2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[Autumnleaf]

Veyron\" post_id=\"2040556\" time=\"1633315609\" user_id=\"30663:

Autumnleaf\" post_id=\"2040494\" time=\"1633260715\" user_id=\"35378:

My girl said other papers she's done, at most 2 difficult questions that appear after question 15. This psle 2021 she felt the questions were difficult from question 6.

I came aross a comment posted by another p6 student that said the same thing. But for her she said from question 9 onward. She also mentioned paper was tougher than. Prelim and every other paper she has done.

Saw another 2 students comment along the same lines too.
I feel bad for the kids when adults just invalidate their views.....
Like saying too bad, every year like that what. Kids gotta toughen up, strawberry generation etc.

And doesn't make it better all the #PSLE2021 jokes from Ikea, Watson, ocbc etc. Its quite insensitive to those that already don't feel good. In fact reading many of the student's comment in MOEs FB page, I feel they have more empathy and compassion than many adults that resorted to name calling and invalidating their views on various FB pages.

Although I am expressing my views here, most definitely in front of our kids we as parents have to show the correct attitude and push them along positively, not discourage them.

But we are also not wrong to advocate for them when there is a true concern. For all we know, we might help make a change for future psle cohorts. Some may prefer to keep it status quo though. Hard to please everyone. Just keep encouraging our kiddos is the best way we can. Psle almost done and dusted.

Statistically speaking, I am guessing the percentage of students in every P6 cohort scoring AL1 for PSLE math paper (or any paper) will be around 10%. So it should not come as a surprise to find more resentful comments on social media simply because

a) Majority of students will not score AL1, which mean the vast majority will not be able to solve some of the more difficult questions which are included to test the higher ability students. (e.g. GEP)

b) The 10% whom we know are certainly going to score AL1 will unlikely to comment on social media as

i) They havent got their PSLE result,

ii) for fear of being crucified on social media. (Although I do hear some students saying this year PSLE math is easier than their prelims)

Historically, the PSLE COP for the TOP IP secondary schools in Singapore have always been very stable with a tolerance of around +/- 1 or 2 t-score. (Perhaps it could be partly due to the bell curve effect). And over the years, we had encountered many tougher PSLE math questions, however that had not resulted in lowering the overall COP for top IP schools.

So what is all the hoha all about?
a)\tDesire to get into a good secondary school (who doesn’t)
b)\tParents are struggling to solve primary maths questions because they are unfamiliar with the current math problem-solving approach
c)\tChildren are under tremendous pressure by parents to do well for PSLE

So to be honest, I am actually a little puzzled as to why parents are getting so upset because of 1 or 2 unusual math questions since

a)\tTo score AL1, a student only need 90, not 100. Which mean they can afford to make mistake and still score AL1 (90 is the new 100)

b)\tIf parents can accept their child not scoring 100 marks for prelim or school math exam, then why can’t they accept their child to not able to solve certain more challenging questions in PSLE?

Considering that this is the first year of the AL system and how the AL point systems were carefully designed based on historical PSLE COP, it will not be rational or possible for MOE to tweak the PSLE approach due to COVID19 simply because

a) They have already removed some syllabus from the exam, similar to 2020
b) If the entire cohort doesn't do well, the only repercussion will be the lowering of AL COP.
c) On the other hand, if papers are set too easy, that will lead to problematic S1 posting where more students end up balloting.

So lets' not be too quick to jump to the conclusion that MOE is insensible or cruel because the sole reason for PSLE is to have a fair and transparent S1 posting.

While I agree with your points, I am not disgruntled at MOE or think they insensitive. It’s the insensitive adults passing judgement based on one question that irks me because there are plenty of p6 students that are on these social media platforms reading them.

The whole coin question saga had been blow out of proportion when in fact a good number of my girls class mates managed to get at least one part of it correct. But then there are many that couldn’t. Thing is all the jokes going around is insensitive.
Check out watsons FB page on their Helen and Ivan question and see there is a comment left by a student. Or at least a person who claims to be one.

