GCE O-LEVEL

SCIENCE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION

Briefing for candidates

2018You are not allowed to distribute the contents of this document without the prior approval of Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

OUTLINE

1. Objective

2. Administrative Information

3. Key Rules and Regulations

4. Sequence of Events during Examinations

5. Good Practices

6. Some Useful Advice for your Examinations

OBJECTIVETo highlight key information from the GCE

Examination Rules and Regulations For

School Candidates’ booklet.

NOTE:

1. This briefing is not intended as a substitute for the Examination

Rules and Regulations For School Candidates’ booklet.

2. Candidates are still expected to read the booklet before the

national examination.

Dates for Practical Prelim Exams

SUBJECT DATE DAY

BIOLOGY 4 Oct 2018 Thursday

PHYSICS 9 Oct 2018 Tuesday

SCIENCE

(PHYSICS/CHEMISTRY)

11 Oct 2018 Thursday

SCIENCE

(CHEMISTRY/BIOLOGY)

CHEMISTRY 17 Oct 2018 Wednesday

Who will be reporting to school?

Students who are sitting for respective Science subjects on

each day

All students must write down the correct

reporting time;

reporting venue; and

seating position.

Make a buddy system to remind one another of the correct

time to come to school.

PURE SCIENCES PRACTICAL

Shift 1 Shift 2 Shift 3 Shift 4

Reporting

Time7.30 am 9.30 am 11.30 am 12.00 noon

Start Time 8.00 am 10.20 am 12.40 pm 3.00 pm

End Time 9.50 am 12.10 pm 2.30 pm 4.50 pm

Dismissal

Time12.30 pm 12.30 pm 2.30 pm 4.50 pm

Quarantine9.50 am to

12.30 pm

12.10 pm to

12.30 pmNo quarantine

Quarantine in

reporting room from

12.00 noon to

3.00 pm

4 Oct 2018 (Thu) – Biology9 Oct 2018 (Tue) – Physics

17 Oct 2018 (Wed) – Chemistry

Candidates taking

Pure Sciences

Reporting room

to mark

attendance

D2 – 05

(Compass room 1)

Where to report for Pure Sciences?

Do not report to the laboratory. Your attendance is taken at the reporting rooms

SCIENCE (PHYSICS/CHEMISTRY)

AND

SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY/BIOLOGY)

PRACTICAL

Shift 1 Shift 2 Shift 3 Shift 4

Reporting

Time7.30 am 9.15 am 11.15 am 12.30

Start Time 8.00 am 10.00 am 12.00 noon 2.00 pm

End Time 9.30 am 11.30 am 1.30 pm 3.30 pm

Dismissal

Time1.30 pm 1.30 pm 1.30 pm 3.30 pm

Quarantine9.30 am to

1.30 pm

11.30 am to

1.30 pmNo quarantine

Quarantine in

reporting room from

12.30 pm to 2.00 pm

11 Oct 2018 (Thu)

Candidates taking

Phy/Chem

Candidates taking

Chem/Bio

Reporting room

to mark

attendance

D2 – 04

(Compass room 2)

D2 – 05

(Compass room 1)

Where to report on 11 Oct 2018?

Do not report to the laboratory. Your attendance is taken at the reporting rooms

ALL STUDENTS

TO TAKE NOTE

Shifts and Seating Arrangements

Schedule and seating arrangements are available on the

notice boards in the canteen.

Clarify all queries with your Science teachers before the

day of exam.

Quarantine will be in the library. Do NOT allowed to leave the library without any escort.

Quarantine periods can be as long as 4 hours until: 12.30 pm for Pure Sciences

1.30 pm for Sci (Phy/Chem) & Sci (Chem/Bio)

You are advised to have heavy breakfast

bring your own school work to revise

bring dry food such as bread, biscuits, sandwiches if you want to eat during the quarantine period

Quarantine

1. Entry proof

2. NRIC / EZ link student pass

3. Pencil case (with sufficient & correct stationery set)

4. Calculator

What you should bring

What you should NOT bring

Communication /

Electronic Devices

or Computer Aids

e.g. handphones,

iPods,

iPads,

Smart watches

19

UNAUTHORISED MATERIALS

Candidates cannot bring into the reporting

rooms(D2-04, D2-05) and quarantine rooms (library): Communication / Electronic Devices or Computer Aids

(e.g. handphone, special glasses, bluetooth pen,

smartwatch, ebook watch, miniature wireless receivers

etc.)

