A SPOKESMAN for the Ministry of Education (MOE) said the assessment of Project Work is based on a set of common criteria applied across all schools. Moderation is then carried out to ensure assessors keep to the assessment criteria by marking to the expected standard. Said the spokesman: 'At the school level, the accuracy and consistency of each teacher's marking is checked by the school's internal moderation panel.' The marking is then moderated externally at the national level by a panel to make sure the schools have adhered to the same standards. The external moderation panel consists of the chief examiner from the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), and officers appointed by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (Seab). The spokesman said: 'Teachers in charge of Project Work in the schools were trained by examiners from UCLES. They were trained on the use of the assessment criteria and were provided with benchmark materials that illustrate the marking standards.' He added that schools take part in sharing sessions where they study projects done by students who scored well in the subject. The role of teachers, the spokesman said, is to help their students develop the skills necessary for Project Work and to give them feedback at various stages of their projects. MOE has also distributed a Project Work handbook which provides guidelines on how teachers should help students as they work on their projects. Liew Hanqing ________________________________________ WHAT STUDENTS DO FOR PROJECT WORK: • Define the project's focus • Analyse and evaluate the information gathered from both primary and secondary sources • Reflect on their learning process • Deliver an oral presentation • Submit a written report ________________________________________ PROJECT WORK STUDENTS are assigned project groups of between four and five students. Groups must work on a broad task designed to showcase their skills and abilities. The groups are expected to complete their task in 26 weeks. Students are graded on three components - a written report of 2,500 - 3,000 words, a preliminary group project file and an oral presentation of their project. http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,199725,00.html?