2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[AAHL]

Thanks for the above clarifications. I was trying to see if the time spent on higher Chinese is worth it as my child is average in it and may need more time to focus on other core subjects. However, if higher Chinese can open up more doors and opportunities, he shall continue. Will consider properly… thanks!

[lee_yl]

AAHL\" post_id=\"1957904\" time=\"1578441617\" user_id=\"176898:

Thanks for the above clarifications. I was trying to see if the time spent on higher Chinese is worth it as my child is average in it and may need more time to focus on other core subjects. However, if higher Chinese can open up more doors and opportunities, he shall continue. Will consider properly... thanks!

One small similarity between AL banding and tscore is that HCL results has no bearing when applying for non-SAP sec.

Regarding your earlier example, when it comes to applying for SAP sec, touch wood, if your child is expected to be a 7 pointer but end up as 8 pointer and 8 is the COP of the SAP school he is looking at, then definitely those with Distinction in HCL will have priority, with any balance vacancies left to those with Merit, so on and so forth.

For non-SAP, all 8 pointers will ballot together for the last few vacancies.

One thing I am not sure is, 8 points is the cut-off for IP, does it mean that all 8 pointers will sure get into IP or some will get ballot out and end up in O levels??

As to whether your child should take HCL, I think your school will advise you accordingly based on his P5 results. Quite a handful of students I know, they want to continue but their schools reject them.

[floppy]

AAHL\" post_id=\"1957904\" time=\"1578441617\" user_id=\"176898:

Thanks for the above clarifications. I was trying to see if the time spent on higher Chinese is worth it as my child is average in it and may need more time to focus on other core subjects. However, if higher Chinese can open up more doors and opportunities, he shall continue. Will consider properly... thanks!

To build on lee_yl comments above, you need to think about choice of school(s), since AL will be effectively grouping up a number of schools into bands, instead of fine combing like t-score.

For example, RGS / NYGH / MGS could be in one band, SNGS / SCGS / CGSS in another. If you are indifferent towards choosing a SAP school, you wouldn’t HCL.

[cherrygal]

Reading this with interest. So since HCL paper doesn’t have a direct impact on the AL score and only helps when the kid aims for SAP schools, then do you guys now get your kids (who are doing Higher Chinese in sch) to do Normal Chinese tuition or still go for Higher Chinese tuition?


Understand the focus is a bit different for Higher Chinese tuition lessons.

[mommyNg]

cherrygal\" post_id=\"1958207\" time=\"1578554707\" user_id=\"9754:

Reading this with interest. So since HCL paper doesn't have a direct impact on the AL score and only helps when the kid aims for SAP schools, then do you guys now get your kids (who are doing Higher Chinese in sch) to do Normal Chinese tuition or still go for Higher Chinese tuition?

Understand the focus is a bit different for Higher Chinese tuition lessons.

Go for Normal Chinese tuition if kid is not too strong in Chinese (AL score is still more important than HCL); go for Higher Chinese tuition if kid is relatively strong in Chinese (for priority posting in SAP schools); best go for those 2-in-1 that can tackle both normal and higher chinese by the same tuition teacher

[lee_yl]

cherrygal\" post_id=\"1958207\" time=\"1578554707\" user_id=\"9754:

Reading this with interest. So since HCL paper doesn't have a direct impact on the AL score and only helps when the kid aims for SAP schools, then do you guys now get your kids (who are doing Higher Chinese in sch) to do Normal Chinese tuition or still go for Higher Chinese tuition?

Understand the focus is a bit different for Higher Chinese tuition lessons.

Even though my kids were under the current Tscore system and were from non-SAP primary schools, we encouraged them to take up HCL, not because we aim for SAP sec or for love of Chinese language but I want them to clear HCL before starting JC.

If you only have the means to go for 1 tuition, then should be normal Chinese. We focused on normal Chinese. HCL just do some assessment books + past year papers at home.

Cannot remember which Laoshi said, as long as one revises diligently, the default score for HCL is Merit.

[cherrygal]

Thanks ladies

[phtthp]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1958237\" time=\"1578562603\" user_id=\"17023:

Even though my kids were under the current Tscore system and were from non-SAP primary schools, we encouraged them to take up HCL, not because we aim for SAP sec or for love of Chinese language but I want them to clear HCL before starting JC.

