No discrepancy found in O-Level English oral exam questions: SEAB

Noting the feedback, SEAB said: “The findings confirmed that there was no discrepancy, and the question displayed on the candidates’ screens was the same as that on the oral examiners’ screens. 

“We have also observed online comments from individuals who acknowledged that they had misread the prompts at the first instance.”

SEAB said that for each oral exam session, only one version of the exam video and questions is released via its e-Examination system to all examination centres.

“Hence, all candidates and oral examiners access the same examination video and test content,” it added. 

“In addition, processes are in place before the commencement of the oral examination session to verify that the correct video and questions are shown onscreen.”

The oral communication component of the O-Level English exam comprises two parts: planned response and spoken interaction. 

The planned response component accounts for 10 per cent of the overall O-Level English grade. Candidates are given time to plan and deliver a response to a video clip and an accompanying prompt presented on a computer screen. 

This is followed by the spoken interaction component, where candidates engage in a discussion with the oral examiners on a topic based on the same video clip.