Who doesn’t know not all kids get A1 ? This again is white washing the point I mentioned.

On the moe FB post abt supporting children, the kids had more eq than adult. In their own plight, they were still moved to see their classmates cry and concerned for each other.

There’s always more to the story and while we should remind our kids and some parents not to mull over marks and recognize/celebrate efforts and every small success, I feel quite ashamed of the cancel culture these days.

1. It’s possible to give these kids encouragement without sewing resentment between kids and parents regarding expectations.

2. Many students do have their own goals and self expectation which we parents also need to help them to be realistic and supportive

3. We as a society in general have been quick to pass judgement based on one question, and invalidated our kids.

4. While all the Helen & Ivan jokes are meant to be light hearted, there are some students that will not find it funny as I mentioned earlier.

I hope these kids have the support and assurance at home because the world on social media is a very cold one.

[Autumnleaf]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2040562\" time=\"1633316672\" user_id=\"35251:

Yes,
last year 2020 4 PSLE subject papers were much easier. And the tentative AL COPs for each Secondary school, from Moe, were based on 2020 PSLE batch (born 2008).

So, when come to choosing your 6 Secondary schools later in Nov after 2021 Psle results are released , can only take 2020 AL COPs as a rough guide, not wholesale, because there will be deviation from this year (2021)

How to gauge ?

That's why they asked u to attend the zoom seminar seminar this Saturday, 10 am

Thanks for sharing. This is useful for us.

[chenlaoshi]

Shyna\" post_id=\"2040569\" time=\"1633318259\" user_id=\"86797:

Sorry when is the Zoom session? Oct 30 right?

Yes, but deadline for registration is 17 Oct.

[Shyna]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2040585\" time=\"1633321085\" user_id=\"162894:

Shyna\" post_id=\"2040569\" time=\"1633318259\" user_id=\"86797:

Sorry when is the Zoom session? Oct 30 right?

Yes, but deadline for registration is 17 Oct.

Thank you for clarifying!

[Autumnleaf]

Ohh… that’s fast. If there is anything worth noting, maybe can share if anyone here managed to register.

[Veyron]

littleprince\" post_id=\"2040565\" time=\"1633317538\" user_id=\"19510:

Just have a feeling it will be one of those talks where they bring you walk the garden but no answer to the 1 one burning question you have.

It is not possible for MOE or any Principals to share anything that they don't know. Such as what is the estimated AL COP for this year? what is the chance of balloting? or What is your opinion of this year PSLE paper vs last year etc?

And what they will certainly do is to repeat the same recommendation on how to prioritize school choices based on PSLE score.

[koalamama]

Wondering what was the topic for the CL compo and how were the CL papers 1 & 2 this year…

[User1234567891011]

CL/ML/TL Compo picture


Pict 1- Students + teachers in class getting ready for a trip to the zoo

Pict 2- Student B touching student A’s bag while boarding the bus

Pict 3- Student B fighting with student C over a bag of potato chips

Pict 4- Student B swinging a bag around a monkey in the zoo

Pict 5- Student A, B and C trying to get the bag which the monkey stole and hanged on a tree

Pretty hard to link the pictures together

[sweetbaby]

Thanks for sharing

[koalamama]

User1234567891011\" post_id=\"2040593\" time=\"1633323297\" user_id=\"195180:

CL/ML/TL Compo picture

Pict 1- Students + teachers in class getting ready for a trip to the zoo

Pict 2- Student B touching student A's bag while boarding the bus

Pict 3- Student B fighting with student C over a bag of potato chips

Pict 4- Student B swinging a bag around a monkey in the zoo

Pict 5- Student A, B and C trying to get the bag which the monkey stole and hanged on a tree

Pretty hard to link the pictures together

Oh my! That's not a common topic... what're the moral values of this compo?