School Exam Rankings

Singapore is known for its excellent education system.

And like many other countries, the Southeast Asian nation gives standardized exams in primary and secondary schools.

The students are then ranked according to their test scores.

This system, however, is expected to change in the near future.

In July, the country's education ministry announced that it would abolish school exam rankings.

"I know that students are proud when they come in first or second in the rankings," said the country's education minister.

"But we are removing this system for a good reason."

Many people in Singapore applaud the decision by their government.

They say that the exam ranking make education into a competition, and students become too obsessed by their rank.

This not only stresses out the students, but also keeps them from experiencing the joy of learning.

These critics add that the exam ranking system is not fair.

They say it only takes into account how students perform on one specific day.

Instead, they argue that students should be assessed for how they perform throughout the year.

However, other people are against abolishing the ranking system.

They say that students try their best in order to get a higher rank.

This is a good way to motivate students to always strive to do better.

Furthermore, these people say that exam scores and rankings are a necessary part of the educational process.

Students will continue to be assessed in this manner when they apply for universities or other schools in the future.

So, it is good for younger students to practice aiming for higher scores and ranks.

 

• is known for  로 알려져 있다 / 유명하다

• gives standardized exams  표준화된 시험을 치르다

• standardize  |stændərdaɪz  표준화하다

• abolish ə|bɑːlɪʃ  (법률·제도·조직을) 폐지하다

• come in  (경주에서 몇 위로) 들어오다 /  (밀물이) 밀려[들어]오다 (↔go out)

• applaud  əˈplɔːd  갈채를 보내다

• obsess  əbˈses    (어떤 생각이 사람의 마음을) 사로잡다, … 생각만 하게[…에 집착하게] 하다 /   (…에 대해) 강박감을 갖다

• keeps A from  A가 ~하지 못하게 하다

• takes into account  …을 고려하다, 참작하다, 계산에 넣다

• specific  spəˈsɪfɪk   구체적인, 명확한, 분명한 (=precise)

• assessed  əˈses  평가[사정]하다 (=estimate)

• motivate  |moʊtɪveɪt  (특히 열심히 노력하도록) 동기를 부여하다

• strive  straɪv  분투하다 * strive for success  성공하기 위해 노력하다

• educational  ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl  교육의, 교육적인

• manner  ˈmænə   (일의) 방식 /   (사람의) 태도 (→bedside manner)