Two New Subjects: Oral Communication (OC) and Independent Studies (IS)

With effect from year 2010, there are two new subjects for Lower Secondary students: Oral Communication (OC) and Independent Studies (IS). There are also changes made for computation of overall marks for individual subjects.

Before year 2010, the computation of overall marks for individual subjects is 30% for class tests, 10% for OP and ACE respectively and another 50% for end-of-year examination. However, the school foresees an issue: If a student gets grade 'A1' for class tests and max his ACE and OP, he only needs to score a grade of 'B3' or 'B4' in End-of-year Examination in order for he to get 'A1' for his overall mark. Therefore, the school creates two new subjects, OC and IS, for students to study more thoroughly for examinations.

The subject OC consists of three components: 30% for Current Affairs in English Language, 30% for Current Affairs in Chinese Language and 40% for OP while the subject IS consists of two components: 50% for ACE and 50% for Project Work. An overview is as follows:

Before 2010

Individual Subjects
30%	Class Tests
10%	ACE
10%	OP
50%	End-of-year Examination

2010 onwards

Individual Subjects		Oral Communication (OC)		Independent Studies (IS)
Class Tests	30%	CA (EL)	30%	ACE	50%
End-of-year Exam	70%	CA (CL)	30%	Project Work	50%
		OP	40%

Now, may I have your view towards these two new subjects?

(226 words)

(Read my view)