2022 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (born in 2010)

[MrsKiasu]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2044917\" time=\"1636036760\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2044917 time=1636036760 user_id=58173]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044908\" time=\"1636035400\" user_id=\"43981:

Yes, the reason is that the model method is much shorter and easier to use on this sort of questions for children. And it is also easier to learn as they are more visual.

Years ago, quite a lot of children had difficulty learning algebra. The ministry did some study and research before implementing the model method. It is useful for young children in primary school. I think because they teach model method, they want to test model method. The only way is to have questions that are easier to solve using model method. (Else everyone use algebra) A well-learned kid will use model instead as it’s more efficient… less careless mistakes compared to using algebra, which can be complicated to some children.

Looks like both are important..

[Zeal mummy]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044896\" time=\"1636031757\" user_id=\"17023:

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2044895\" time=\"1636029933\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2044895 time=1636029933 user_id=195250]

I am not the one who said the questions are too difficult. Difficult questions are deliberately set inside the PSLE paper, something admitted by Deputy DG(Education) himself.

Why should I blame MOE? My children are done with PSLE and both are moving towards JCs.

Agree the questions are controversial because my manager also don't know how to solve them.

It is nothing wrong even you blame the MOE, it is your freedom, every day when I travel to work via MRT, there are so many people blaming the Government for its policies.......

:rotflmao:
I have been through two PSLE with my kids a few years back and the high level of stress turned my hair white!

So when govt announced PSLE reform to AL Banding, I really hope to see future P6 students and their parents less stressful than what I had been through. If after all the reforms, the P6 students and their parents are still as stressed, then the reform is in name only and nothing had really changed.[/quote]The changes were not made specifically to reduce stress. Stress is at times necessary for growth/progress. The changes were made so that the children weren’t compared against their friends/classmates/schoolmates. They run their own race, outdo themselves and not others. At least that’s how I see it.

I can relate with the stress, I also had a few more white hair after my child’s psle.. as though I was the one taking the exams lol. But think again, psle is but a pawn in the whole chess game, it’s not going to determine the end result. Plenty of kids who did well, continue doing well. And there are others who also do well, or even better, with a lousy psle. Nobody will know who has the last laugh.

[floppy]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044921\" time=\"1636037181\" user_id=\"17023:

Let the number of 50ct coins Helene has be H.
Let the number of 50ct coins Ivan has be I.

Since both Helene and Ivan have the same number of coins, we can form the equation:
H+64 = I+104
H = I+40

The amount of money Helene is Hx$0.5 + 64 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $12.80

The amount of money Ivan has is I x $0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = (H-40)x$0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $0.8

Comparing the two amounts, Helene has more money and she has ($0.5H + $12.8 - $0.5H - $0.8) = $12

Part (2):
Let the weight of a $0.2 coin be w, then the weight of a $0.5 coin is w+2.7

Helen’s coins has a weight of 1134g, we can form the following equation:
H x (w+2.7) + 64w = 1134
H x w + 2.7H + 64w = 1134

For Ivan, the total weight of his coins is I x (w+2.7) + 104w
= (H-40)x(w+2.7) + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H - 40w - 108 + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H + 60w - 108
= 1134 - 108
= 1026

You beat me to the last part. Was about to update my post to show that it can also be expressed as algebraic equation (although that really won’t be necessary to solve the problem, just more to show that it can be expressed as such).

[Zeal mummy]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044923\" time=\"1636037598\" user_id=\"43981:

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044921\" time=\"1636037181\" user_id=\"17023:

Let the number of 50ct coins Helene has be H.
Let the number of 50ct coins Ivan has be I.

Since both Helene and Ivan have the same number of coins, we can form the equation:
H+64 = I+104
H = I+40

The amount of money Helene is Hx$0.5 + 64 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $12.80

The amount of money Ivan has is I x $0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = (H-40)x$0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $0.8

Comparing the two amounts, Helene has more money and she has ($0.5H + $12.8 - $0.5H - $0.8) = $12

Part (2):
Let the weight of a $0.2 coin be w, then the weight of a $0.5 coin is w+2.7

Helen’s coins has a weight of 1134g, we can form the following equation:
H x (w+2.7) + 64w = 1134
H x w + 2.7H + 64w = 1134

For Ivan, the total weight of his coins is I x (w+2.7) + 104w
= (H-40)x(w+2.7) + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H - 40w - 108 + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H + 60w - 108
= 1134 - 108
= 1026

If dd learned this during Pri level, she won't suffer this much now.. but I think she may have issues solving this type of problems due to carelessness.

It’s super inefficient on these sort of questions. Solving questions this way could result in not having enough time to check the paper or even complete the paper.

However in secondary school, yes u are expected to learn and use algebra fluently. There will be a lot of questions that models cannot solve. Their minds are more developed to handle complicated high order questions.

