No system malfunction found, after 432 students report O-level English oral discrepancies
It was also not a cybersecurity incident, said Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary.
On July 15, 432 students from 200 oral examiner teams reported discrepancies in the O-level English Language examination, though investigations concluded no system malfunction occurred. Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary stated that all candidates and examiners accessed the same examination material during the oral assessment.
The issue arose from students recalling different text prompts during the 10-minute preparation period, leading to varied recollections such as "Would you go…", "Would you cut your hair…?", and "Why would I go…?" SEAB conducted system-level checks, reviewed individual accounts, and performed cybersecurity scans to rule out technical causes.
Despite the discrepancies, candidates' mean scores remained comparable to their peers and other examination sessions. SEAB is reviewing processes to prevent similar confusion and will support affected students through special consideration for those experiencing distress.
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