SINGAPORE - The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will continue to be an "important milestone examination" in the education system here, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday.

The ministry will review the PSLE scoring system to narrow its emphasis on grades and academic success, he said. The review will support the education system's shift to broaden its emphasis instead on "values, attributes, knowledge and skills for work and life", said Mr Heng.

The exams, he added, has ensured that Primary Six pupils have a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy, he said.

He did not provide more details of the change in the PSLE scoring system.

Mr Heng was speaking at an international conference on educational assessment at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Some 600 educators from examination bodies, universities and research organisations from over 40 countries are taking part in the conference which ends on Friday.