2024 CHS Prelim Marking Scheme

LORMS for Sec 4 SS Prelim 2024 MARK SCHEME Section A 1 Study Source A. What is the message of the source? Explain your answer using details from the source. [5] L1 Lifting from source / Describing source content [1] E.g. The message is that upward mobility is “out of order” and cannot work. L2 Makes sub-message Award 2 marks for a sub-message and 3 marks for support provided. [2-3] E.g. The message is that upward mobility cannot be achieved. Source A shows an escalator labelled “American upward mobility”. Nobody is on that escalator as it is “out of order”, implying that there is no hope for upward social mobility in the US. [3] L3 Explains why it is increasingly difficult / impossible to achieve upward social mobility (main message) • Emphasis is on holistic reading of source Award the higher mark in the level for more developed answers. [4-5] E.g. The message of the source is that upward social mobility is increasingly impossible to achieve due to other socio-economic barriers / lack of jobs / increasing debt / decreased financial savings . Source A shows an escalator labelled “American upward mobility” that is currently “out of order” , hence nobody is using it . This symbolised how it is increasingly difficult and virtually impossible for anyone to experience upward mobility in the US. Next to it are other escalators, with commuters moving up with “debt”, losing “savings” and experiencing loss of jobs. [5]

2 Study Source B. What was the intention of the speech? Explain your answer. [6] Note: This is a ‘why’ question, hence only responses framed as reasons can be awarded marks. L1 Because of generalised context / undeveloped provenance [1] E.g. The intention of the speech was to address participants at the 4 th Singapore-China Social Governance Forum. L2 Because of content, at surface/face value (i.e. literal reading) [2] E.g. The intention of the speech was to highlight that Singapore has done well in terms of helping the lowest income tier move up to the top tier of income earners. OR The intention of the speech was to show that Singapore has done better than US, UK and Denmark in terms of helping people achieve social mobility. L3 Because he wants to highlight Singapore’s multi-prong / “many helping hands” approach to ensure social mobility Award the higher mark in the level for answers with support. [3-4] E.g. The intention of the speech was to highlight Singapore’s multi -prong / many helping hands approach towards social mobility. Source B states the various measures the Singapore has taken to ensure upward social mobility, such as the government reaching out to “parents as early as during the mother’s pregnancy”, businesses that pay “higher wages to individuals as they upgrade the ir skills” and individuals who “step forward as volunteers with social service agencies”. Different stakeholders come together to ensure continued social mobility in Singapore. L4 Because of the impact the Minister hopes to achieve • (Chinese or Singapore) Government officials → implement policies that involve different stakeholders in society to make social mobility a reality Award the higher mark in the level for more developed answers. [5-6] The intention of the speech was to highlight Singapore’s multi -prong / many helping hands approach towards social mobility. Source B states the various measures the Singapore has taken to ensure upward social mobility, such as the government reaching out to “parents as early as during the mother’s pregnancy”, businesses that pay “higher wages to individuals as they upgrade their skills” and individuals who “step

forward as volunteers with social service agencies”. Different stakeholders come together to ensure continued social mobility in Singapore. The speech was made so that government officials / representatives attending the forum will implement or strengthen policies (back at home) to bring different stakeholders together to uplift disadvantaged segments of society. Weaker OC to consider: so that government officials / representatives walk away with a better understand ing of how different stakeholders in society need to come together to make upward social mobility a reality. Possible OCs to consider: • Singaporeans will support initiatives by the government to promote social mobility policies by being proactive in actively participating in them; call to action to support such collaborative initiatives *Award L3/4 for Outcome only (with support provided) *Audience must be consistent *Message & Outcome must be matching for L4 3 Study Sources C and D. Would the academic (in Source C) agree with the business analyst (in Source D)? Explain your answer. [7] L1 Agree / Disagree in terms of provenance, undeveloped [1] E.g. The academic would agree with the business analyst as they are both analysing socio- economic issues that occur during the same period (2021-2022) OR The academic would agree with the business analyst as both are respected professionals and I expect them to provide analysis based on accurate data and evidence. L2 Agree / Disagree in terms of generalised topic OR content, not supported [2-3] E.g. The academic and business analyst will agree in terms of the economic situation faced by many countries in the world today. [2] OR/AND

The academic and business analyst will disagree in terms of the reason for the bleak economic situation in the world today. [3] L3 Agree / Disagree in terms of content, supported Award the higher mark in the level for more developed answers. [4-5] E.g. The academic and business analyst will agree in terms of the economic situation faced by many countries in the world today. The academic (in Source C) mentioned that “Chinese GDP growth has steadily declined since 2010” and “an economic downturn” has led to economic hardships and “doubts on the future of China” . Similarly, the business analyst talks about how “job security has become precarious” and “half the world’s workers are considering quitting”. Both suggests that the economic situation in the world is very bleak. OR The academic and business analyst will disagree in terms of the reason for the bleak economic situation in the world today. The academic (in Source C) says that the economic situation is due to “economic downturn” caused by “worldwide inflation from the pandemic”, “Ukraine war” and “increasing tensions between US and China”. This suggests that the economic situation facing countries like China are due to external global events. On the other hand, the business analyst (in Source D) seems to suggest that the economic situation is due to reasons that are more internal . For example, the business analyst suggests that changing mindsets to work as “millions of people are rethinking how they work and live” and “4 in 10 millennials and Gen Z respondents sat they’d leave their job if asked to come back to the office full time”. Beyond global events, the business analyst (in Source D) seems to suggest that individual choice and mindsets play a huge part in the economic situation facing the world today. L4 Agree AND Disagree in terms of content [6] E.g. Both sides of L3. L5 Agree because of similar economic outlook (i.e. economic hardships and doubts about the future) • C: “further doubts on the future of China” • D: “job security has become “precarious” & “almost half the world’s workers are considering quitting” [7] E.g. The academic (in Source C) and business analyst (in Source D) will largely agree with each other because they both hold similar views on the economic outlook of countries around the world . The academic shared of a “lying flat” phenomenon in China, that was largely the result of declin