How Did Singapore's A Level Students Perform?

A week after grades were first published, schools worldwide have published their revised A and AS Level results. And A/As Level students at one of Singapore's most popular international schools have received their final results – this time based on teachers' predicted grades.

Tanglin Trust School is the only school in Singapore to offer students the choice of studying either the IBDP or A Levels – and one of only a very few international schools here to offer A Levels. In addition to celebrating a high average score in its 2020 IBDP results, Tanglin has scored highly in its A Level exams.

At Tanglin, 68% of all grades achieved were an A* or A, compared to 38.1% in England; 98% of all Tanglin grades were in the A* to C range. More than a third of all grades (38%) were an A*, more than double the average in England, where 14.3%* of all grades were an A*.

Other achievements include:
• 90% of all grades achieved were A*-B
• 45% of students taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) achieved an A*
• 73% of students taking the EPQ achieved A* or A

Allan Forbes, head of Tanglin's senior school, said:

“At last, I feel we can celebrate the release of the A Level results for our Class of 2020. Following their publication earlier this month – which resulted in much confusion and frustration for students, parents, teachers and schools – all A Level exam boards have reverted to Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs) after the U-turn from the UK Government.

"I believe the outcomes now accurately reflect the efforts of our students and the supporting evidence provided by their teachers. There are still questions around how some universities will respond with limited course places and accommodation spaces on offer, but we feel that justice has been served in the grades now given to this heavily affected group of young people."

During the past few weeks, exams were cancelled, lessons were moved online, and a new grading and appeals system was changed right up until the last minute. 

Although this year’s students did not sit the A Level exams, they still receive a grade for each subject. This was originally based on an algorithm drafted by OFQUAL (the UK's Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) to moderate teacher assessed grades. However, nearly a week after the results were published, there was a last-minute U-turn by the British government; this means that all students will now be awarded the grades predicted by their teachers.

The GCE Advanced Level or International A Level is a secondary school leaving qualification in the UK and an international school qualification worldwide. Students normally sit three A Levels, but some sit four, and others as few as two.

Used by University and College admissions services around the world, A Levels remain one of the most widely recognised pre-university and college entry examinations. Figures from UCAS (the University and College Admissions Service in the UK, which coordinates university placements across the country) show that 408,960 Sixth Formers from the UK and overseas have had places confirmed, while among UK students alone, 348,890 applicants have been accepted - a 1% fall compared to 2018.

The vast majority of Singapore’s 80-plus international and private schools follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at college level. Those that do offer GCE/International A Levels include the popular all-through Tanglin Trust School and the private secondary school, Insworld Institute.

Other schools offering A Levels follow a January to December academic year and receive their results in November. These include DPS International School, Ascensia International School, Dimensions High School, Furen International School (FIS), and SSTC International Academy (SSTC-IA).