2020 PSLE Discussions and Strategies(for those born in 2008)
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slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1939273\" time=\"1569980582\" user_id=\"28674:
My parents didn't have that view as well (actually, they didn't have any view as I would have surpassed their educational level once I 'graduated' from primary school! :rotflmao: )
How I wish my parents had had that view! Which is why we never asked our girls to expect to be able to answer everything. Even for the exceptional students, we have to take into account nerves, time pressure, momentary \"blanks\" etc. Often, they will already be disappointed if they miss something they later realise they could have done, so no point making them feel even worse.floppy\" post_id=\"1939268\" time=\"1569979747\" user_id=\"97579:
Exam, after all, is not meant for one to pursue a perfect score (although you can, if you are exceptional) but to score as high as you can.
I think it will become more apparent as one move up the education ladder - to secondary school and tertiary institutions - as it will become nearly impossible to attain a perfect score given the various constraints that you mentioned (I've also sat for exams where the examiners / lecturers purposely set papers that is impossible to finish within the time limit unless you just provide a one-liner to every question). Therefore, no one should feel too hard done if one can't answer everything. -
floppy\" post_id=\"1939276\" time=\"1569981182\" user_id=\"97579:
Heard of those too. I have heard of Math papers with more than 10 questions, but you can get an A if you answer 3 completely and correctly. (And there is a tale of someone who answered all the questions - maybe an urban legend.)
I think 'the view' will become more apparent as one move up the education ladder, to secondary school and tertiary institutions - it will become nearly impossible to attain a perfect score given the various constraints. I've also sat for exams where the examiners / lecturers purposely set papers that is impossible to finish within the time limit (unless you just provide a one-liner to every question). Therefore, no one should feel too hard done if one can't answer everything. -
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/some-parents-take-issue-with-psle-2019-math-paper-and-call-it-exceptionally?utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ST_Newsletter_AM&utm_term=Some+parents+take+issue+with+PSLE+2019+maths+paper+and+call+it+%27exceptionally+difficult%27&utm_content=02%2F10%2F2019
If you read the ST article carefully, one parent who complained to the press said her daughter got 2 questions wrong, but not the 3 most challenging ones circulated online! Her daughter scored 97.5% for her prelims. In this case it would seem that the parent is worried that an expected A* could become A !!
From what was published, the tricky questions seem to be very typical difficult questions, nothing out of the norm. Likely to have come across similar questions in past year papers. -
lee_yl\" post_id=\"1939292\" time=\"1569983711\" user_id=\"17023:
Must have a few tricky / difficult questions per paper lah. Otherwise, everyone > 95%.
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From what was published, the tricky questions seem to be very typical difficult questions, nothing out of the norm. Likely to have come across similar questions in past year papers. -
floppy\" post_id=\"1939320\" time=\"1569988384\" user_id=\"97579:
Ya lor. If everyone scores >95%, then the mean will be super high, standard deviation will be super low, resulting in all super high T scores. Then COPs also all go up. Parents lagi unhappy.
Must have a few tricky / difficult questions per paper lah. Otherwise, everyone > 95%.lee_yl\" post_id=\"1939292\" time=\"1569983711\" user_id=\"17023:
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From what was published, the tricky questions seem to be very typical difficult questions, nothing out of the norm. Likely to have come across similar questions in past year papers. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1939246\" time=\"1569975455\" user_id=\"28674:
Yes we have lowered our standards. Even if he end up in normal stream, we are acceptable. However, we do not tell him this. We still encourage him that he will do well if he put in extra effort and focus well.
Since you already realise that he isn't that strong, you have to accept that he may not ace the exam. Not every student can. His attitude is something you cannot change much either, though you can talk to him and hope that he matures soon. For the learning, focus on improvement step by step, and just keep plugging on. When you get close to the PSLE, focus on the stuff he can do and not the stuff he can't. It's better to make sure he really can do 80% of the paper rather than focus on the 20% he can't. Parents who expect that every child can do every question on every paper will always be upset unless they have a child who is very able.xueyan\" post_id=\"1938978\" time=\"1569909181\" user_id=\"6643:
After reading the \"Student’s mother writes in to question the Education minister on why the PSLE has to be so difficult\". I am really getting very worried.
Already he is a slow learner. And his nonchalant attitude also a big problem. And to think PSLE is just next year.
He is already very busy this year with lots of supplementary and tuition. I cannot imagine there is still quite a lot of new topics to be taught next year. For his standard, he will take a long time to understand.
THere is only so much i can do. Sigh
I have a daughter who has always been weak in Maths. We plugged on steadily through the years, and I totally understand how worrying it is when a child can't seem to keep up. When she got near exams, we would tell her not to practise the \"tricky\" questions, but focus on the basic-moderate questions so that she could get as many marks as possible. She never aced Maths, but would at least get moderate grades. If we had focused on the tough questions, she might not even had got that much. She struggled on through A levels (getting a C for H1), and is finally doing a university course that doesn't require Maths at all, to her (and our) relief. -
phtthp\" post_id=\"1939239\" time=\"1569957972\" user_id=\"35251:
Last year after P4 exams in November, we started P5 work. This year will do same. This is my plan :
Hi xueyan,xueyan\" post_id=\"1938978\" time=\"1569909181\" user_id=\"6643:
After reading the \"Student’s mother writes in to question the Education minister on why the PSLE has to be so difficult\". I am really getting very worried.
