SINGAPORE - Students who are late for national examinations due to train disruptions will not be penalised, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said on Monday (Oct 26).

Fewer than 20 candidates reported late for their examinations on Monday morning due to a two-hour train disruption on the North-East Line.

Train service was down from about 5.20am and fully restored at 7.20am. Train arrival frequency was reduced until 9.30am.

Students are in the midst of O- and A-level examinations at secondary schools and junior colleges across Singapore.

Most of the affected candidates arrived within 30 minutes from the start of the examination.

"These candidates were given the full duration of their papers," SEAB said in a statement.

SEAB added that it has contingency plans to deal with events that may disrupt the conduct of the national examinations.

Candidates are informed before the exams that in the event that they cannot reach their schools in time due to a train disruption, they can take the examination at other schools near the MRT stations, SEAB said.

A list of schools have been posted at the MRT stations and are also available on SEAB website.

The public transport operators have also been approached to assist any affected candidates, SEAB said.

The Land Transport Authority said earlier it had informed the SEAB, and worked with the Education Ministry to make sure schools were aware that students might be arriving late on Monday morning.

Free bus services were subsequently extended islandwide until 9.30am to help the students get to school.