新加坡O水准英语考试大纲
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
GCE ORDINARY LEVEL
(SYLLABUS 1127)
AIMS
At the end of their secondary education, students will be able to communicate effectively in English. They will be able to:
?listen to, read and view with understanding, accuracy and critical appreciation, a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts from print, non-print and electronic sources.
?speak, write and make presentations in internationally acceptable English that is grammatical, fluent and appropriate for purpose, audience, context and culture. At higher levels of proficiency, students will speak and write for academic purposes and creative expression, using language that is inventive and imaginative.
?think through, interpret and evaluate fiction and non-fiction texts from print and electronic sources to analyse: how language is used to evoke responses and construct meaning; how information is presented; and how different modes of presentation create impact.
?interact effectively with people from their own or different cultures.
These aims form the basis of a course of study; they may not all be translated into Assessment Objectives for formal examination.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
Candidates should be able to:
IN PAPER 1
(i) communicate clearly and effectively to suit purpose, audience, context and culture
(ii) write in internationally acceptable English
(iii) plan, organise and write coherently and cohesively
(iv) write relevantly, showing development of ideas
(v) write creatively on a given topic or situation
(vi) use appropriate vocabulary with clarity and precision
(vii) use correct grammar and punctuation, and spell accurately.
IN PAPER 2
(i) comprehend texts at the literal and inferential levels
(ii) understand how the purpose of various texts is achieved through text organisation and the use of cohesive devices, grammar and vocabulary
(iii) identify the main ideas and details in texts
(iv) use contextual clues to understand the information present in a text
(v) synthesise, summarise and organise information
(vi) give reasons to support an opinion or a response.
IN PAPER 3
Reading Aloud
(i) Pronunciation and Articulation: read a passage with good pronunciation and clear articulation (ii) Rhythm and Fluency: read with appropriate rhythm and stress to achieve a well-paced, fluent rendering of a passage
(iii) Expressiveness: read with appropriate variation of pitch and tone in order to convey the information, ideas and feelings in a passage
Picture Discussion
(iv)Interpretation and Explanation: interpret and explain the situations in the picture with supporting details
(v) Language: use a range of appropriate vocabulary and structures to complete the task
(vi) Coherence: develop ideas in a clear and coherent manner
Conversation
(vii) Personal Response: give a personal response to the theme of the picture and the passage
(viii) Clarity of Expression: express himself/herself clearly and succinctly in a conversation using appropriate vocabulary and structures
(ix) Engagement in Conversation: discuss issues that arise with the Examiner stemming from the picture and the passage
SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT There are three compulsory papers:
Paper Description
R ange
of
Marks
Weighting Duration
Paper 1 Composition This paper is divided
into two sections:
Section 1 –
Free Writing
Section 2 –
Situational Writing
Candidates answer
both Section 1 and
Section 2.
Five topics are set.
Candidates choose
one topic and write
350–500 words on it.
Candidates write
250–350 words on
the question.
Total
marks: 60
30
30
40% 1
hr
45 mins
Paper 2 Comprehension This paper contains
one or two
comprehension
passages of a total
length of about 1200
words.
All questions are
compulsory.
Comprehension
questions.
Vocabulary
questions.
Summary question
(Candidates write a
150-word summary,
not including the
introductory words).
Total
marks: 50
20
5
25
40% 1
hr
40 mins
Paper 3
Oral Communication This paper consists
of three parts:
Part 1 –
Reading Aloud
Part 2 –
Picture Discussion
Part 3 –
Conversation
All parts are
compulsory.
All three parts are
thematically linked.
Total
marks: 40
12
12
16
20% about
20 mins
(including
10 mins
preparation
time)