Analyzing Singapore’s Mid-Year Exam Cancellation in Primary and Secondary Schools: Implications for China

Abstract

Drawing on prior experience with canceling mid-year examinations for select grades in recent years, Singapore’s Minister of Education, Chan Chun Sing, announced on March 7th, 2022, that all mid-year examinations in primary and secondary schools will be eliminated by 2023. This article examines the impact of Singapore’s decision to cancel mid-year examinations in primary and secondary schools and the inspirations that China can draw from it. The analysis demonstrates that eliminating mid-year exams in Singapore can mitigate students’ academic stress, foster their all-round development, decrease teacher workload, and enhance parent-child relations. Nevertheless, it may also lead to some adverse consequences, such as declining academic performance, challenges in assessing teaching effectiveness, and shifting parental attitudes. This article further presents reform proposals, comprising the management and supervision of examination, exam reform, curriculum innovation, and augmenting the significance of teacher professional development, to empower students to develop more effectively and respond positively to challenges.