2017 PSLE Discussions and Strategies
-
Dear Parents,
I am at my wit’s end how to help my son with science open ended portion. He used to do reasonably well for paper 2 but in recent prelim, he failed horribly. While revising the upper block yesterday, he suddenly broke down and told me he does not even know what kind of answers the teachers are looking for. I was totally taken aback as this is the first time in 6 years that he snapped while revising. He claimed he does not even know what he does not know. Even when most or all key words are there, it was zero mark everywhere on the paper which he could not understand why. I am not sure if the above is a common problem for science.
This is one subject that I am unable to help him at all. I asked him to check with teacher what was wrong with his answers and to me, his wrong answers appear similar to the corrections. He said his classmates did check with teacher but all were brushed off as teacher said ‘wrong means wrong, sit down and copy down the correct answers…… go back to revise and memorise’. To me, science is more than just memorizing.
Normally we use the top school papers but I think the issue is with the wrong answers in the answer sheet. Unless parents are able to understand and mark on their own instead of relying on the answers, top school science paper may end up doing more harm than good.
As PSLE science is just 2 weeks away, I hope experienced parents here can share with me how I can help my child to gain back his confidence and study effectively. The last I want is for him to get burnt out and suffer a mental breakdown.
If it is not appropriate to share or post here, I hope some kind soul can send me a PM. Thank you in advance. -
I noticed this year marking is quite strict for Science OEQ. I have asked the school teacher and was told
a. correct keyword required
b. sequence of answering is required, which they said use Claim Evidence Reason (CER)
c. any conflicts concept will get marks deducted.
I guess this partly why is not easily even to get 1/2 marks now. -
i need advice on maths..
my DC is having problem on math, the more she do, the more confuse she is.
there is so many type of questions for math.. sigh
anyone has a list of math concepts that the child can focus on ? Thanks! -
xn_mummy:
30/44 is pretty good with room for improvement. Look thro all the exam papers she had done & note which topic she's not very steady with. Usually, you can assess fr her Booklet B answers. Re-read her Sc fr books like Everything You Ueed to Know or PSLE Ultimate Science Guide (both by EPH).
Hi EstéemaEstéema:
For MCQ parents pls train your kids to do shading straight into OAS. A frd's DC top in class yearly but one year, whilst transferring his circled answers, he skipped a line on the OAS & failed his paper. No excuse & school cannot accept his reason. It was a hard lesson!
We can train our kids to use a watch to time themselves to complete Booklet A within X minutes (the usual time each child uses). Progressively, get them to better them timing. So, 1st try uses 30 min, after 2/3 MCQ papers, if she managed to do in shorter timing of 25 min, pls celebrate her achievement with her! :rahrah:
She shld build confidence towards actual PSLE. :imcool:
Train them to move on & not get stuck with a difficult qn. Make a mark or dog ear to answer when all qns completed in first round. Some might prefer to use 3M tags, whatever works for yr child. This ensures DC answer most qns & gain maximum marks. With balance of time check answers & go back to analyze the difficult qns left blank earlier. Time is precious!
It is better than having insufficient time coz DC trying to figure out the difficult qns earlier. Usually, it may mean loosing the \"higher value\" qns or loosing marks on qns your DC cld've easily answered & gain scores.
JMHO to train kids on these strategies & help them be aware of limited time during exams.
Encourage them that they can do it! 加油!
ALL THE VERY VERY BEST to all DC taking 2017 PSLE! Rest & Relax sufficiently.
my DC normally will have 4-6 questions wrong in MCQ.
For OEQ, normally 30/44...
You have any advise which area should i focus. Can i say her concepts is more or less there, just need to improve her answering technique ? thank you
All the best to all DC taking PSLE :rahrah:
See if you can explain to ur DC she had done well for Booklet A. Ask her to try with timer & improve her timing to give more time for Booklet B & checking time.
Practice Booklet B more since she's is able to achieve at least 25 qn correctly for Booklet A.
Put in effort for Booklet B by reading qn carefully, writing out science concept words in point form, ensure DC can write detail answers and not just answer the outcome.
