Bedok Green Primary SchoolSubject-Based Banding (SBB)

Briefing 2020

Subject-Based Banding: How it is carried out in Primary School and its effect on a child’s education

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What is Subject-Based Banding (SBB)?

How does SBB work?

How does SBB affect Secondary School Admission?

What are some of the frequently asked questions about SBB?

Briefing Outline

Offering Different Subject Combinations To Cater To The Different Abilities Of Each Child

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1What is Subject-Based Banding (SBB)?

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SBB Objective

To help each child

realise his potential,

based on his

strengths and needs,

so as to prepare him

for life.

Every child has different

aptitudes, capabilities and talents.Every child is unique.

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SBB in a nutshell

Subject-based Banding (Primary) provides greater flexibility for students by offering

them the option of Standard and Foundation subjects, depending on their

strengths.

• This will allow students to focus on and stretch their potential in the

subjects they are strong in while building up the fundamentals in the

subject they need more support in.

Taking Foundation

subjects will help

me build up my

fundamentals in

these subjects…

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Foundation level subjects

• Cover lesser content than standard-level subjects

• Less demanding in terms of duration, total marks and format of

examination paper

• Focus on building up strong fundamentals and better prepares

students for progression to secondary school

*For more information, please visithttps://www.seab.gov.sg/home/examinations/psle/psle-

formats-examined-in-2020

Difference between Foundation level and Standard level Subjects*

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Subject Combinations* Offered in Primary School

4S1H

• Standard English,

Mother Tongue,

Mathematics and

Science

• Higher Mother

Tongue

4S

• Standard English,

Mother Tongue,

Mathematics and

Science

2S2F

• Standard English

and Mother

Tongue

• Foundation

Mathematics and

Science

4F

• Foundation

English, Mother

Tongue,

Mathematics and

Science

* Subject combinations focus on literacy and numeracy, and facilitate the student’s articulation to secondary schooland beyond.

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2How does SBB work?

As illustrated for 2020 P4 students

Overview of SBB

P6Student sits for PSLE at

the end of P6.

P4Based on student’s result for

each subject, school recommends a subject

combination.

Parents fill up an option form indicating the

preferred combination.

2020 T4

P5School assesses student’s ability to

cope with the current subject combination at the end of the year.

Adjustments to the number of Standard and Foundation subjects

can be made, if necessary.

2021 T4

S1For the subjects that student is strong in,

he/she can take them at a higher level for

secondary schools with Full SBB.

2023 T12022 T4

Student takes subject combination chosen by his/her parents

Student takes subject combination decided by his/her school

Student is posted to a secondary school based on his/her PSLE scores

UPDATED (17 Jul 2020)

Parents complete an option form indicating preferred combination

The diagram below shows how parents

would indicate their preferred combination at the end of the year:

SBB at P4

Student’s P4 result for each subject is calculated

School recommends asubject combination

School’s recommendation is based on:• Student’s aptitude, motivation and

performance in each subject• Student’s ability to cope with a

particular subject combination

A sample of the school’s recommendation

is shown below:

UPDATED (17 Jul 2020)

SBB Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria

Pass all 4 subjects and performs

very well in Mother Tongue

Language

4 Standard Subjects + Higher Mother Tongue Language

• Standard English

• Standard Mathematics

• Standard Science

• Standard Mother Tongue

• Higher Mother Tongue

Pass 3 or all 4 subjects

4 Standard Subjects

• Standard English

• Standard Mathematics

• Standard Science

• Standard Mother Tongue

Pass 2 subjects or less 4 Standard Subjects or take one or more Foundation

Subjects, depending on his/her results.

Your child may be recommended to take

UPDATED (17 Jul 2020)

Student’s P5 result for each subject is calculated

School makes adjustments to the subject levels if needed.

Parents acknowledge the change in student’s subject combination in P6

Student’s ability to cope with the subjects is assessed by school.

A sample of the school’s letter to parents

is shown below:A sample of parent’s acknowledgement

form is shown below :

SBB at P5

Students who do very well/

meet expectations

Students who do not meet expectations

Continue with the same subject combination in P6

• Switch some subjects to Foundation levelin P6

• Drop Higher Mother Tongue subject in P6

UPDATED (17 Jul 2020)

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PSLEStudent takes the subject

combination recommended by school and sits for PSLE.

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S1 PostingStudent’s S1 posting is

dependent on his/her PSLE scores and choice order of

schools.

S1 Course Placement• Student taking Foundation subjects is

eligible for the Express Course, as long ashe/she meets the course placementcriteria.

