Late For Exam - Whose Fault?
By skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
Singapore
November 13, 2010 5:49am CST
This is the time of the year where exam fever is on for those who are taking on the Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) "O" and "A" levels.
For those on another side of the globe, GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the commonwealth countries, notably Singapore, confer to students.
As usual, students from various schools will be given their designated student serial numbers and examinations schedule for their various subjects. And, due to a printing fault, a student mistook his timetable for a particular paper. Due to a misprint, the student thought that his paper was at 3pm, when in fact, it was at 8 in the morning.
Fortunately, he was notified in time by his school teacher and after much rush arrived at the examination hall half an hour late. Unfortunately, he did not manage to complete 30% of his paper as no extra time was granted for his late arrival.
Now, the student's parents are pointing the finger at the school for this unfortunate incident. While the school has yet to make a formal statement, I just have to wonder how this student's classmates actually turn up on time. Fair enough, I am sure there could be a print fault which occurred with his schedule only but shouldn't this student know from talking with his fellow classmates.
IMO, I feel that the school could not be blame for this misfortune but I will have to hold his form teacher and him to be equally responsible. For one, the teacher could have checked the exam timetable meticulously to spot the printing error while the student could have gathered from his classmates that the timing he had on his timetable was actually having a misprint.
What do you think?
Read more:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/schoops/492642/Son_late_for_O_levels_mum_blames_school.html
4 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Nov 10
I think that if the student is able to prove that his paperwork had the wrong time on it, he should be given the opportunity to retake the exam with the proper amount of time. However, if there is no way that the student is able to prove that his paperwork had the wrong time printed on it, then it should be his responsibility to accept the score that he received the first time that he took the examination.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
16 Nov 10
dorannmwin,
There's really a misprint on the boy's exam timetable and I do not think that there is any remote chance for this child if his teacher does not go through the timetable with his classmates during class after the timetable is handed out.
And, most of all - if he had made an effort to check out with his classmates about the paper schedules. The least he could have done was to discuss or compare or talk about it with his fellow classmates, which obviously and sadly - he did not.
I just hope that the other subjects would be able to carry him through which should be the case where banking on one paper to score for the exam is just unwise.
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
15 Nov 10
i have the same question in my head as [2004cqui] - Doesnt this student talk to anyone else at school?..
i will not blame him for this 'mistake'/'misunderstanding' - since the timetable was prepared and handed to him - the ones who prepared the timetable should've checked to confirm the schedule + the quality of the printing of the schedule! Good thing that the school did manage to get hold of him, to get him to come for the exam.
Still.. if it was me.. i usually check / reconfirm my children's exam schedule with other parents / school, as soon as i get the schedule.. we normally would setup a 'network' of moms of my children's classmates, so that we could share info like 'spot questions', 'exam workshops' and of course...exam schedules..
so.. asking the same question twice - Doesnt this student talk to anyone else at school?.. 
so.. asking the same question twice - Doesnt this student talk to anyone else at school?..
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
16 Nov 10
4mymak,
The GCE "O" levels is the first national examination, so there's really of stress and tension for it. I can understand the jittery and pressure from the student's end.
Checking for the misprint like this one can be quite a task but I felt that the school should make the teachers go through the entire timetable with their charges so as to avoid incidents like this one.
Lastly, I really have to wonder on that question that all of us are asking as to why and how this boy could have kept it so tight to himself. Just beyond me, which only he has the answer.
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
13 Nov 10
Honestly, if other students can make it on time, there is no reason that this particular student can't. Singapore is a small country and most students will get into a school that is near to their home, so the travelling time should not be an issue. While the fault is mainly on the student, I think the school has to bear a certain amount of responsibility. 8.00am and 3.00pm, there is so much of a difference. The least they should do is to allow the student a few extra time.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
16 Nov 10
sjlskl,
I think the photo inset on the article clearly showed that there was a misprint on the boy's exam schedule for this particular paper. So, I think the fact that the other students are punctual, clearly indicate that the boy's timetable to be an isolated case where the ink nozzle happens to be clogged at the crucial moment.
Like you, I feel that the school should bear some responsibility in ensuring that the schedules handed out does not have any misprint accident like this one. Back in my days, my teacher actually went through with us as a class with entire timetable which is actually less than 10 minutes.
I do not think giving extra allowance is permitted especially since this is a national exam where there is a stipulated rule from the MOE and Cambridge the exam body.
On the hindsight, I am sure the boy could have other subjects to bolster on and still be able to qualify and attend junior college.
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
16 Nov 10
2004cqui,
Just to let you know, this is a national exam where the whole country is sitting for the exam and the papers are actually being corrected by Cambridge (UK).
In my former days, my teacher actually went through our exam timetables with us to prevent such accidents. This is very unfortunate and perhaps being meticulous is the best solution in preventing such an incident.
Anyway, I think his other papers could help with his promotion and attend the junior college of his choice.
Take care and have a nice day.
