Congratulations to the young Singaporean lady who won the Angus Ross Prize for English and the three runners-up, also from Singapore, who were so good a spokesman for the examiners in Britain said it was hard to separate them.
"Singaporeans take top spots for Cambridge Angus Ross Prize", reports Channel NewsAsia.
The Straits Times reports:
Since the Angus Ross prize was first awarded in 1987, Singapore students have a strong history of winning it (sic, that's Straits Times grammar) the Angus Ross award, with students showing outstanding ability in their examination scripts.
Dr Newman Burdett, CIE Head of International Education, said: 'Over 20 years, only once has the Award been presented to a student outside of Singapore.
'This is testimony to the hard work and talent of students in Singapore. Their writing style shows a maturity of thought and expression.'
But did anybody check in which other countries students have to take the International Cambridge A Levels and are eligible for the Angus Ross Prize?
I am quoting from the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) media information PDF file on Cambridge International A and AS Levels:
In Singapore where Cambridge International A Level is the state qualification they (sic, Cambridge has grammar problems too) are respected around the world for their high quality education. Singapore tops many education league tables.
In the US, state schools in Florida are using the Cambridge programme to raise academic standards. This has resulted in students at the University of Florida who have Cambridge qualifications out performing IB and Advanced Placement students at the end of their first year.
In New Zealand, growing numbers of schools are choosing Cambridge International A Levels as an alternative to the national system.
The factsheet adds:
Cambridge International A and AS Levels are taken in over in 100 countries (over 90,000 entries a year).
But it mentions Singapore as the only country where the Cambridge International A Level is the state qualification.
Mauritius is not mentioned though I thought there too the Cambridge International A Level enjoys the same status.
Elsewhere apparently schools may offer it as an alternative to local examinations.
I wouldn't have bothered to point this out unless I read this in the Channel NewsAsia report:
Every year, thousands of students from Europe, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Argentina, India and Pakistan sit for the GCE examinations.
Frankly, I haven't come across a single student in India who has taken the A Levels.
Top Indian schools are more likely to prepare their students for the Indian School Certificate examination or its other Indian counterparts. Those are recognised abroad. International schools offer the A Levels as well as the International Baccalaureate. I met a couple whose children were preparing for the IB but not the A Levels. Indians in India normally don't attend international schools because some of the local schools are better and more well-known.
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