Table 2

Impacts of the Reform on School Exam Performance

	Marks		Pass Rate		Number Passed
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
0–10th percentile in previous year	4.406***	6.147***	0.058***	0.079***	1.828*	2.180***
	(1.004)	(0.849)	(0.012)	(0.011)	(1.026)	(0.754)
10–20th percentile in previous year	2.049***	2.382***	0.024***	0.030***	0.930	0.852**
	(0.563)	(0.578)	(0.006)	(0.007)	(0.845)	(0.379)
Diff-diff	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
School fixed effects	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Control lagged exam score	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Control mean, post BRN	109.46	109.46	0.58	0.58	30.82	30.82
Observations	77,731	77,431	77,731	77,431	77,731	77,431
R²	0.655	0.801	0.607	0.763	0.425	0.912

Notes: Each column represents a separate regression. All specifications include district-by-year fixed effects, flexible controls for lagged test scores, and indicators for prereform associations between district-rank deciles and subsequent outcomes. Reported coefficients correspond to the differential effect of being ranked in the associated decile of within-district performance in the post- (vs. pre-) reform period, compared to the middle six deciles. In even columns, the specification is augmented with school fixed effects. In Columns 1 and 2 the outcome is the average PSLE score (ranging from 0–250), in Columns 3 and 4 it is the pass rate, and in Columns 5 and 6 it is the number of pupils who passed. 300 singleton schools are dropped when results are estimated using school fixed effects. Standard errors are clustered at the district level.