Usually kids need to be trained fr P5 to write the process in arriving at end result for \"Explain your answers\" to an experiment or observation type of questions. If you see her writing the end results only, point out to her that she need to explain e.g. how the plaint died and not just write that the submerged plant cannot make food. She need to elaborate that the population of algae floating on the pond increases with the fertilizer washed into the pond fr the farm. As the algae increases, it blocked the sunlight fr plants that were submerged in the pond therefore receiving less or no light for photosynthesis and these submerged plants will not survive without sunlight.
Hope abv helps. -
Estéema:
Hi Esteema, I thought students should be writing down the keywords and straight to the point? Normally the marks allocated to the OEQ are usually 1 or 2 marks. For a 2 marks question, just make sure the answer have 3 liners. Write too much will result in not enough time.
Usually kids need to be trained fr P5 to write the process in arriving at end result for \"Explain your answers\" to an experiment or observation type of questions. If you see her writing the end results only, point out to her that she need to explain e.g. how the plaint died and not just write that the submerged plant cannot make food. She need to elaborate that the population of algae floating on the pond increases with the fertilizer washed into the pond fr the farm. As the algae increases, it blocked the sunlight fr plants that were submerged in the pond therefore receiving less or no light for photosynthesis and these submerged plants will not survive without sunlight. -
BePersevere:
Dear Parents,
I am at my wit’s end how to help my son with science open ended portion. He used to do reasonably well for paper 2 but in recent prelim, he failed horribly. While revising the upper block yesterday, he suddenly broke down and told me he does not even know what kind of answers the teachers are looking for. I was totally taken aback as this is the first time in 6 years that he snapped while revising. He claimed he does not even know what he does not know. Even when most or all key words are there, it was zero mark everywhere on the paper which he could not understand why. I am not sure if the above is a common problem for science.
This is one subject that I am unable to help him at all. I asked him to check with teacher what was wrong with his answers and to me, his wrong answers appear similar to the corrections. He said his classmates did check with teacher but all were brushed off as teacher said ‘wrong means wrong, sit down and copy down the correct answers….. go back to revise and memorise’. To me, science is more than just memorizing.
Normally we use the top school papers but I think the issue is with the wrong answers in the answer sheet. Unless parents are able to understand and mark on their own instead of relying on the answers, top school science paper may end up doing more harm than good.
As PSLE science is just 2 weeks away, I hope experienced parents here can share with me how I can help my child to gain back his confidence and study effectively. The last I want is for him to get burnt out and suffer a mental breakdown.
If it is not appropriate to share or post here, I hope some kind soul can send me a PM. Thank you in advance.
My heart goes out to your DS. He is getting stressed up, pls don't let him feel anymore hapless.
I do agree with xn_mummy, somehow some 'educators' use the SA1 & Prelim papers to create that 'panic' to spur kids to put in extra effort. Honestly, I don't agree with this tactic if it's used on 11/12 year olds. Education shld not be unhealthily stressful. When we over pressurize kids, some may snap, negatively respond to learning and will not enjoy themselves. Worst if they get panic attacks or think their world is ending....
Usually I practiced not to show my anxieties or stress before the child as I want mine to grow & learn to tackle life issues with good composure which can only come fr not feeling panic fr deep within. As parents, we shld not push further if our child feel stressed to point of despair. Maybe a bit if R&R will help but I don't let mine touch any screen games. My kids still do CCAs with the P5s two weeks before exams, tho some parents want to exempt their kids fr Term 1. Exercise helps in their blood circulation & more oxygen helps their brains to work better as it releases endorphins to help yr child feel good & happy. Learning becomes easier. Do a swim, badminton, ride a bike or sth. Even in midst exams period, I still bring child out for special b'day dinners, and visit to grandpa, etc. You'll know your child best how to relax him.
With one child I may do a 15 min break in btwn papers or study. With ano I might give a half hour for their reading pleasure of just take time to enjoy their favorite sushi, etc. I do designer cakes with my kids. A figurine a week to break the monotony. Do sth they delight in coz I know their muscle will be less tense & more nimble when they get back to study.
Do read my earlier sharing as to coaching kids to answer not just with concept words but sequentially & systematically answer with full process and not just end result. I hope it helps.
