Any Updates As To When PSLE T-Scores Will Be Scrapped?

[Blurryburger]

sushi88:

In the new system, if a child is in any school, it is attributed to choice. Even if one does not get into their choiced school, parents can say \"sway lor...kenna balloted out\"... So stress is reduced right?

The ST reported that \"Based on past cohorts' performance and choice patterns, about one in 10 pupils would have to undergo balloting, according to MOE.\"

I want to know more about that 1 in 10 statistic. In what hypothetical band are these 10% students coming from? What type of choices would effect such a predicament?

And why is MOE allowing arbitrariness into the system in, what I would consider, a big way. Isn't it bad that p1 registration already allows privileges to only some families while the others had to contend with arbitrary balloting? Why does MOE think that a 10 percent statistic is a tolerable percentage to our children and citizens? Why is this 10 percent of arbitrary chance better than the current meritocratic system? It's not about an entitlement mentality. Above all, shouldn't the Ministry care about creating an environment that is as safe as it is certain for our children to learn and grow? Life throws up all kinds of challenges to us. But why should policies add on to more uncertainty?

What signal does it send to our kids? \"Too bad? This is life?\" By the way, this would be life with a qualifier - it is life that will be caused by the education policies.

I cannot comprehend why policy makers would consider introducing more arbitrariness into a system a good policy, especially in education. If I hadn't grown up in this country whereby meritocracy is so ingrained in me, I would have concluded that MOE is using balloting as a cop-out. I still believe that the past scholars working in MOE and public service are worthy of their positions. But, please tell me why is this considered good policy-making?

[civic6228]

The root cause of the stress faced in PSLE isn’t in the exam per se. The stress comes from the parents and their level of expectations. Changing the system that the exam is graded won’t reduce any stress or anxiety as long as the parents eyes are dead set on one or two schools and comparison between their peers.[/quote]



Parents often forget that the kids are the one taking the exam. At the end of the day, what happens at the examination hall is what that really matters. Support your kid, not stress them. Stop comparing which secondary school they are going compared to the kids of your peers. As long as the kid has done his/her best, good enough. I have issue with my DD as she is not doing her best (Not hardworking enough) and I am sure that she is capable of better results.

However, I will always tell her as long as she has done her best … good enough for me.

I recall that all I get for my PSLE is which school that I was being posted to … no grades, no score just the school. There were brilliant, average and not so smart kids in the school.

I pity the kids nowadays … I would rather MOE get rid of all grading, scoring etc. Let kids be kids.

In case, you are wondering, our President came from my secondary school.

[jetsetter]

phtthp:

mum_sugoku:

To resolve this issue, how about lowering the requirement for AL1, from requiring a score of 90+ to, say, 75+ (ie AL1 for 75 and above, AL2 for 70-74, so on and so forth), just for MTL only?

there will always be students who are strong in each of the 4 subjects, and vice versa.

if MOE were to approve to lower 90 to 75 to be in new AL Band 1 for Mother tongue, soon there will be other parents \"pestering\" MOE to do likewise, to the other 3 subjects too.

people will start to claim, \"My child also weak in Maths, hence please lower 90 to 75 ...\".

parents with children weak in English, or weak in Science, likewise will start \"pestering\" MOE to lower ...

I think they will moderate subject by subject. The word \"Raw Marks\" used by MOE truly unsettles those very weak in MTL. In the first place, MTL and EL are upon 200 raw marks which will be converted to %. Surely MOE will subsequently calculate the cohort mean (or median?), and cut the percentiles accordingly?

I wonder if there's been a typo (!), i.e. >90 could mean 90th percentile and not literally 90 \"raw marks\" as reflected on one's test scripts? :scratched:

Oh well...

[UBKmom]

If others that is weak in either EMS is not complaining and asking for concession, I don’t see why we should cater to such request from the minority for Chinese. I think the system is fair, if you are good for all 4, you deserve to go to the top schools, if not, too bad, you have to work harder, no short cut please.

[jetsetter]

zulu:

phtthp:

[quote=\"ngl2010\"]This is scary if the scenario mentioned happens.


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=87269

shocking !
esp. for weak students

in the author's example, there are two weak students : X and Y
weak because : they are hovering riskily, around the low AL band, at AL5 and AL6.


