Is PSLE so important?

[Vanilla Cake]

Hi caroline3sg,


I didn't even dare to choose RGSS as I got 260 + 2. Understand that COP 2008 for RGSS is 263.

Good news for my younger sister who is taking PSLE 2011 as this year's COP for RGSS is 3 pts lower than last year.He2
So, my Mum thinks next year's COP (2009) will drop further and probably stay around 261 for my younger sister's time.

Just my Mum's thinking lol.

[caroline3sg]

Vanilla Cake

I think you should give it a try since top scorer 287 this yr is lower than top scorer 294 last yr.

So which sec sch will you be in?

[Vanilla Cake]

Hi Caroline3sg,


Thks for your encouragement but my Mum thinks otherwise.Most likely she would like to train my younger sister to achieve her RGSS goals.Secondly, she is also interested to learn the studying environment in a SAP school.That’s how I land up in Dunman High.

My goodness! This morning, I took 1.5 hours to reach there from my house.I hope to find out more about them when I register myself there tomorrow.Also I still do not know the result of my selection for the third language.

[Vanilla Cake]

ks2me:

Vanilla, please keep us posted of MOE's reply to this letter. Thanks.

Here is the reply :
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20081218-108690.html

PSLE T-score indicates relative performance

I REFER to the letter, \"Why good grades but low PSLE aggregate?\" (my paper, Dec 11) by Ms Chow Chai Foon.

We have clarified the matter with Ms Chow, who asked about the computation of the Primary School Leaving Examination aggregate T-score and whether it is possible for a pupil who has done less well in terms of grades to have a higher aggregate T-score.

We have explained to her that while a pupil's grade for each subject indicates how well he has performed in the subject, his T-score indicates how well he has performed relative to his peers in the subject.

The aggregate T-score, which is used for the purpose of posting pupils to a course in secondary school, is the sum of the T-scores of all the subjects.

The calculation of the subject T-score is based on the raw mark obtained by the pupil, the average (mean) mark of the whole cohort taking the subject, and the spread of marks around the average mark (standard deviation).

It is possible for someone who appeared to have done less well in terms of grades to have a higher aggregate T-score. This is because each subject grade has a range of T-scores.

A pupil getting an A* can be at the lower end of the T-score range, while another pupil getting an A can be at the higher end of the range.

Ms Tan Lay Choo
Chief Executive
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

[caroline3sg]

Vanilla Cake

1.5h travelling time is too long.

[Imp75]

Hi Vanilla Cake


A bit off-topic…I can’t help but feel the need to ask you how did you cope in your primary school.

I read that you have gotten very good PSLE results (congrats!) and definitely one of the brightest kids I have encountered. I wanna ask you and your equivalent peers what’s the secret of your academic excellence?

I am wondering this is nature or nurture and if combination of both, which one outweighs the other?
Nature - since infancy till now, you do not require much tuition or enrichment.
Nurture - since infancy (ie flashcards/phonics/reading prgms etc) till now, you have undergone numerous enrichment classes/right-brain training program

Appreciate your thoughts thanks

[caroline3sg]

Vanilla Cake

I would like to know if you happen to know that Hwa Chong International sch accepts normal academic PSLE pupils.

There is nowhere in their website that said so, only mentioned eng & maths test plus interview.

I have a nephew who had 182 in this yr PSLE, eligible for normal academic but I heard from my girl said that his mum registered him in HCI. It belongs to the same Hwa Chong family but I doubt it accepts such low score. If it does, then anybody who has money can send their not so bright kids there and it would 'taint" its reputation, right? Or is it due to it being an International sch, it can accept low score due to high sch fees (meant for expatriats)?

Can citizens go to international schs? Or MOE only say primary level must go mainstream sch, sec level no restriction?

[Vanilla Cake]

caroline3sg:

Vanilla Cake

1.5h travelling time is too long.

Even worse, another roughly 1 h 15 min to travel from DHS to MOELC @ Bishan for 3rd language course.Twice per week.

caroline3sg:

Can citizens go to international schs? Or MOE only say primary level must go mainstream sch, sec level no restriction?

From what I know abt HCI from my cousin's experience. Accordingly to info from HCI's staff, COP 2008 from central S1 posting was 259 for a few students that managed to get in. This means that not all '259' holders are automatically posted to HCI.My suggestion is that u may call or email HCI abt your needs for their clarification in their intake.These independent schools have a wider freedom in their choice of students admitting in their schools IMO.

Imp75:

I read that you have gotten very good PSLE results (congrats!) and definitely one of the brightest kids I have encountered. I wanna ask you and your equivalent peers what's the secret of your academic excellence?

Not really good PSLE results in the eyes of my RGS Mum.Sorry, no offence to all RGS Mums out there. She really pushed us (including my younger sister) due to her personal goal of seeing both of us getting into her alma mater but I let her down.:(

There is no secret at all, it's just perseverance and a bit of good luck.As far as I can remember, both of us do not have any enrichment or tuition since P1. In late June this year, Mum came across a vendor 'touting' her to buy top exam papers from 'top' primary schools. She bought a set of them consisting of English, Chinese, Maths and Science @ $ 55/-.These papers were from year 2007 and later she bought the 2006 papers too. Those 2005 and 2004 papers were printed online via this website :
http://www.wendykoh.com/

I devoted my time doing Maths & Science but didn't pay attention to both languages. In the end, I paid for the ultimate price due to poor performance in PSLE English LC, Chinese Oral and my compo for English & Chinese.That's how I missed by 3 points for my Mum's dream school - RGS. Well, Mum is now hoping my younger sister will excel to fulfill her dream in PSLE 2011.Of course, she may consider enrolling my younger sister who will be in P4 next year for tuition lessons to avoid another bitter disappointment.

[corneyAmber]

caroline3sg:

Vanilla Cake

I would like to know if you happen to know that Hwa Chong International sch accepts normal academic PSLE pupils.

There is nowhere in their website that said so, only mentioned eng & maths test plus interview.

I have a nephew who had 182 in this yr PSLE, eligible for normal academic but I heard from my girl said that his mum registered him in HCI. It belongs to the same Hwa Chong family but I doubt it accepts such low score. If it does, then anybody who has money can send their not so bright kids there and it would 'taint\" its reputation, right? Or is it due to it being an International sch, it can accept low score due to high sch fees (meant for expatriats)?

Can citizens go to international schs? Or MOE only say primary level must go mainstream sch, sec level no restriction?

Don't mixed up Hwa Chong Institution and Hwa Chong International(I was initially confused too). The former is an IP program and it only takes in good results kids. The latter is an international school so the admission criteria is not as stringent and YES for secondary school onwards, CITIZENS can opt to go for international schools as long as you are willing to pay the fees.

[caroline3sg]

ks2me

Thank you for your reply. I understood perfectly. I believe ACS International Sch also operates 'the same way\".


Imp75[quote]I am wondering this is nature or nurture and if combination of both, which one outweighs the other?
Nature - since infancy till now, you do not require much tuition or enrichment.
Nurture - since infancy (ie flashcards/phonics/reading prgms etc) till now, you have undergone numerous enrichment classes/right-brain training program [/quote]In my opinion, it should be both. If have nature but no nurture, there is no direction. On the other hand, if have nurture but no nature, it takes a longer time or limited capacity to excel. I think Vanilla Cake did post on someone mentioned 270+ are bright kids, 260+ are the more hardworking ones, 250+ are the hardworking ones etc.

However, it does not mean all programmes are necessary. We as parents have to choose carefully as nowadays it is easy / good to make money from children related businesses.


Vanilla Cake
Perhaps you could have appealed to RGSS.