To ensure objectivity and fairness, all coursework, including PW, is marked by teacher assessors at school level and then externally moderated. As teachers monitor the progress of each project, they know how far students have been actively involved in carrying out the project, and appropriate guidance to be given. While the group project file is assessed by the students' supervising tutor, the written report and oral presentation are assessed by teachers not directly involved in supervising the projects.

At the national level, accuracy and consistency of all schools' assessment are checked by an external moderation panel to ensure they have all applied the same standards. The panel is led by three chief examiners, two of whom represent the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). This is the same kind of rigorous checking process in place for other coursework subjects and is on par with procedures carried out by UCLES for its British and overseas examinations which have coursework components.

Regarding Mr Ganesamoorthy's questions about the assessment of individual and group performance within the team, both are taken into account in the grade awarded for PW. Individual performance is assessed based on group project file submissions as well as oral presentation. Overall performance of students depends how well they have mastered skills required for PW and their ability to apply these skills to their chosen project topic. Given the wide range of skills tested and the extended time frame of assessment, it is expected the quality of student performance will vary both within and across schools.

Mr Ganesamoorthy asked how teachers are trained in assessing PW. School internal moderators have been trained by UCLES examiners and have been provided with examples to illustrate expected marking standards. The chief internal moderator in the school ensures all teacher assessors have a clear understanding of marking criteria and standards, and that these standards are adhered to. New supervising tutors for PW attend workshops conducted by the Ministry of Education.

PW, with its emphasis on key knowledge skills, oral presentation and teamwork, greatly enriches the A-level curriculum. As with any other subject, the PW syllabus has been reviewed regularly since its implementation in 2003. Procedures and processes have been refined, taking into consideration feedback from students and teachers, and the sharing of best practices across schools.

Tan Lay Choo (Ms)
Chief Executive
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

Ho Peng (Ms)
Director, Curriculum Planning & Development
Ministry of Education