Have your child practice more, keep track on what was the mistake, systematic or transfer or calculation error? Practice practice practice

[lee_yl]

Veyron\" post_id=\"2044897\" time=\"1636032263\" user_id=\"30663:

Parents need to be mindful when trying to introduce algebra to P6es because the algebra they are taught in school are very basic and they are not equipped to solve challenging math problems using algebra.

Those who swear by the algebra being the gold standard, can you demonstrate how to solve this PSLE question

Helen and Ivan had the same number of coins. Helen had a number of 50-cent coins and 64 20-cent coins. Helen's coins had a total mass of 1.134kg. Ivan had a number of 50-cent coins and 104 20-cent coins.

(a) Who has more money in coins and by how much?
(b) Given that each 50-cent coin is 2.7g more heavier than a 20-cent coin, what is the mass of Ivan's coins in kilograms?\"

Two worked examples of using algebra to solve the math problem, which I hope can convince you that the model method is not the only way.

As I mentioned earlier, the model method is a way to introduce abstract concepts of algebra to young children with visual aids. It is not pitting the model method against algebra.

But what I detest is the rigid orthodoxy that MOE has adhered to with respect to the model method that it closes one’s mind and make one forget that in math, one should be mentally agile and use whatever that works.

What’s worse after PSLE, the children will not see the model method again so the transition is abrupt and seemingly, one’s hard work to master the model method has gone to waste.

[floppy]

Marshall Cavendish Education has got a good article on model method vs algebra explaining the why and how:

https://www.mceducation.com/mce-intl/about-us/social-media-page-sharing/spark/2017/06/05/the-model-method-a-bridge-to-introducing-algebra

[lee_yl]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2044927\" time=\"1636038299\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2044927 time=1636038299 user_id=58173]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044923\" time=\"1636037598\" user_id=\"43981:

Let the number of 50ct coins Helene has be H.
Let the number of 50ct coins Ivan has be I.

Since both Helene and Ivan have the same number of coins, we can form the equation:
H+64 = I+104
H = I+40

The amount of money Helene is Hx$0.5 + 64 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $12.80

The amount of money Ivan has is I x $0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = (H-40)x$0.5 + 104 x $0.2 = $0.5H + $0.8

Comparing the two amounts, Helene has more money and she has ($0.5H + $12.8 - $0.5H - $0.8) = $12

Part (2):
Let the weight of a $0.2 coin be w, then the weight of a $0.5 coin is w+2.7

Helen’s coins has a weight of 1134g, we can form the following equation:
H x (w+2.7) + 64w = 1134
H x w + 2.7H + 64w = 1134

For Ivan, the total weight of his coins is I x (w+2.7) + 104w
= (H-40)x(w+2.7) + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H - 40w - 108 + 104w
= H x w + 2.7H + 60w - 108
= 1134 - 108
= 1026

If dd learned this during Pri level, she won't suffer this much now.. but I think she may have issues solving this type of problems due to carelessness.

It’s super inefficient on these sort of questions. Solving questions this way could result in not having enough time to check the paper or even complete the paper.

However in secondary school, yes u are expected to learn and use algebra fluently. There will be a lot of questions that models cannot solve. Their minds are more developed to handle complicated high order questions.

Have your child practice more, keep track on what was the mistake, systematic or transfer or calculation error? Practice practice practice[/quote]I am not saying a P6 can form these algebra equations to solve the question as I am only showing the steps to that someone who was unaware and asked parents to show her the steps how it can be done.

[Zeal mummy]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044930\" time=\"1636038627\" user_id=\"17023:

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2044927\" time=\"1636038299\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2044927 time=1636038299 user_id=58173]

If dd learned this during Pri level, she won't suffer this much now.. but I think she may have issues solving this type of problems due to carelessness.

It’s super inefficient on these sort of questions. Solving questions this way could result in not having enough time to check the paper or even complete the paper.

However in secondary school, yes u are expected to learn and use algebra fluently. There will be a lot of questions that models cannot solve. Their minds are more developed to handle complicated high order questions.

Have your child practice more, keep track on what was the mistake, systematic or transfer or calculation error? Practice practice practice

I am not saying a P6 can form these algebra equations to solve the question as I am only showing the steps to that someone who was unaware and asked parents to show her the steps how it can be done.[/quote]Oh haha 😆

[Zeal mummy]

putien\" post_id=\"2044864\" time=\"1636016467\" user_id=\"29927:

The Model Method – A Bridge To Introducing Algebra
https://www.mceducation.com/mce-intl/about-us/social-media-page-sharing/spark/2017/06/05/the-model-method-a-bridge-to-introducing-algebra

Thank you for sharing this!

[MrsKiasu]

Thank you all…


I need try to look at the Math see if I could still follow.