2024 SJI Prelim Marking Scheme

1 ST. JOSEPH’S INSTITUTION YEAR 4OP PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2024 HUMANITIES (SOCIAL STUDIES) LEVELS OF RESPONSE MARKING SCHEME SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) 1 Study Source A. Why do you think this cartoon was produced? Explain your answer. [5] L1 Describes the source content without answering the question Source A shows that there are many obstacles in the Indian university admission process. 1 L2 Misinterpretation of source/Sub-message Source A was published to praise the quotas in the Indian education system because it encourages potential students to be more competitive as they have to fulfil all the obstacles caused by the quotas. 2 L3 Valid message of the source Award higher mark for more developed answers. The cartoonist wanted to critici se the use of quotas in the Indian university admissions because quotas are not effective in addressing diversity. Quotas in the Indian Reservation System have created many problems for potential students applying to Indian universities / for society in general , reducing their chances of social mobility in the future. This is evident in Source A when the student encounters many hurdles with the problems like “deserving candidates miss out on opportunities” and “52.5% of seats reserved”. OR Valid outcome Award higher mark for more developed answers. This cartoon was published so that the Indian government would relook into the quota/reservation system in university admissions and make changes to ensure a more equitable admission process for all students. 3-4 L4 Both aspects L3 5

2 2 Study Sources B and C. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [6] L1 Difference or Similarity, based on provenance unexplained 1 L2 No match 2 L3 Difference OR Similarity in content Award higher mark for more developed answers Source B and Source C are different in terms of what/which sector the quotas are on. The quotas in Source B are on housing (social) while the quotas in Source C are on employment (economic). The evidence in Source B is “ Under the EIP, there are limits on the total percentage of a block or neighbourhood that may be occupied by a certain ethnicity”. The evidence from Source C is “ The government will identify sectors in need of transformation and impose a numerical target to encourage equitable representation of people from historically disadvantaged groups”. OR Source B and Source C are similar in their goals to address concerns about diversity through utilising ethnic quotas. In Source B, Singapore uses ethnic quotas through the EIP to build relationships and a sense of nationhood among different races and ethnicities . The evidence from Source B is “ But it was not just about building flats, but pursuing higher ideals of multi-culturalism and social cohesion as they were building a nation.” Similarly in Source C, the use of racial quotas in South Africa is to help address the economic disparity among different races. The evidence from Source C is “The Employment Equity Amendment (EEA) Bill has been set up by the South African government in 2020 to promote diversity in the workplace and close the racial economic gap.” 3-4 L4 Both aspects of L3 Difference AND Similarity in content 5 L5 Difference in perspective on quotas Source B and Source C are different in terms of their perspective on quotas. Source B is generally supportive / optimistic towards quotas because it is a by Mr Desmond Lee, who is the Minister For National Development & Minister -In- Charge of Social Services and Integration. He is trying to justify and defend the housing policy of using ethnic quotas because they do provide a common space for different races to interact which build social harmony in a diverse society like Singapore. However, Source C is generally critical towards quotas because it is bec ause it highlights the ineffectiveness of the outcomes out the racial quota in employment. Source C focuses potential problems like the loss of potential jobs and the existing disparities in job employment between Black South Africans and white people. 6

3 3 Study Source D Are surprised are you by what Source D is saying about housing quotas? Explain your answer. [7] L1 No mention of Surprise or Not Surprised 1 L2 Misinterpretation 2 L3 Valid basis/source claim based on content of Source D Award higher mark for more developed answers According to Source D, housing quotas ha ve been effective in promoting diversity in Singapore because it has promoted social mixing of different races. The evidence from Source D is “Because once people live together, they’re not just walking their corridors together every day and taking the same elevators up and down; their kids go to the same kindergartens, the same primary schools. ” This shows that the housing quotas have ensured social mixing of different races and ethnicities in Singapore’ public housing. 3-4 L4 Surprised or Not surprised based on cross reference Award higher mark for more developed answers Source D claims that housing quotas have been effective in promoting diversity in Singapore. When cross-referencing to Source B, I am not surprised by what Source D is saying housing quotas because Source B supports Source D as they both agree that housing quotas ha ve been effective in promoting diversity in Singapore. Source B also claims that housing quotas have been effective in promoting diversity in Singapore because it has promoted more common spaces and opportunities for different races to interact with one another harmoniously. The evidence from Source B is “You can have programmes, you can talk about multi- culturalism, but if in the first place you do not live next to each other, if we do not from time to time suffer those frictions along the way and learn to overcome them and build understanding, what is multi-culturalism in reality then?” 5-6 L5 Not surprised based on critical analysis of provenance I am not surprised by what Source D is saying about housing quotas in Singapore. As a former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister speaking at an international symposium that promotes dialogue and collaboration , he is expected to defend and justify the policies undertaken by Singapore. Given his portfolio as Deputy Prime Minister, he would have had much experience in understanding and shaping housing policies, and therefore would be likely only share the successes of the housing quotas and rebut any criticisms during the dialogue with the international audience. Therefore, I am not surprised by Source D. 7

4 4 Study Sources E and F. Having read Source E, can you trust what Source F says about the effectiveness of quotas? Explain your answer. [7] L1 No mention of Trust or Cannot Trust 1 L2 Misinterpretation / No match 2 L3 Trust based on agreement of Sources E and F OR Cannot trust based on disagreement of content of Sources E and F Award higher mark for more developed answers Having read Source E, I can trust what Source F is says about the effective of quotas because both sources agree that quotas are not effective in ensuring fairness in jobs. Source E claims that quotas are not effective in ensuring fairness in jobs. because gender quotas have not been resulted in equal outcomes for women in top positions in companies. The evidence from Source E is “Their representation as senior advisers to the president or as CEOs of companies has remained marginal.” This shows that women in Burundi are still not represented in certain parts of governance or management positions, which might result in women feeling unfair as they cannot easily get in to all available positions, an d hence less opportunities. Source F also claims that that quotas are not effective in ensuring fairness in jobs because gender quotas have