At this late hour, maybe try help yr DC spot a few topics to write & learn well. Typically, I find topics on Energy, Forces, Magnets, Heat & Light, Adaption, Environment are frequently tested qns in Booklet B. Read & revise first before trying out the qns with DC. Coach them to write 1 to 3/4 points of concept ideas/words at the side of qn, before attempting answers. Let them do their answers first before asking leading qns to get them to think what they need to fill in the gaps to complete answers by writing full process. You can rely on Science Teacher's Tips by Casco Publication.
I do many variety of things but all with objective to let them feel there's no panic or anxieties but must work hard & play hard. At times I'll sit & let the child close their eyes if they're tired, but just listen to me reading Science topics. They'll usually jump up & continue reading in their own coz it's more interesting to read for themselves.
At times when school alr gave loads of work or stressful signals (like those vibes fr yr DC teacher), I'll ensure I do a head to toe massage to help them relax. I'm not trained masseurs. Lol. But I believe every child needs to feel the personal act of love fr parents. Get to bed by 9pm. I'll pray with and for my child and encourage DC to tell God all his concerns. We do what we can as there are things not within our control so we cannot worry at everything.
Again, all the very best to good health, body, emotions & spirit of all your beloved children! They are the precious ones that will inherit all that we hv individually or collectively. The future belongs to these precious ones. -
kiasume:
Hi Esteema, I thought students should be writing down the keywords and straight to the point? Normally the marks allocated to the OEQ are usually 1 or 2 marks. For a 2 marks question, just make sure the answer have 3 liners. Write too much will result in not enough time.Estéema:
Usually kids need to be trained fr P5 to write the process in arriving at end result for \"Explain your answers\" to an experiment or observation type of questions. If you see her writing the end results only, point out to her that she need to explain e.g. how the plaint died and not just write that the submerged plant cannot make food. She need to elaborate that the population of algae floating on the pond increases with the fertilizer washed into the pond fr the farm. As the algae increases, it blocked the sunlight fr plants that were submerged in the pond therefore receiving less or no light for photosynthesis and these submerged plants will not survive without sunlight.
Depends on what u interprete as straight to point answers.
Err..., I don't mean just write answers but hv to look at the qn & fish out appropriate concept ideas & words. If re'qd concepts applied, one liner can earn 2 marks. The plant can't just die. In science answers, concept or reasons how their source of survival curtailed is impt to communicate. The domino pieces don't just all fall. DH always remind our kids don't just write an English sentence to reply. You're writing a science paper, so need to explain process and show the marker youve learnt well & know what type of energy applied to the domino & process that kickstart to end results.
In reality, science qns may not be str fwd just a domino in action. They may add ano equation to it with maybe the domino pc hitting a catch that releases a pail of water. Then the child need to clearly differentiate the diff types of energy applied at diff points. So, 1 liner or full process that takes up to 4 lines - the impt thing is child must apply concept ideas systematically & correctly.
Yes. Not easy to earn 2 marks. S'times a liner helps score 2 marks. S'times one mark answers alr take up 3 lines if the complete answers given. I don't envy this generation. MOE is expecting our 12-year-olds to acquire many diff skills. -
xn_mummy:
Hi xn_mummy,i need advice on maths..
my DC is having problem on math, the more she do, the more confuse she is.
there is so many type of questions for math.. sigh
anyone has a list of math concepts that the child can focus on ? Thanks!
I've thot abt yr daughter's issue long & deep. Math requires time not just to ustand concept but it's also all abt practices & practices. The more the child's brain is train to apply math concepts in diff math scenario, the better & more confident the child gets. These all takes time.
Recently, a KSP mum got my DC's Math to practice for some topics he had not grasp concept. Now he ustood & more confident. He hv time on his side at P5. I shared with his mum can use whole of Nov/Dec to brush up on P5 Math then other subjects.
2 weeks left, I really don't know how to help or suggest coz the final week shld slow down & rest not stress up. Will pm you in a while -
answering PSLE science is so complex.
-
xn_mummy, I think your DD is stress liao. I suggest you don’t give her anymore new questions. Instead walked through with her the prelim papers and review the mistakes. Pump up her confidence by re-doing her school prelim papers.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login