SCHOLASTIC ASSESSMENT TEST I

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Education whether the new Scholastic Assessment Test I, which will be used from 2005, will serve the original objective of his Ministry in introducing an additional mode of assessment for admission into university.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The objective of including the SAT I for university admission is to introduce a reasoning test as an additional mode of assessment for university admission. The use of SAT I, a reasoning test, will help our universities assess a candidate's analytical thinking skills. This complements the `A'-level examinations, which is a rigorous and effective measure of content knowledge. Coupling these two modes of assessment will allow our universities to select the right type of students, and signal the type of graduates Singapore needs for us to succeed in the knowledge economy.

In June this year, the College Board, while announcing the changes to the SAT I, stated that the new SAT I will remain a test of reasoning and thinking skills. Notwithstanding this assurance, my Ministry has set up a taskforce consisting of MOE, NUS and NTU representatives, to study in depth the changes that College Board is making to SAT I and to determine how best the new SAT I can be used to serve the universities' objectives. The taskforce is expected to complete its review by the end of 2002.