2019 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2007)

[Albon]

I believe it’s meant for social mixing. But there are loopholes That were exploited in terms of well to do family preparing their kids to do well in sports and aesthetics as well as zealous school leaders playing around with their choices of dsa slots and selection criteria.

[Estéema]

Must share this abt DSA.


In one year, we know of 2 kids competing for one precious spot in golf - one child fr neighborhood sch (HDB heartlander But parents willing to build the child up) & other fr popular sch (parents bring to JB for weekly golf practices. The kid fr Popular sch was hopeful, but in the end, the boy fr neighborhood sch clinch the DSA spot. Fair play based purely on talent & skill.

[phtthp]

Estéema\" post_id=\"1950737\" time=\"1575092724\" user_id=\"66413:

Must share this abt DSA.

In one year, we know of 2 kids competing for one precious spot in golf - one child fr neighborhood sch & other fr popular sch (parents bring to JB for weekly golf practices. The kid fr Popular sch was hopeful, but in the end, the boy fr neighborhood sch clinch the DSA spot. Fair play based purely on talent & skill.

The kid from neighbourhood school, could also have parents with $, to groom him from young, even if he is in a neighbourhood school that is low-profile, seldom heard of, unpopular

btw, every primary school, fall into a neighbourhood

Eg

nanyang primary is also classified as a neighbourhood school, but in the bukit timah neighbourhood

[lee_yl]

Kialoukui\" post_id=\"1950701\" time=\"1575077277\" user_id=\"182021:

synthesis77\" post_id=\"1950499\" time=\"1574989285\" user_id=\"32304:

Mine was initially adamant not to apply for DSA. In the end, we secretly applied and she was selected for the initial assessment with a very popular school. Showed black face and simply ‘no heart’ to even attend. She kept saying it’s ‘back door’ way....not keen etc etc.

TLDR: she did similarly rather ok/well for the actual. *Phew*

DSA is never a ‘back door’ but perhaps a ‘Main Door’ in the coming years. The world is looking for Talents and Character, not academic excellence, MOE realised that to quickly refocus education efforts to identify talents at a young age, scrap Tscore, groom and nurture future Ronaldo, JJ Lin, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates etc.

Main Door - DSA
Side Door - Unidentified Talents (Join Main Cohort with Tscore/AL)
Back Door - Appeals/Donations

Appeal = Back door?
If the kid’s tscore does meet the school COP, then I don’t see appeal as “back door”.

DSA = Back door?
No right or wrong here. I know there are a few parents in ksp who always insist that DSA is back door access. If one thinks it is “back door” and the idea is against your principles, then just don’t apply.

Again, if one is born into a less privileged family, no money to learn violin/piano/sports etc., use what to DSA into top schools? 输在起跑线.

But if parents themselves not so fixated with TOP schools, I knew a few who DSAed into their choice neighborhood schools this year. Both kids and parents were happy.

[Estéema]

Estéema\" post_id=\"1950737\" time=\"1575092724\" user_id=\"66413:

Must share this abt DSA.

In one year, we know of 2 kids competing for one precious spot in golf - one child fr neighborhood sch (HDB heartlander But parents willing to build the child up) & other fr popular sch (parents bring to JB for weekly golf practices. The kid fr Popular sch was hopeful, but in the end, the boy fr neighborhood sch clinch the DSA spot. Fair play based purely on talent & skill.

My point in sharing is that not every neighborhood kid are denied of opportunities just bcoz kids come fr popular sch are perceived as advantaged (advantaged in getting into pupils sch, perceived adavatage in Popular sch identified early & ‘given’ advantage.

The abv example had proven tt child fr neighborhood clinch it despite not fr prestigious sch & kid fr popular sch did not despite sec sch hv affiliation advantage. It was not to be.

[MsB_Luv]

Sorry to deviate, may I know if schools are having same textbooks? I have some books given by friends for sec 1.


I know English is not the same, any one got any idea if Math/ Chinese/ Geo / home economics are the same for most schools?

Thank you.

[Estéema]

MsB_Luv\" post_id=\"1950756\" time=\"1575099346\" user_id=\"182449:

Sorry to deviate, may I know if schools are having same textbooks? I have some books given by friends for sec 1.

I know English is not the same, any one got any idea if Math/ Chinese/ Geo / home economics are the same for most schools?

Thank you.

Typically same type of books for all subjects if in Express stream.

For IP, some schools developed their own curriculum, and esp those fr IB. Students doing IB & taking CL or HCL uses same textbooks though.

[MerlionInGermany]

MsB_Luv\" post_id=\"1950756\" time=\"1575099346\" user_id=\"182449:

Sorry to deviate, may I know if schools are having same textbooks? I have some books given by friends for sec 1.

I know English is not the same, any one got any idea if Math/ Chinese/ Geo / home economics are the same for most schools?

Thank you.

I think sec 1 2020 has a new maths syllabus, either that or a new edition. The textbook is green and it comes in 1A and 1B, not the white one that says 1....I think I saw it at Popular.

Chinese should be the same, but I think there are exercises in the textbook so you cant really reuse someone else’s, unless you dont plan to do them.

I was told, some schools use upper sec geo for lower sec. Depends on your school. You can try checking the school website, I see that some of them have already put up their sec 1 booklist.

Food and consumer education should be the same, but then, not every school has this subject.

I guess you can keep those books first and see how?

[sembgal]

MsB_Luv\" post_id=\"1950756\" time=\"1575099346\" user_id=\"182449:

Sorry to deviate, may I know if schools are having same textbooks? I have some books given by friends for sec 1.

I know English is not the same, any one got any idea if Math/ Chinese/ Geo / home economics are the same for most schools?

Thank you.

Sec 1 2020 batch, please note that the mentioned books will be the final year used by MOE: Chinese, Higher Chinese, History and Geography textbooks. If you buy new textbooks, you cannot resell them to Year 2021 Sec 1 batch.

Sec 1 2020 batch will be first batch using new Maths and Science textbooks.

Maths: Think! Mathematics Secondary Textbook 1A and Think! Mathematics Secondary Textbook 1B. Publisher: Scholastic.

OR (depends on which Maths textbook Sec Sch textbook you get on the booklist.)

Maths: New Discovering Mathematics Textbook 1A and New Discovering Mathematics Textbook 1B. Publisher: Star Publishing

[phtthp]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1950765\" time=\"1575102036\" user_id=\"5559:

MsB_Luv\" post_id=\"1950756\" time=\"1575099346\" user_id=\"182449:

Sorry to deviate, may I know if schools are having same textbooks? I have some books given by friends for sec 1.

I know English is not the same, any one got any idea if Math/ Chinese/ Geo / home economics are the same for most schools?

Thank you.

Sec 1 2020 batch, please note that the mentioned books will be the final year used by MOE: Chinese, Higher Chinese, History and Geography textbooks. If you buy new textbooks, you cannot resell them to Year 2021 Sec 1 batch.

Sec 1 2020 batch will be first batch using new Maths and Science textbooks.

Maths: Think! Mathematics Secondary Textbook 1A and Think! Mathematics Secondary Textbook 1B. Publisher: Scholastic.

Just refer to your own Secondary school Sec 1 (2020) booklist, AFTER Moe sms come out on Friday (20 Dec 2019), inform u which school u been posted to, is the safest

Different Secondary (IB / IP / OP) schools use

- different Maths (under diff publisher),



- different Science (under diff publisher),

- different English Literature textbook / workbook


only the Chinese textbook / workbook are common for Standard Chinese, for Higher Chinese

===============

Btw, some Sec schools already posted their 2020 Sec 1 Booklist, on their website. Can go and check