20

Candidates cannot bring into the reporting rooms (Compass

Rooms) and quarantine room (library):

Communication / Electronic Devices or Computer Aids (e.g.

handphone, special glasses, bluetooth pen, smartwatch, ebook watch,

miniature wireless receivers etc.)

Reference Materials e.g. Notes

Periodic Tables

Books

UNAUTHORISED MATERIALS

Make sure your calculator is not defaced (Model no.

and Brand name must be clear for Invigilators to verify)

Remove all notes from pencil case

Do not look at other candidate’s work

Do not leave the reporting rooms (D2-04, D2-05) and

quarantine room (library) without any escort

21

TO AVOID MALPRACTICE

22

IN AN EVENT OF MALPRACTICE

• If candidate was suspected to commit

malpractice,

Unauthorised materials (mobile phones,

electronic devices etc) will be confiscated

Irregularity report will be submitted

Candidate and Exam personnel in-concern

must write their individual statements

Absentees

Candidates must have medical documents

(e.g. Medical Report or Certifying Letter from a

doctor) to certify the candidate’s medical condition.

NOT JUST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE!

Students can seek assistance from the Subject Supervisor on duty.

- special assistance cases

- color-deficiency

- check for faulty apparatus

- not able to proceed with work (really need help!)

All assistance rendered will be reported and may result in loss of marks.

Safety must be observed at all times.

Seeking assistance

Check that you have entry proof, NRIC/passport and the relevant stationery.

Make sure your hair is tied up in a bun (Girls with long hair)

If you did not bring the entry proof, get it from the General Office before coming to the reporting room.

You should go to the toilet before entering the reporting room

Before going to the Reporting Room

In the Reporting Room

Surrender your communication devices (handphones)

to the Liason Officers

Place your bags at the front of the classroom (under

the white board)

You are only allowed to take out your revision notes to

revise

Keep the revision notes and take out all materials

needed for exams before proceeding to the Science

Labs.

IMPT: Your bag should NOT be with you at all times

in the Waiting Room 26 Bags here

KEEP ALL THE REFERENCE ITEMS IN YOUR BAG

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE REPORTING ROOM

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Reference

materials or notes Bags

Safety goggles

must be worn

at all times.

SAFETY must be OBSERVED

at ALL TIME!

In the laboratory

In the laboratory

GIRLS

SAFETY must be OBSERVED at ALL TIME!

Girls with long hair:

• tie your hair in a bun

• either have a hair band or

hair pin to keep the fringe in place

In the laboratory

GIRLS

SAFETY must be OBSERVED at ALL TIME!

Girls with short hair:

•either have a hair band or

hair pin to keep the fringe in place

Check that you have all the apparatus

and materials that are provided.

This includes the contents in the

Zip-lock plastic bag.

For Sci(Phy/Chem) & Sci(Chem/Bio),

check for both Subjects.

Alert the invigilator if something is

missing or given extra.

In the laboratory

Read the instructions carefully.

Do not begin the experiments immediately.

Spend 2-3 minutes reading and understanding the questions to

make sure you know what you need to do.

Maintain calm and be focused.

You should not turn and look around or communicate with your

friends in whatever ways in the lab.

offence: cheating in the exams

In the laboratory

There is only 10 to 15 minutes available in between shifts

to replace with new supplies.

Everyone must help to clear and

replace the materials QUIETLY.

Listen to the instructions given by

the invigilators.

At the end of each shift

Prevent cross-contamination of bench reagents

and chemicals. The nozzle of the bottle

SHOULD NOT touch the test-tube.

In the laboratory

In the laboratory

Stop contamination!

Do not insert the tip of

these bottles into your

test-tubes.

Do NOT communicate with other candidates

inside or outside the examination venue during

the examination.