Already he is a slow learner. And his nonchalant attitude also a big problem. And to think PSLE is just next year.
He is already very busy this year with lots of supplementary and tuition. I cannot imagine there is still quite a lot of new topics to be taught next year. For his standard, he will take a long time to understand.
THere is only so much i can do. Sigh
I hear you, can feel your concern for your son.
Anyway, do not worry too much at this point, as there is still ample time (one year, away).
Pattern, fall under “Heuristics”
For a start, may download past-year-papers.
Inside contain “Pattern” questions, can let your son practise.
It is good to start early. The earlier start the better, so that with sufficient (ample) time, by the time your son reaches next year 2020 September, he is familiar with “Pattern” and would have mastered “Pattern” concept, by then.
below are sample “Pattern” questions, found in various primary schools (past year papers).
They are by no means, exhaustive.
Thus, if you happen to find other schools on your own initiative (eg. from the most recent 2019 Prelim papers) , please add it on to your own list, as well.
All the very best, to your son's coming 2019 P5 SA2
source of download (past year papers)
https://www.testpapersfree.com/maths/
1. English - He has a very bubbly English tutor. She is good. Ds likes her too.
On my part, I would like to prepare him for oral and listening compre. Any tips how to do that?
2. Chinese. His tutor is quite good but a bit too lenient. Will need to focus on his handwriting which sometimes can be illegible. I realized that Oral carries a lot of marks. I will practice with him on that. I also bought some videos on 看录像说话.
3. Science. He has no tuition on Science. I am just thinking whether it is good to sign up class that teaches how to answer paper 2 question. Currently we are do test papers and going through together after completion.
4. Maths. He is quite weak in Maths : he takes a long time to grasp a concept. He has a 1 to 1 maths tutor. I find the tutor very responsible. She always exceed the tuition time. BUT ds doesn't enjoy her lessons. He finds it boring.
But I teach him Maths as well. I have been thinking whether i should stop the maths tuition and do it myself. But there are some concepts that I haven't manage to grasp, like the 2019 triangle pattern question, I cannot figure it out.. As such I am not totally confident to do so.
I managed the 2019 diameter and egg tart question. -
xueyan\" post_id=\"1939358\" time=\"1569998901\" user_id=\"6643:
If he is quite weak, wouldn't it make sense to review P5 work and make sure he's really grasped it all? I think there's not much point going on to P6 work unless you're sure his P5 foundation is sound, especially for Maths and Science.
Last year after P4 exams in November, we started P5 work. This year will do same. This is my plan :
...
The best way to improve his listening comprehension is to get him to listen to a lot of texts. Have him listedn while someone reads aloud to him, then discuss the material and see how much he grasps. For oral, get him to talk about different topics in 1 language at a time. Mixing languages should be strongly discouraged. Where he lacks vocab, help him by giving him the correct vocab to write down, then review those words periodically. The tutors should be able to help with that although it would be more natural to have these conversations through they day as the topics crop up. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1939368\" time=\"1570000263\" user_id=\"28674:
If he is weak, spend time on revising and reinforcing the learning points. I never quite understand the point of learning ahead, especially for weaker students. It won’t make it easier for him to grasp the concept when the time comes.
If he is quite weak, wouldn't it make sense to review P5 work and make sure he's really grasped it all? I think there's not much point going on to P6 work unless you're sure his P5 foundation is sound, especially for Maths and Science.xueyan\" post_id=\"1939358\" time=\"1569998901\" user_id=\"6643:
Last year after P4 exams in November, we started P5 work. This year will do same. This is my plan :
...
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TBH, and without knowing much about the child personally, I find the EL / CL tuition teachers in this instance, a bit extra. 听说读写 - you can get by the first two (or three) elements without engaging a tutor. -
Xueyan, you should spend time during the holiday to recap and revisit the P5 concept all over again. In my opinion, P6 has very few new topics to touch on as compared to P5. The only new topics in my opinion for P6 Maths are algebra and area/perimeter of circle. Concept at P5 Maths must grasp fully otherwise the child will struggle when proceed to P6. Consistency is the key to success. No need to rush and learn new things when one can’t grasp the previous concept. You will ended up going in a circle and back and fro again. Slow and steady will win the race, grasp the concept first. Nov and Dec are the best time to revisit P5 Maths, P3-P5 Science and practice on the Eng and Chinese Oral. Very easily done. Just need to be focus and consistent.
And to add on, read story books. Can help in cloze comprehenson and comprehend the passage. If not, at least a relaxing way to relax the mind. Or at least, take this opportunity to read out short passages for reading practises. Chinese as well. For listening comprehension, tune in to news and radio best.
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