• For secondary schools with Full SBB,students may also take subjects at a higherlevel for those that they are strong in.

Using his/her PSLE scores,

student applies for schools of

his/her choice.

Student reports to

his/her secondary

school.

SBB at P6

3 How does SBB affect Secondary School Admission?

PSLE ScoreFrom T-Score to wider ScoringBands

Reflects a student’s individual level of achievement

Students’ AL for each subject will reflect their level of achievement, rather than

how they have performed relative to their peers.

Reduce fine differentiation of studentsStudents will similar group scores in

each subject will be grouped into wider bands measured in 8 ALs.

Objectives of PSLE Score

• From 2021, the PSLE Score replaces the T-score aggregate.

• The PSLE Score ranges from 4 to 32, with 4 being the best.

• Students will be placed in secondary school courses based on their PSLE Score – Express,

Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical).

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AL system for Standard level and Foundation levelSubjects from 2021

Table 1: AL system for Standard-level Subjects Table 2: AL system for Foundation-level Subjects

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Mapping* Foundation level AL System to Standardlevel AL System to derive a student’s overall PSLEScore

* Mapping is based on the learning and assessment load of the subjects, and informs students about their readinessto access the curriculum at the secondary level.

Example of PSLE Scores* for different subjectcombinations and course placement

English AL3

Mother Tongue AL2

Mathematics AL1

Science AL2

PSLE Score 8

PSLE Score for 4S

Placement Outcome: Express

PSLE Score for 2S2F

English AL5

Mother Tongue AL5

Foundation Mathematics ALA

Foundation Science ALA

PSLE Score 22

Placement Outcome: Express/ N(A)

PSLE Score for 4F

Foundation English ALA

Foundation Mother Tongue ALA

Foundation Mathematics ALB

Foundation Science ALA

PSLE Score 25

Placement Outcome: N(A)/ N(T)

*For more information, please visit https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/psle/PSLE%20Scoring/psle-scoring.html

Full SBB in Secondary Schools

01 Full SBB will be rolled out to all secondary schools by2024.

02 This allows students to take English, Mother Tongue,Mathematics and Science at a more demanding levelat Secondary 1 based on their performance in thesesubjects at PSLE.

03 Full SBB is available in 28 secondary schoolsin 2023.

04 Secondary 1 students will take subjects atG1, G2 or G3 level, based on their subjectAL.

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Bedok Green Secondary School

Ping Yi Secondary School

St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

Temasek Secondary School

Bedok North Avenue 3

61 Chai Chee Street

Bedok North Avenue 4

Upper East Coast Road

Secondary Schools (Near BGPS) with Full SBB in2023*

* Please refer to https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/media/press/2019/annex---full-sbb-

pilot-schools.pdf for the list of pilot schools with Full SBB.

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Eligibility for Secondary School Higher MotherTongue Language (HMTL)

01 The eligibility criteria for taking HTML is intended to ensure that students can cope with the higheracademic load.

02 For students who do not meet the above criteria, secondary schools will continue to have theflexibility to offer HMTL to students, if they are assessed to have high ability and interest in MTLand are able to take HMTL without affecting their performance in other subjects.

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Use of HCL for Admission into SAP Schools

01 The HCL posting advantage for entry to SAP schools will continue.

02 Students will be ranked taking into account their performance in HCL, as shown below.

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4 What are some of the frequently asked questions about SBB?

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SBB FAQ

1. When will parents exercise their option to indicate their preferred option for

their child?

Parents will exercise their option after SA2 examinations, probably by 3rd week of

November.

2. How does the school decide on the recommendation for a subject

combination?

Feedback is sought from all subject teachers before the Form Teacher makes a

recommendation, taking into account your child’s aptitudes and abilities. Following

which, the Year Head and Schools Leaders would endorse the recommended

subject combination.

SBB FAQ

3. How can my child qualify for Higher Mother Tongue in P5?

Your child must achieve at least 80% for MTL and the other 3 subjects.

Qualification is also based on teacher’s recommendation.

4. Is the selection criteria for the various subject combinations standard

across all schools?

Yes, the selection criteria is similar across all primary schools.

5. Can I choose to change the subject combination after SA1 in P5?

No. Any changes can only be made after the school’s recommendation at the end

of P5, but not after SA1.

It is too early to determine if a child can or cannot manage a particular subject

combination after one semester.

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SBB FAQ

6. Would my child be able to progress to the Express stream if he/ she takes

one or more Foundation subjects?

S1 course placement is dependent on your child’s PSLE score. Students are

eligible for the Express stream if their PSLE score is between 4 to 22.