comes from the entirety of Passage 2 |
|
GP Application question (AQ) |
Students must make use of all the passages for AQ |
Students need only refer to at least one of the passages for AQ |
|
Mark Allocation |
The Reading Comprehension questions are worth 17 marks The Application question is worth 10 marks (for content) |
The Reading Comprehension questions are now worth 15 marks The Application question is worth 12 marks (for content) |
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
Reading Comprehension passages
|
One or two argumentative passage(s) totalling about 1200 words |
Three passages totalling about 1200 words Two passages are argumentative One passage is a “personal” text with an argumentative slant (e.g. personal recount, blog post, speech) |
|
The Reading Comprehension questions refer to only one passage at a time |
New Reading Comprehension comparison question type, which tests for connections between Passage 1 and 3, as well as 2 and 3 In total, there will be about 4-6 marks allocated to these comparison questions |
|
|
Summary question |
Summary sourcing comes from only a few paragraphs |
Summary sourcing comes from the entirety of Passage 2 |
|
GP Application question (AQ) |
Students must make use of all the passages for AQ |
Students need only refer to at least one of the passages for AQ |
|
Mark allocation |
The Reading Comprehension questions are worth 17 marks The Application question is worth 10 marks (for content) |
The Reading Comprehension questions are now worth 15 marks The Application question is worth 12 marks (for content) |
2. General Paper (GP) Essay Writing (Paper 1):
- The new General Paper examination syllabus maintains its traditional breadth of topics while streamlining the previously vast thematic scope. This means that while students may encounter fewer themes overall, the remaining ones will likely be more focused and detailed.
- This shift aims to encourage deeper exploration within select thematic areas rather than surface-level understanding across a wider range.
|
Old Examination Syllabus |
Revised Examination Syllabus |
|
|
GP Essay Questions |
Student chooses 1 out of 12 essay questions |
Student chooses 1 out of 8 essay questions |
The Learning Lab: Your Anchor in the Storm
While these changes may seem like uncharted territory, The Learning Lab has been preparing its students for these O-Level and A-Level syllabus revisions since they were announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE):
1. Proactive and Early Syllabus Analysis
We analysed the revised examination syllabus, identifying key changes and potential challenges. This foresight allowed us to adapt our teaching methods and materials well in advance.
2. Updated changes in Curriculum
- We had anticipated these shifts since 2022 and incorporated them seamlessly into our curriculum, from Secondary 1 all the way to Secondary 4, and since 2023 for JC 1 and 2, ensuring that our students are well-equipped to navigate the new demands.
- Lessons have been scaffolded to include specific skills to get the answering techniques right, especially for questions which are deemed as quite new, like the:
- Planned Response questions for Orals at Secondary 4
- Comparison questions for Reading Comprehension for A Level
3. Updated changes in Special Secondary Holiday Programmes:
For students who want a rigorous, exam-led programme at Secondary 4, our offerings for shorter programmes, such as Intensive Revision (Part 1 and 2), as well as Prep for Oral Exams, have been updated since 2023 to meet the revised examination changes.
So, what are you waiting for? Set sail on your academic voyage with The Learning Lab today. Our curriculum evolves in tandem with the latest MOE syllabus updates, ensuring you’re always ahead and well-prepared to adapt to changes with the most relevant strategies, tips, and insights at your fingertips.
Register now for our O-Level tuition and A-Level tuition programmes to secure your place at the forefront of academic excellence.
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