Q&A - PSLE English

[vksp]

The Alternative Story:

Hi vksp,

Wisps of white smoke began curling from underneath the bedroom door (problem). I stared dumbfounded at the smoke. It could only mean one thing- a fire. (reaction) By now, the smoke was getting worse, bringing visibility to almost zero. (problem escalates) Choking on the acrid smoke, I stumbled in the gloom. Fear, raw and intense, surged through me. I had to get out. I had to. (reaction)....

TAS (The Alternative Story)

Upon 20, how many marks would what you wrote get - given that it is not out of point.

[The Alternative Story]

Hi vksp,


Provided that the child writes consistently well throughout the composition and the storyline is well-developed, a story like that would get about 17 to 18 over 20 (primary 3/4), if it is over 40 (primary 5/6), the child can get about 35 to 38.

TAS (The Alternative Story)

[vksp]

The Alternative Story:

Hi vksp,


Provided that the child writes consistently well throughout the composition and the storyline is well-developed, a story like that would get about 17 to 18 over 20 (primary 3/4), if it is over 40 (primary 5/6), the child can get about 35 to 38.

TAS (The Alternative Story)

Regarding the text you provided, why wouldn't it be a 20 upon 20? or 40 upon 40? given that the rest of the story is well developed. What else is missing? We are not talking about the Nobel Prize for Literature or Olympic gymnastics or Singapore Idol where judges would protect their dignity, or guard against any political reprisal. This is just PSLE - a very \"standard\" assessment - Not A level General Paper, not even 'O' level.

[atutor2001]

vksp:

Regarding the text you provided, why wouldn't it be a 20 upon 20? or 40 upon 40? given that the rest of the story is well developed. What else is missing? We are not talking about the Nobel Prize for Literature or Olympic gymnastics or Singapore Idol where judges would protect their dignity, or guard against any political reprisal. This is just PSLE - a very \"standard\" assessment - Not A level General Paper, not even 'O' level.

Just my own thought. I would argue that it is not upon 20 because there is lack of \"originality\". We can feel it - if a person is writing from the \"heart\" or if he/she is borrowing sentences.

[The Alternative Story]

vksp:

Regarding the text you provided, why wouldn't it be a 20 upon 20? or 40 upon 40? given that the rest of the story is well developed. What else is missing? We are not talking about the Nobel Prize for Literature or Olympic gymnastics or Singapore Idol where judges would protect their dignity, or guard against any political reprisal. This is just PSLE - a very \"standard\" assessment - Not A level General Paper, not even 'O' level.

Hi vksp,

Actually, composition writing is more of an arts than science as I had mentioned earlier, it is not like a Math or Science question where if the child answers correctly, he can get full marks.

For composition writing, if a child can get 18 over 20 or 36-38 over 40, it is already considered excellent. There may be nothing much lacking in the child's writing but usually full marks is not commonly given out.

Anyway, the marks are comparative and if your child can score in the upper five to ten percentile of his cohort, he stands a very good chance of doing well.

TAS

[joconde]

Hi all, i need some help in the following questions :


(1) Comphre cloze :
…he is one of the most controversial _____ in history…
Answer behind is ‘figures/people’.

My son wrote "person", is it acceptable ?

(2) Synthesis :
"Peiling, would you like to walk to the school canteen with me ?" asked her teacher.
Peiling’s teacher _________________.
Answer behind is ‘Peiling’s teacher asked if she would like to walk to the school canteen with her’

Is this acceptable : Peiling’s teacher asked if Peiling would like to walk to the school canteen with her.

(3) Synthesis :
"Why don’t you visit me next week when I am less busy ?" Mdm Ana suggested to me.
Answer behind : Mdm Ana suggested to me that I visit her the following week when she was less busy.

Is it ok if the answer is : …that I should visit her …

[Muffins]

joconde:

Hi all, i need some help in the following questions :


(1) Comphre cloze :
.....he is one of the most controversial _____ in history.....
Answer behind is 'figures/people'.

My son wrote \"person\", is it acceptable ?

(2) Synthesis :
\"Peiling, would you like to walk to the school canteen with me ?\" asked her teacher.
Peiling's teacher _________________.
Answer behind is 'Peiling's teacher asked if she would like to walk to the school canteen with her'

Is this acceptable : Peiling's teacher asked if Peiling would like to walk to the school canteen with her.

(3) Synthesis :
\"Why don't you visit me next week when I am less busy ?\" Mdm Ana suggested to me.
Answer behind : Mdm Ana suggested to me that I visit her the following week when she was less busy.

Is it ok if the answer is : ........that I should visit her .....

Hi joconde, but, in my opinion, your son's answers are wrong, save for Q3... (:imsorry:) For Q1, person is singular. You need a plural for the question.... For Q2, Peiling cannot be used twice.... For Q3, your son is right... (These are my ways of thinking, not sure if I am right)

[joconde]

Thanks Muffins and Ameryeducation for the advice.


Actually for Q2, i myself prefer to use ‘Peiling’ in place of ‘she’ so as to eliminate ambiguity, since both the teacher and peiling could be the ‘she’. But of course in this context, it doesn’t really matter if it’s peiling walking with teacher or the other way round.

[Muffins]

Hi joconde, there is no part of the question that says the teacher can't be a man! However, I thot schools taught us that it was not correct to use the same name twice in the same sentence... :? (I think if they put \"with him/her\", it would be less ambiguous.)

[joconde]

Muffins:

Hi joconde, there is no part of the question that says the teacher can't be a man! However, I thot schools taught us that it was not correct to use the same name twice in the same sentence... :? (I think if they put \"with him/her\", it would be less ambiguous.)

You're right ! Somehow I conveniently assume the teacher is a female !! ha ha !