2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[SG_KP1]

KKmama\" post_id=\"2024664\" time=\"1621419908\" user_id=\"42931:

Hi, now that midyear exams are over. Can anyone experienced advise how do we start to prepare our kids to prelim and psle preparation? As in: ,
when do u give prelim papers for them to practise?
How many prelim papers do you let your child practise per week on top of the daily schoolwork they have?
Or do you let them start doing past psle papers?

Pls advise... Thank you.

Some additional thoughts (similar to the earlier reply). Unfortunately, I don't think there is any one size fits all strategy and it depends on the child.

One option is to do a set or two (all 4 subjects) of practice papers (past year prelim or mock PSLE exam from Popular, etc) and see where points are being generated/lost. If the performance is fairly equal across subjects and across subsections, it's possible to just keep doing practice papers (as time permits) until PSLE is over in early-Oct. However, if there are any areas that consistently score lower, time may be better spent trying to pull up these areas with targeted revision/help (IMO, if the student doesn't understand a concept or section it is unlikely 2, 5, 10, or 100 practice paper will really change things without addressing why they don't understand).

My guess is the past year (2018-2020 booklets that are sold) PSLE papers will likely be done in school as assignments/simulated tests and that the teachers will go over suggested answers/corrections so I wouldn't do these papers yet.

As to do papers at night and how many, I think it all depends. Would look at how much revision the school is giving them as doing a paper when the brain is already fried for the day and subsequently being tired the next day doesn't help.

Good luck.

[coast]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2024682\" time=\"1621432599\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2024682 time=1621432599 user_id=53606]

I believe the schools will let the kids practice on the yearly PSLE papers (timed?) later on in the year.[/quote]

Many schools asked the students to do some past PSLE papers in school and others as homework (not timed). Some school teachers marked them properly (especially Maths & Science) like SA1/SA2 exam papers.

[blur_mum]

For June holidays, focus on the oral and composition component. Eg. Chinese oral is 25% and composition is 20%. To get AL 1 or 2, you need to score well in this 2 components. Oral is a quick win, if the child does speak reasonable well, easy to get good scores. English compo and situational together is 27.5% oral is 15%…most students do well in English oral but lack practice in situational writing. Can score 15 marks if all pts and gramatically correct. Do look at last year composition style. The topic looks simple "something that was lost" but to score high points…need to link theme to topic e.g. being honesty/ integrity being thankful / gratitude, being careless/ responsible.

[Shyna]

How should revision be done from now? Study everything first? Practice all heuristics etc then do papers?

[fivefingers]

Is it just my son school? SA1 finished just before HBL, but paper will only be returned in term3. Teacher will probably tell us the results but honestly, i prefer they give us back the paper so we can revise on the weak areas.

Maths topics not finished yet. Teaching Volume through HBL now. Speed and Pie chart not covered yet
Science going through adaptations now. Interactions not done
Chinese - i think only started 1 chapter in 6B.
Suppose to have supplementary during first week of June holidays - that has shifted to HBL as well.

I am worried whether can finish all the topics and revision in time? Last year P5, this batch already rushed through a lot of impt topics via HBL. Honestly I dont think the topics Fraction and Ratio was taught well through HBL last year.
Am I the only one paranoid here?

[phtthp]

Check with your P6 son first, whether since HBL started this Wed 19 May,


did any of his subject Teachers go through the Answers with them during online zoom ?

That means, even though your son’s mid year SA1 exam is already over and Answer scripts + marks not returned to them until formal Term 3 July officially start, however the individual subject Tr can still use the school’s just 1 set of school exam questions and show to them during online zoom, and go through the Answers with them, one by one.

This is common, esp for MCQ questions, because Multiple choice questions are the easiest to go through ! Right or wrong, once teacher go through the questions via zoom, straightaway your P6 son will know whether he gotten it right or wrong, because
he can count.

For OE,
same thing, subject Tr can also go through too, via zoom.

Hence, clarify with your son first : what have been done, during the past 3 days of zoom or SLS ?

Next week being the last week of Term 2, is a short week
because

1) Wednesday 26 May, is a public Holiday (Vesak day). No HBL conducted on a public holiday.


2) Friday 28 May, being last day of T2 :
some schools will conduct PTC (Parents Teacher conference). Hence, no HBL, for these schools.

Thus, effectively, next week only have three HBL days’ online lessons ! Then, one month June school holiday start

[fivefingers]

Yup

I did check with my boy before posting, hence I was aware of the topics not covered.

Its true that the teachers were going through MCQ via zoom, however when I asked my boy he cannot remember where he made the mistakes. :stupid: This week some going through OEQ, but since he already cannot remember his answers to MCQ, i doubt he can remember his mistakes in OEQ

Just wondering if other parents facing similar issues. Heard some schools did not even manage to finish SA1.

[Vodkarib]

Hi jus read the psle exam booklet. Just want to understand a few things

1. only ballpoint pens allowed. I believe many students are using gel pens e.g. sarasa etc. You think these will be allowed?

2. Correction tape not encouraged. But if need be, still can bring and use? Understand from my child that his teacher was specific in not allowing use for Chinese composition, but he was allowed to use for other mid year papers.

3. Do you all bring extra batteries or bring extra calculator for maths? I realised his calculator model battery is not easily replaceable. Yet to try. (Casio)

[SG_KP1]

Vodkarib\" post_id=\"2026091\" time=\"1622706160\" user_id=\"48519:

Hi jus read the psle exam booklet. Just want to understand a few things
1. only ballpoint pens allowed. I believe many students are using gel pens e.g. sarasa etc. You think these will be allowed?

2. Correction tape not encouraged. But if need be, still can bring and use? Understand from my child that his teacher was specific in not allowing use for Chinese composition, but he was allowed to use for other mid year papers.

3. Do you all bring extra batteries or bring extra calculator for maths? I realised his calculator model battery is not easily replaceable. Yet to try. (Casio)

#1. I am not sure. I think there are differing degrees to which the ink of non-ballpoint pens runs? Safer to follow the instructions.

#2. I believe the instructions say don't use correction tape? I think the fear is that the tape causes the pages to stick together / peels off and they cannot make sense of the answer. I always found it odd that the schools encourage use of correction tape and then cannot use for PSLE. MTL papers are subject to OSM (on-screen marking or digital copy of paper) this year so this may be why correction tape was not allowed for CL compo.

#3. Suggest change the battery before the exam. It is not easy to change on the spot as you need a small screwdriver.

Good luck!

[Swc]

Vodkarib\" post_id=\"2026091\" time=\"1622706160\" user_id=\"48519:

Hi jus read the psle exam booklet. Just want to understand a few things
1. only ballpoint pens allowed. I believe many students are using gel pens e.g. sarasa etc. You think these will be allowed?

2. Correction tape not encouraged. But if need be, still can bring and use? Understand from my child that his teacher was specific in not allowing use for Chinese composition, but he was allowed to use for other mid year papers.

3. Do you all bring extra batteries or bring extra calculator for maths? I realised his calculator model battery is not easily replaceable. Yet to try. (Casio)

I bought an extra calculator for my DD. Just want to have the peace of mind that if calculator really suddenly blank out, she has a backup. Anyway, the calculator can continued be used in secondary school, so I feel it is good investment. Do note that if you intend to bring an extra calculator, your child needs to get an extra school approval sticker for the extra calculator as well.