AL5 : ranges from 65 to 74 marks, and
AL6 : ranges from 45 to 64


example

student X : scored 64 marks, in each of his 4 core subjects
Total Raw score = 64 x 4 = 256

per subject : fall into AL6
hence, Total AL = 6 x 4 subjects ==> AL 24

with AL 24 :
X can only qualify for Normal (Academic) stream.


in contrast, How about student Y ?
student Y : scored 45 marks in 2 subjects, plus 65 in another 2 subjects
Total Raw score = (45 x 2) + (65 x 2) = 90 + 130 = 220

2 subjects, for Y : fall into AL5
another 2 subjects : fall into AL6
hence, Total AL for Y = (5 x2) + (6 x 2) = 10 + 12 ==> AL 22

with AL 22 :
Y qualify to opt, for either Express or Normal stream.
Y can then opt, for the Express stream.


But, Who actually performed better ?
X (at 256), or Y (at 220), for Total Raw score ?

Under the new PSLE AL Banding system :
it means that X who scored 256 marks in four subjects would enter or get channeled into the Normal (Academic) stream.
In contrast, Y who scored lower 220 marks, (256 - 220 = 36 marks), much lower than X, would qualify for the Express stream.
This outcome is unfair to the one, who did much better.
:?

deleted

Edit: I think I finally understand what the author is getting at......[/quote]This part (i.e. simulation) the author was right, but the para in which he used the same figure 256 of the \"old system\" to compare with the raw marks of 256 was flawed. Under the old system, 256 has factored in the Std Dev and has been transformed. Apples must be compared with apples.

[grimm]

UBKmom:

If others that is weak in either EMS is not complaining and asking for concession, I don’t see why we should cater to such request from the minority for Chinese. I think the system is fair, if you are good for all 4, you deserve to go to the top schools, if not, too bad, you have to work harder, no short cut please.

I come from the perspective that

1) my son's mother tongue is Chinese purely from ethnicity. Arguably his mother tongue is English because his mother doesn't know Chinese. :).

2) I don't know how useful it is. I know, I know... our future Chinese overlords and everything. But I did Chinese for 12 years (more including kindergarten) and I still can't use Mandarin with my colleagues and customers in China so what's the point? In the end everything return to Chinese teacher.

[zulu]

jetsetter:

This part (i.e. simulation) the author was right, but the para in which he used the same figure 256 of the \"old system\" to compare with the raw marks of 256 was flawed. Under the old system, 256 has factored in the Std Dev and has been transformed. Apples must be compared with apples.

final answer correct but working wrong.....PSLE- no marks given

[jetsetter]

zulu:

jetsetter:

This part (i.e. simulation) the author was right, but the para in which he used the same figure 256 of the \"old system\" to compare with the raw marks of 256 was flawed. Under the old system, 256 has factored in the Std Dev and has been transformed. Apples must be compared with apples.

final answer correct but working wrong.....PSLE- no marks given

Says who? Candidate will be awarded AL 8 pts for <20 raw marks.

[ngl2010]

jetsetter:

This part (i.e. simulation) the author was right, but the para in which he used the same figure 256 of the \"old system\" to compare with the raw marks of 256 was flawed. Under the old system, 256 has factored in the Std Dev and has been transformed. Apples must be compared with apples.

To the parents that have gone through PSLE, we know that the t-score is raw marks x 0.75 plus minus 10.

So, 256 raw marks will translate to t-score 192 plus minus 10. And 220 will translate to 165 plus minus 10. In the current system, children with t-score more than 188 will have a shot at Express while children with t-score more than 152 will be in Normal Academic/Technical. In the new system, the first child will be in Normal and the 2nd child will be in Express. Both will be placed in wrong stream. So how?

[phtthp]

janet88:

i'm just curious whether the affiliation COP will be affected or MOE will still allow individual schools to decide.

we know the verdict of affliation details, is not announced by MOE, yet.
They are still in discussion, still \"negotiating\".
those from mission schools, from Clan schools : more to negotiate

But for chit-chat, just suppose if MOE were to standardize across the board, by giving the affliated mission schools' students minus 2 bonus points : don't you think is generous ?

example

let's suppose one popular mission Secondary school AL Cut off point, is set at 10.

if the affliated primary school students apply with AL 12 points, plus on condition that they list this school as #1 choice, in their list of 6 choices :
means these students can goback Secondary school for \"O\" level, liao.

isn't it, great ?
with AL 12 (discounted 2 points), in this case : affliated students can go back, for O level
in contrast, outsiders need a higher score (AL 10), then can enter this school.
if outsiders like this popular school very much : \"die-die\" minimum they must achieve AL 10, before can apply.

2 bonus points : is a lot, already
(better than nothing)


currently, quite a number of Catholic mission Secondary schools listed, can enter Catholic Junior College for \"A\" level, with discounted 2 points

http://www.cjc.edu.sg/about/our-history