7 late for PSLE, N-Level papers on Sept 30 due to East-West Line train disruption

SINGAPORE - Seven candidates sitting the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and N-level exam on Sept 30 were late due to the

ongoing train disruption

on the East-West Line (EWL), said the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

About 41,000 candidates sat the PSLE papers, while around 5,700 candidates – including about 80 private candidates – took the GCE Normal (Academic)-level science papers on the morning of Sept 30, which marks the sixth day of disruption on the EWL.

Around 5,400 candidates - including about 130 private candidates - took the Normal (Technical)-level mathematics and N(A)-level additional mathematics papers.

SEAB, in response to queries, said: “For the morning examinations, five candidates, comprising one PSLE candidate and four N(A)-level candidates, were late for their examinations due to the train service disruption. Of the four N-level candidates, three are private candidates.”

The board added that two candidates, including a private candidate, were late for the N(T)-level mathematics paper in the afternoon session.

“All seven candidates arrived before the end of their paper at their assigned centres and were given time to settle down and sit for the full duration of the papers,” a spokesperson said.

SEAB added that no candidate was affected by the train disruption on Sept 27 for their PSLE mathematics and foundation mathematics exams.

On Sept 26 – the second day of the MRT disruption and the first day of PSLE written papers –

five out of about 41,000 pupils sitting the English and foundation English exams were late.

On Sept 25, SEAB said candidates would not be penalised if they were late because of the disruption, and there were “existing arrangements which students have been briefed (on)”.

In an update on Sept 30, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said

all affected rail segments between Clementi and Ulu Pandan Depot

have been replaced as work to resume service along a four-station stretch of the EWL continues.

Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista have been disrupted

since Sept 25

,

 with about 2.1 million passengers affected so far. Rail operator SMRT and LTA are 

aiming to restore services on Oct 1,

subject to weather conditions and after thorough testing is done for passenger safety.