Let’s Not Conflate Learning with Testing Well

The first episode of the Hess Academy Podcast Series (and one of our most popular to date) tackled a controversial question: Is "reading more" actually good advice for improving English grades?

As an avid reader who cleared nearly 30 books in 2025, you might expect me to say yes. But my take is that reading for pleasure is a remarkably roundabout way to improve exam results. This hits on a broader, often uncomfortable truth in Singaporean education: the relationship between Learning and Testing is not a straight line.

Learning—developing a child’s hunger for knowledge—is vital for life. But given the high-stakes nature of our system, we cannot afford to be too philosophical about how we secure the 'A'.

1. Study for the Test, Not Just the Subject

I still remember a classmate in RJC walking out of an Economics paper saying, “I don’t really get the concept, but I just wrote exactly what the examiner needed.” He got an A.

High-performing students aren't always the ones with the deepest "epiphany" about a subject. They are often simply the ones willing to master the mark scheme.

Standardized tests are, by definition, closed systems with predefined parameters.

This isn't just an anecdote; it’s a national trait. It is likely no coincidence that my Singaporean cohort at the London School of Economics (LSE) had a 100% First Class Honors rate for Economics, one of the most competitive courses in the world. We weren't necessarily "smarter" than the global elite; we were simply better trained by years of rigorous, standardized testing to identify and deliver what an assessor wants.

2. Learning is a Luxury of Time

I am hungry for knowledge. My interest in Economics, Business, and Finance started in JC and turned me into a lifelong learner. Did that help my grades? Absolutely—it made the subject intuitive.

But I had zero interest in Math, Chemistry or Biology. To this day, I can’t explain the "why" of calculus; I just know how to execute the steps to get the right answer. This "failure" to truly learn didn't stop me from scoring As.

Learning is wonderful when time is on your side. With my own children, I turn every trip to the zoo, park and aquarium into a learning journey. We discuss why leaves are green and what makes horseshoe crabs special (they have blue blood!). But I am under no illusion: curiosity at the zoo does not equal a 1-point AL jump in Science. When the exam clock starts ticking, the focus must shift from "Wonder" to "Work." We can choose to play the long game - but let's not lose sight of the short term one too.

3. The Paradox of 2026: Holistic Hopes vs. Hard Realities

As parents, we want it all: avid learners who are also great testers. But as a teacher, I know that when a child is stuck with failing grade after failing grade, they don't need a philosophy lesson—they need a win.

In a year where we are seeing massive shifts like Full Subject-Based Banding and a move toward "holistic" assessments, the pressure on parents has actually intensified. While the system tries to look less like a pressure cooker, the reality is that the "A" still matters for a child's confidence and trajectory.

When a student is struggling, it is counter-productive to say, "Let’s try to learn this concept from first principles." It is far more productive to say, “Here are three simple tips you can use to improve this specific exam component.” Mastery comes from breaking a complex structure into manageable bits. If you have the years of leisure time required to let "avid reading" filter into your English grades, great. But if you don't? You are better off grinding questions and figuring out a "template" strategy to ace that composition.

Conclusion: Mastery is a Game

We shouldn't feel guilty about teaching our kids to "test well." In an environment where 75% of Singaporean students report exam-related anxiety (OECD), giving them the tactical tools to succeed is actually an act of empathy.

It provides them with the upward momentum and positive trajectory they need to believe in themselves. Let’s protect their love for learning on the weekends, but let’s make sure they know how to win the game when they sit down in the exam hall.