Do NOT commit or attempt to commit any

acts of dishonesty.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Examination materials such as used or unused

answer booklets and writing papers should NOT

be removed from the examination venue.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Examination materials are copyrighted. They

shall NOT be reproduced, uploaded, posted,

transmitted or distributed in any way.

USE OF CALCULATORS

IN EXAMINATIONS

Reference: Pages 4 – 8 of 2018 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(T), N(A) & O-Level Examinations – Examination Rules and Regulations For School Candidates

Refer to SEAB website for

the list of approved

calculators.

Use of unapproved

calculators will be treated

as a breach of

examination regulations.

CALCULATORS

Ensure that your calculator is in good

working condition. You are

encouraged to bring an additional

calculator or spare batteries.

Any enclosed instruction leaflets that

come with the calculator must NOT

be brought into the examination hall.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

You are NOT allowed to borrow calculators

during the examination.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

If you breach any examination rules and

regulations, you may be:

a) prohibited from taking the examination;

b) expelled from the examination room;

c) refused entry for subsequent papers;

d) have your results annulled or a grade

penalty; and/or

e) banned from registering for national

examinations in future years.

In the Quarantine Room

Place your bags at designated areas in the Quarantine Room as

instructed by the Liaison Officers

You are only allowed to take out your revision notes to revise or

practise TYS.

You are only allowed to collect your bag and your communication

devices (handphone) at the end of the quarantine period.

IMPT: Your bag should NOT be with you at all times in

the Quarantine Room. 45

WHAT TO DO DURING AN

UNEXPECTED SITUATION

Reference: Pages 14 – 15 of 2018 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(T), N(A) & O-Level Examinations – Examination Rules and Regulations For School Candidates

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

• If you have contracted a contagious

disease just before or during the

examination period, please see a

qualified medical practitioner and

inform the school.

• If you are hospitalised, please inform

the school.

You may apply for Special considerations, provided that:

• You have sat for at least 50% of the total assessment

of the affected subject, and

• You have the relevant supporting documents to

support your application (e.g. medical

report/statement from a qualified medical practitioner)

to certify that you are unfit for the examination.

1 2

Contracting contagious disease(s) just before or during the examination period; hospitalisation

Application for Special

Consideration

Continue to make your way to

the designated examination

centre, even if you are

unable to reach by the

reporting time of your shift.

Major Train Service Disruptions(Please continue to make your way to your

designated examination centre)

You will be given the

full duration to sit the

examination

Inform your school

immediately.

You do not need to

produce an excuse letter

from the

MRT station.

1a1b

1c

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

GOOD PRACTICES

Plan your route and journey

time so that you will be able

to report to your examination

centre at least 15 minutes in

advance, before the reporting

time.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Check your belongings to

make sure you have

everything you will need

before you leave home.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

THINGS TO BRING Entry Proof

NRIC/Foreign identification/

Student Concession Pass

Stationery such as Black or Blue Ball

Point Pens/ 2B Pencils/ Ruler/ Eraser

Calculator

You are not allowed to use correction tapes

during the examination.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Read the instructions carefully

on the question booklets/

answer booklets/ Personalised

Optical Answer sheets.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Listen carefully to all

announcements given by the

invigilator(s) before/during/after

the examination. Ensure that

you follow instructions at all

times.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

SOME USEFUL ADVICE FOR

YOUR EXAMINATIONS

Stay calm, you have done your revision. You can do it!

Clarify any doubts that you may have on the

examination rules and regulations with your

teacher.

Have enough

rest.

Eat healthily to avoid falling sick

during the examination period.

Drink sufficient water to keep

yourself well-hydrated.

Vectors designed by Freepik. For illustration purposes only.

Check for your shift, reporting venue and seating position. Bring

Entry proof and NRIC/ Ezlink student pass.

Report on time and BE PUNCTUAL.

Wear full school uniform.

Bring your own stationery.

Includes approved calculator, flexible rule, 30 cm ruler, sharp pencil,

extra sharp pencil and blue/black pen

If you have to be quarantined after the practical, bring extra revision

work to do to occupy at least 2 to 4 hrs.

Remember

ALL THE BEST FOR

YOUR EXAMS!

Produced by Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

May 2018