Exams Blues or Fever

[sleepy]

Joy:

end pri two.


They will stream \"unofficially into top and second best class\"

What are the advantages of being in the top 2 classes?

More experienced teachers? More challenging worksheets?

[metz]

When I first read your post,

buds:

chamonix:

My son has no SA too but quite a number of Topical Tests.

Same with DD2.

chamonix:

There are some tests almost every few weeks. So far, he already had 3-4 topical tests for each subject ...

Again same! :hi5:

chamonix:

and more for Chinese (surprise tests).

Wah, what are the odds! :celebrate:
Yet again, SAME! :hi5:

They are given like pop tests. :evil:

I wondered if our kids were in the same school :? ... until I read here

buds:

Wuahahahaa! Same same same! :rotflmao:
DD2 came back one day, said... \"Mum i have worksheets for you to sign.
And i got 20 upon 20 for all of them... there are some 30 upon 30 too...\"

cheh, cannot be cos mine only brought back papers with 20 upon 20, no 30 upon 30 :politebleah:

And I didn't know about the surprise Chinese Tests until PTM. Apparently, his teacher never returns them. (to avoid suprising the parents? )

buds:

chamonix:

Good thing in a way - I don't get to be stressed.

Heck yeah! :celebrate:

As we speak, the tide has already blown over with all the tests.

Lucky us hor Chamonix?

Let's toast to that! :celebrate:

[sleepy]

I am much more relaxed this year compared to last year. This year, I didn't even bother to print any top school exam papers for my dd. No exam fever & still in the mood to watch 偶像剧 :lol:

[buds]

sleepy:

What are the advantages of being in the top 2 classes?


More experienced teachers? More challenging worksheets?

1. In our DDs sch, lesser students in one class.

2. Higher order curriculum, involving enriching hands-on and interactive
activities to engage the students in the class who are already quite
brilliant with the basic topic concepts.

3. In these classes also, the students are more well-behaved
(Disclaimer : According to parent-friends who are in banded classes),
or more behaving than the normal classes as these are children who
like studying and enjoy studying... less of playing.

[Joy]

not sure about more experience teacher but definately more challenging worksheet and class environment.

sleepy:

Joy:

end pri two.

They will stream \"unofficially into top and second best class\"

What are the advantages of being in the top 2 classes?

More experienced teachers? More challenging worksheets?

[Brenda10]

buds:

You're right, ksi. Banding process varies with individual school.


DDs school used to stream students from the Pri 1 final result.. :faint:
Something which was unheard of in my time...

Final result in DDs school is... SA 1 + SA 2 = 60% + 40%.

Based on the percentage; which may again vary between schools,
SA1 is seen as very very important and it should be easier to score
(less topics to learn as compared to SA2) and better to score more or .... :evil:.... most!

Since 60% (SA1) carries so much weight in the eventual streaming
process and easier to score because less topics covered... it can be
rather exasperating when child doesn't do well enough to back up or
top up.. :evil:... the SA2 results; to ensure an above average final result.

So for higher achiever children and ehem.. parents as well.. ...
SA1 is deemed as a nabshot chance to come out tops in P1 level &
get to go to a Banded P2 class next year, where most say... where
the better and more creative teachers are. Banded classes are said
to have more enrichment activities, out of class experience, and also
hands-on / interactive learning with a smaller group of higher achieving
group of students. Hence, the race for Banded Classes.

HI buds,

For DD School, the calculation of final result for P3 to P5:
(No sure about P2 as things could be change now)

1st half year
CA 1 – 30%
SA1 – 70%

Total: 100% (Weighting = 30% in final result)


2nd half year
CA2- 30%
SA2 – 70%

Total: 100% (Weighting = 70% in final result)


Final Grade: 1st half year (30%) + 2nd half year (70%) = 100%

So if the child doesn’t do well in the 1st half, then the 2nd half still has chance to catch up.

[buds]

Wow! :!:


SA2 will be more stressful with
the weightage being much much
heavier than SA1..

Yes. What i offered above is a guide.
It may not be like that now... so i better
go find out. :siam: Especially since the
change of a new principal.

DD2 no SA1 only DD1 @ P3. Full swing liao.

[corneyAmber]

For ours the emphasis is also on sa2, 70%. So in a way, the stress is really at the tail end where kids need to give the final burst of their prowess. The con is when they are not in top form during sa2 it will not reflect their true ability. This approach is like competition handling, with some element of luck required but stress is intense for that period, good for parents, bad for kids. The test approach requires one to manage the stress throughout, good for kids, bad for parents.

[buds]

\"The con is when they are not in top form during sa2 it will not reflect their true ability.\"


Yup, it would be a pity..

[janet88]

My son has CA1, SA1 and SA2.

CA1 carries 10%, SA1 is 30% and SA2 is 60%. In a way, 60% for SA2 is rather intense already, covering Book 1 and 2.
Lots of catching up to do if CA1/SA1 not done well. Further more, it’s only 1 book for SA1.

In short, parents are still stressed. Fortunately, my PMS is over. HaHaHa. Otherwise, I have to cope with 2 forms of stress.