If you only have the means to go for 1 tuition, then should be normal Chinese. We focused on normal Chinese. HCL just do some assessment books + past year papers at home.

Cannot remember which Laoshi said, as long as one revises diligently, the default score for HCL is Merit.

forsee that come Y2021, the Appeal process is going to be a nightmare for Principal and Admin staff in Secondary schools.

imagine this Y2021 scenario : suppose the Cut-off-point for a popular (SAP) Secondary school is 8 AL points.
Who can appeal ? Those with 8 points or better

since it is a SAP school, it attract 4 different group of students to appeal, & inside each group can be many students

eg

1) group 1 : those with 8 AL points + 3 points for HCL,

2) group 2 : those with 8 points + 2 points (HCL),

3) group 3 : those with 8 points + 1 point (HCL)

4) group 4 : those with 8 points + zero point for HCL, because did not take HCL

imagine u are the school Principal. So many students inside each of these 4 group come forward to appeal.
How to handle this type of situation ?

accept which student, for appeal ?

accept the appealing student with 8 points + 3 for HCL, or
accept the one with 8 points + 2 for HCL, or go through a \"ping pong ball\" machine, see who is lucky enough whose ping pong ball roll out of the cage, successful for appeal ?

[phtthp]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1958237\" time=\"1578562603\" user_id=\"17023:

Cannot remember which Laoshi said, as long as one revises diligently, the default score for HCL is Merit.

The default score for HCL is a Pass (+1), not Merit (+2)

because

It is easier to score +1 than +2.

one need to work harder in HCL to score +2, compared to +1 and

one need to work even much harder, in order to secure +3


range of HCL bonus point, awarded

below 50 : failed HCL subject

Yes, there are some P6 students who failed HCL, because they wrote out of point for HCL zuowen (Paper 1), and their Paper 2 overall wasn't good neither.


+1 (Pass) : 50 to 64

+2 (Merit) : 65 to 79

+3 (Distinction) : 80 and above

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

If score +1 (HCL) and your Tscore (AL score ) fall outside Top 30% Psle cohort, MOE won't give pupil the Eligibility letter on PSLE results released announcement date in November,
end up pupil cannot do HCL in Sec 1, unless 2 condition overide (happen)


1)

happen to join those SAP schools who choose to overide the MOE Eligibility letter, ie.

School policy set is such that, it is compulsory
for ALL Sec 1 students to study HCL, inside her SAP school, regardless of whether taken or never take HCL before. Their Chinese department choose to overide MOE letter

Eg
Chung Cheng High (Main branch, located in the east)

only Chung Cheng High (Main) is a SAP school. Her cousin, Chung Cheng High (Yishun branch school ) in contrast, is a Non-SAP school


2)

happen to join those rare Secondary schools where the Chinese HOD bother to walk the extra mile, have the heart to arrange an internal subject Chinese entrance test in beginning Term 1 January, willing to give you a second chance, and if you can clear this entrance Chinese test, only then they allow pupil to proceed study HCL, from Sec 1 onwards

Normally, the Chinese Teachers in these schools are more hardworking, because

a) first, they are willing to set an entrance Chinese Test for Sec 1 students,

b) second, the Teachers are willing to invigilate,

c) third, the Teachers are willing to mark the Test scripts


Example of such schools

Tanjong Katong Secondary school

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

doesn't mean that
once sit for 2021 PSLE HCL papers (1 and 2),
by default automatically one can continue with HCL into Sec 1. It depend on whether managed to receive MOE Eligibility letter, or not ?

[floppy]

phtthp\" post_id=\"1958473\" time=\"1578671804\" user_id=\"35251:

imagine this Y2021 scenario : suppose the Cut-off-point for a popular (SAP) Secondary school is 8 AL points.
Who can appeal ? Those with 8 points or better
...

4 sub-groups for AL score 8 BUT only 1 group had to ballot. Thus, COP is based on the group that ballots. If it’s 8 point + HCL merit, then only this group and better stands a chance. Pretty straightforward.