2017 PSLE Discussions and Strategies
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Hi Twinkle Belle & tigressina,
I can totally felt your frustration. But please do not be pessimistic over this year’s PSLE papers. Regarding the CL Listening Compre for that 2 tricky questions, my DD answered correctly. But for the Math’s Ribbon question, my DD did not answer correclty. And I’m 100% sure that even without the tricky questions, can I confirm my DD will not make careless mistakes for other easy questions? NO WAY! But I did not lament over MOE’s setting of paper. Why? Coz if you minus that 3 marks or 2 marks each, give you minus maximum of 15 marks, the paper will be 85 marks. To you as a parent- is it that you cannot accept this mark range? And only if you think 95 or 98 is the acceptable marks you are going to accept, you will forever keep grudges over that couple of difficult questions that made your DC lose marks for the precious T-score that you expect for. You will forever couldnt get over those tricky qs.
Every year there’s bound to be tricky questions to distinguish students from A or A*. But I’m pretty sure there are 90% questions that are not difficult. These "basic" qs require students to understand on their concept for the subjects tested & meticulous on their paper. Because most of the time, our dc lost 10 over marks due to carelessless. E.g. 24 x 2 can see as 24 + 2 ?? Etc…
I told my DD b4 PSLE, this year the papers sure will be tough. You just make sure you are not complacent over easy qs, meticulous & alert always during the exam; forget about qs that need to tweet your brain, (just use your knowledge to tackle all qs), you will either secure A* or High A. My mentality is as long as you "just precious your easy qs & dont make careless mistakes – I’m very happy for you liao!"
If parents dont feel a pinch over that couple of marks, I’m sure your DC will get over it easily. Most of the times it is parents who cannot get over it.
I apologise for my bluntness if any. And I do hope parents here can quickly get over that few marks of difficult qs. I’m sure your DC will not score that bad (depends on your perspective for good or bad score) if they have been working very hard. Be optimistic! Cheers! -
there will definitely be tricky or challenging questions. if the paper is EASY, most kids become complacent. in any case, PSLE is over. mulling over that ribbon question is pointless. like what Ganjiongspider mentioned, the tricky questions are to distinguish students from A or A*…the kids have worked so hard since beginning of the year until now. what they deserve now is a complete break from the entire exam.
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Just sharing a bit of experience. Last year's Science paper was tough also. I do not know how tough it was in relation to this year. But my DS said it was the toughest Science paper he had ever done. So many parts and he did not finish one question. He felt like towards the end he was rushing thru and had to abandon all the advice about being meticulous that his teachers and myself had emphasized to him. Frankly speaking, he was utterly devastated after the paper and told me he might fail.
He didn't - he got an Astar.
1) If the paper is deemed hard by those who consistently do well in Science, then it is likely that the paper is hard
2) As we all know, the cohort performance determines the cut offs for the various grades.
Please do not be discouraged. Take heart.
Enjoy the end of PSLE
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Only this yr then i realise top 30% of cohort will be awarded the HCL bonus points.
Anyone can confirm if tscore > 250 is actually top 10% of cohort or it’s top 30%? -
Agree with Ganjiongspider. It is a pity that kids should feel this demoralised over a few challenging question. If kids cannot see things in perspective, parents have to help them see it.
I asked DS how he felt about the whole PSLE. He said Math and Science had some challenging questions but overall manageable. He actually said cannot expect to know how to do every question right? Chinese, no matter how easy also will be challenging for him. He said you yourself said so. That there will be questions pitched at 'genius level' to sieve out the brightest from the brights. Just try my best to attempt them, right or wrong, at least I tried.
Asked him what happens if his results are below what he expected and he cannot make it into his 1st choice. He said the exams are over already, nothing he can do. If he has put in his best effort and that is the results, then he will have to make the best of it. If he did not put in his best effort then serves himself right, he reaped what he sowed.
End of the day, the exams are over, move on! It's party time! When results are out then we worry about school choices.
This from my 12yr old boy. -
Funz:
Agree with Ganjiongspider. It is a pity that kids should feel this demoralised over a few challenging question. If kids cannot see things in perspective, parents have to help them see it.
I asked DS how he felt about the whole PSLE. He said Math and Science had some challenging questions but overall manageable. He actually said cannot expect to know how to do every question right? Chinese, no matter how easy also will be challenging for him. He said you yourself said so. That there will be questions pitched at 'genius level' to sieve out the brightest from the brights. Just try my best to attempt them, right or wrong, at least I tried.
Asked him what happens if his results are below what he expected and he cannot make it into his 1st choice. He said the exams are over already, nothing he can do. If he has put in his best effort and that is the results, then he will have to make the best of it. If he did not put in his best effort then serves himself right, he reaped what he sowed. End of the day, the exams are over, move on! It's party time! When results are out then we worry about school choices.
This from my 12yr old boy.
Funz,
You've taught yr boy so well. He's so sensible for his age, much more to make most of us parents back to ground level. -
Dear parents,
Please take a look at this latest post
https://passioninlearning.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/used-resources/ -
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Tokidoki:
I read somewhere that:Only this yr then i realise top 30% of cohort will be awarded the HCL bonus points.
Anyone can confirm if tscore > 250 is actually top 10% of cohort or it's top 30%?
T score of more than 270 is top 1%.
MOE EESIS cut off which is usually more than 260 is top 3%.
T score of more than 250 is top 10%. -
SpartanMum:
Wow I need to show your post to my dc to give him hope! It's exactly how my kid felt throughout the entire paper. After the paper I asked him how he will fare he totally cannot gauge. He told me it's the toughest paper he has ever done. He done 2016 and some tough 2017 prelim like RGS and SCGS but I saw his defeated face I can't asked any more just tell him go play ipad lahJust sharing a bit of experience. Last year's Science paper was tough also. I do not know how tough it was in relation to this year. But my DS said it was the toughest Science paper he had ever done. So many parts and he did not finish one question. He felt like towards the end he was rushing thru and had to abandon all the advice about being meticulous that his teachers and myself had emphasized to him. Frankly speaking, he was utterly devastated after the paper and told me he might fail.
He didn't - he got an Astar.
1) If the paper is deemed hard by those who consistently do well in Science, then it is likely that the paper is hard
2) As we all know, the cohort performance determines the cut offs for the various grades.
Please do not be discouraged. Take heart.
Enjoy the end of PSLE
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