Has the new PSLE scoring system changed anything?

[Carolina]

Personally, the short answer is no.

[pokoyoko]

You can change the system but it has to be in motion for awhile before you can change the culture already ingrained in people. The very fact that we still need to ask if this system will help relieve some stress shows that we are preparing our children for the system rather than the way we feel is best. Of course it takes guts for you to do what you think is best against the system because you might not enjoy the same short term fruit of success that you see around you…

[phtthp]

The new Al system : even more stressful !


Also, not everyone is keen to enter Secondary schools, by DSA route.


Under existing old T-score system, for each PSLE subject paper, if majority of students find the paper tough, the T-score will be moderated / adjusted accordingly, based on overall P6 cohort performance.

Also, due to trailing decimal points present, no two P6 candidates will end up with the same, identical T-score. Everyone’s T-score is unique.

T-score entry into Secondary school Sec 1 Posting admission : works on merit.

Whoever P6 student perform better than others, he / she get to enter the school first.


Under new AL system, stressful because even if P6 candidate perform better than others, due to computer balloting, may get posted to a school not his / her ideal choice . While another P6 student, who scored "less", in terms of Total up 4 Raw score subjects, may get posted to a good school, by stroke of luck during balloting.

Merit break down, replaced by luck during balloting. Fancy letting your child get allocated into a Secondary school, based on luck balloting to decide his / her fate, making parents fidgeting, nervous, anxious, nightmare

Imagine your child get posted to a Secondary school for the next 6 years of his / her life, not their choice

[sharonkhoo]

It will make the PSLE posting system similar to the JAE system after O levels and (presumably) the university intakes after A levels. People will get used to it.

[Veyron]

I do feel that the comparative nature of the t-score PSLE system is the reason why primary school system has become so stressful for both the kids and parents, especially those with less resources. The PSLE exam is in fact like a race or competition where kids go to the exam hall with the mindset that a result is only good if its better than their peers. Its either they do better or hope that their peers do badly.


For sure a 258 score is higher than 255, but there is no way t-score can accurately tell one is 3 points smarter than the other since MOE wont know how much tuition has gone into securing that extra 3 points.

So with the new PSLE system, there is no need to compare, neither will there a need to try to perfect the art of scoring PSLE (due to the lack of reward), or to scientifically measure and compare the "smartness" of kids using PSLE point. Hopefully this will help create a positive paradigm shift, where kids will be given more time to discover their interest and passion outside classroom.

[Zappy]

O-levels L1R5 system is similar to what is being proposed for the PSLE, isn’t it?

I am sure MOE will use the next few years to fine-tune the difficulty and grading so that the points are aggregated to the level of schools, etc.

Having said that, if you want to compete, you will compete.
Even in pre-schools, pri sports/ academics, we hear of ridiculous (by our own biased viewpoints) measures that parents are taking for their own children. But those people directly involved would rationalize it as ok, for the good of their children, etc.

So regardless of what system is put in place, there will be a competitive element as long as you want to play the game with the other people who think the same way as you.