As parents, we have seen countless changes over the years, and naturally, education has evolved as well. Singapore has long been known for its world-class education system, and the Ministry of Education (MOE) continues to prioritise our children’s best interests by nurturing them into lifelong learners, fostering greater joy, and sparking genuine curiosity in learning.
One significant change in recent years is the introduction of weighted assessments (WA), partly to replace the now-defunct mid-year examinations. Although this has been in place for some time, many parents remain unsure about how it works and whether other modes of assessment, such as end-of-year exams, are still valid.
This post provides an overview of these assessment methods and how students are ultimately evaluated.
Reducing Reliance on Exams
Before we get into the remaining assessment methods, let’s take a step back and understand why MOE is making these changes. As parents, it helps to zoom out, see the bigger picture—academics are evolving, but that doesn’t mean studies and results don’t matter anymore. Instead, there’s a growing focus on making learning more compassionate and nurturing, as it should be.
According to an MOE press release, these changes are meant to ease students’ workload and reduce the pressure of exams, especially during key transition years like Primary 3 and Secondary 1. The idea is to free up time for more holistic development, so kids can find pleasure in learning, discovering new interests, and see the long-term value of education. By moving past an exam-heavy system, they also get to explore different ways of learning, which can keep them motivated and engaged.
Now, weighted assessments (WA) and end-of-year (EOY) examinations remain. Here’s what they entail.
Weighted Assessments (WA)
Throughout primary and secondary school, students go through both non-weighted and weighted assessments (WA). Non-weighted assessments provide ongoing insights into a student’s understanding and progress, while weighted assessments directly measure their performance to gauge their grasp of the material.
WA offers a lower-stakes environment that helps build confidence while still evaluating a student’s abilities. These assessments are also shorter and more focused than traditional exams, taking the form of class tests, presentations, even group projects. The questions can range from multiple-choice to open-ended formats.
The weightage of weighted assessments is typically distributed across Terms 1 to 3, with a semestral assessment in Term 4. WAs are only applicable from Primary 3 through to Secondary 4. Primary 1 and 2 use what are known as “qualitative descriptors” instead of WAs, which are non-comparative tools that indicate a student’s learning progress.
End-of-Year (EOY) Examinations
Most of us are already familiar with the concept of end-of-year (EOY) examinations, which are formal exams covering the entire year’s curriculum. Because they are so comprehensive, EOY exams tend to require intensive preparation and are considered high-stakes.
With the scrapping of the mid-year exams, there may be more anxiety around the EOY exams, as students may feel they need more practice. It’s important to get a sense of your child’s academic level before the EOY exams, as they usually carry more weight. If you sense your child struggling with weighted assessments, this may also indicate potential difficulties with their EOY exams. It is imperative to seek help as soon as this issue arises.
Like weighted assessments, end-of-year examinations do not apply to Primary 1 and 2, and are only applicable from Primary 3 through to Secondary 4.
Changes to Academic Indicators
Another important change mums and dads should be aware of, alongside the introduction of weighted assessments and changes to the end-of-year exams, is that report books—also called the Holistic Development Profile (HDP)—no longer include specific academic indicators like class and level positions. There will also be no minimum or maximum marks, underlining or colouring of failing marks, or class and level mean marks, among other details.
Where marks are used to report on students’ learning, these will be rounded off and presented as whole numbers, without decimal points. Students and parents will also not see the overall total marks.
These changes aim to reduce the emphasis on academic scores. Instead, information about students’ learning will be gathered through discussions, homework and quizzes. Parents will be kept informed of their child’s progress during parent-teacher conferences.
The Bottomline
| Level | Assessment Structure |
| Primary 1-2 | Use “qualitative descriptors” instead of weighted assessments (WA)End-of-year (EOY) exams do not apply |
| Primary 3-6 | WA spread across Terms 1 to 3Semestral assessment in Term 4; EOY exams apply |
| Secondary 1-4 | WA spread across Terms 1 to 3Semestral assessment in Term 4; EOY exams apply |
We hope this quick guide has helped shed some light on what weighted assessments and end-of-year exams mean for your child’s learning journey. Understanding these changes can empower you to better support their growth and success—whether it’s helping them navigate transition stages or providing the right resources at each juncture.
If your child is struggling in subjects like mathematics or chemistry, which play a key role in many promising careers, it’s crucial to find qualified tutors who can break down complex concepts and present them in a clear, digestible way. That’s exactly what we do at Studious Minds. Led by experienced tutors Mr Alex Toh and Ms Jes Peh, we’re proud to have helped over 70% of our students achieve distinction across various levels!
Want to learn more? Get in touch with our team at Studious Minds to find out how we can help you or your child unlock their true academic potential. Or secure a slot in our tuition programme today, where we offer personalised attention as well as unlimited consultation sessions.