2018 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (Born in 2006)

[lee_yl]

Assume Boy Boy’s Chinese is his weakest subject,


Under current PSLE tscore:
3A* + Chinese A, still can go RI/HCI

Under AL Banding:
3AL1 + Chinese AL 2 = 5 pointers

Either kena cut-off by 4 pointers or have to go balloting.

[laughingcat]

OKAY…gotta make sure my ah boy’s chinese is steady steady pom pi pi

[zac's mum]

Under the old (current) system, balloting only occurs in verrrrrry rare instances, where 2 students (with same citizenship status) have the exact same decimal points in their T score. The emphasis is thus very much on academic merit.


But under the new system, we can expect balloting to occur much more often. I’m guessing there will be at least few hundred (?) kids with same total score, applying to the same popular school, as the same choice number. Computer balloting occurs to determine which kids get those X number of places in that school. The hard work (merit) put in for academic studying is trumped finally by LUCK.

[floppy]

lee_yl:

Assume Boy Boy’s Chinese is his weakest subject,


Under current PSLE tscore:
3A* + Chinese A, still can go RI/HCI

Under AL Banding:
3AL1 + Chinese AL 2 = 5 pointers

Either kena cut-off by 4 pointers or have to go balloting.

I think 5-pointer should still be safe for RI cos that's high 250-ish to 260-ish.
But if the 5-pointer go put RI as 2nd or 3rd choice, then

[ngl2010]

floppy:

laughingcat:

No need to congratulate leh....Your gal also very good.


Now, I more worry about the new AL banding.

Some folks said with T-Score, the selection of sec school is merit over choice. But when comes to 2021 new AL banding, it is choice over merit. Don't know how true is this.

It is, unfortunately (or fortunately), true.

\"Choice Order of Schools to Matter More\"
https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/psle/SEC%201%20Posting/sec-1-posting.html
That said, if you can score PSLE score 4, anything you put as 1st choice will still be your posted school. It's those 5 to 8 pointers thinking of those hot schools that need to strategise.

Don't wait until PSLE results come out then strategise. Must strategise from 5 years old to aim for DSA 'cos it is a more sure thing than balloting :evil:

[fable]

floppy:

lee_yl:

Assume Boy Boy’s Chinese is his weakest subject,


Under current PSLE tscore:
3A* + Chinese A, still can go RI/HCI

Under AL Banding:
3AL1 + Chinese AL 2 = 5 pointers

Either kena cut-off by 4 pointers or have to go balloting.

I think 5-pointer should still be safe for RI cos that's high 250-ish to 260-ish.
But if the 5-pointer go put RI as 2nd or 3rd choice, then

My guess is that they'll make the first exam super hard or mark very strictly so there'll be very few 4 pointers. All it takes is to be very strict with compo marking... then cut off for RI will end up as 6.

[mommyNg]

lee_yl:

Assume Boy Boy’s Chinese is his weakest subject,


Under current PSLE tscore:
3A* + Chinese A, still can go RI/HCI

Under AL Banding:
3AL1 + Chinese AL 2 = 5 pointers

Either kena cut-off by 4 pointers or have to go balloting.

But hor, an A under current system could be either AL2 (85-89), AL3 (80-84), or AL4 (75-79) leh, so 3A* + Chinese A under current t score could still be 260 if A* very strong, but under new system high A* also no use, could end up 5, 6, or 7 pointers.....

[dimsum]

lee_yl:

pirate:

Wait. What happened to 29something?

286 Ah Boy
293 Ah Girl

I think words got distorted along the way. No 29x student last yr. What I heard was the top 285+3 girl was hoping to get 290+3.

[laughingcat]

mommyNg:

But hor, an A under current system could be either AL2 (85-89), AL3 (80-84), or AL4 (75-79) leh, so 3A* + Chinese A under current t score could still be 260 if A* very strong, but under new system high A* also no use, could end up 5, 6, or 7 pointers.....

exactly. What you have pointed out are my worries.

[mylilgirl]

Hi, I have a question about HCL points. Just recently, I heard that in order to be able to use the points (+1, +2 and +3), the students need to be within TOP 30% of the entire PSLE cohort. Anyone knows what this means? Does it mean that if my child did well in HCL unfortunately not within TOP 30%, he will not be able to add these extra points for application to SAP school?


Reason I am asking is my younger child is not too strong in languages and it might be better off just taking Standard Chinese in P5 if the above is true.