2022 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (born in 2010)

[AHsDad]

Helen/Ivan. Simplified accepted answer for a 2marks-each-part qn. No need algebra or models also can… math Olympiad type of thinking


a) 104-64= 40 (coins diff)
50c - 20c= 30c (value diff)
40 * 30c = $12 more

b) 40 * 2.7g = 108g
1.134 - 0.108= 1.026kg

I also tried algebra at first glance cos like u all, I’m old 😆 Kids not just have to learn to solve problems but also to know best means to do it. More Options good. Algebra skills of course must let them be aware too but if they are not ready, can still acquire later

[zac's mum]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044903\" time=\"1636034032\" user_id=\"43981:

Just curious..is there answer for Helen & Ivan qn.

Pls ignore..I go Google..

I just watched..you need some exposure to this kind of qns In order to answer? And where do we usually see this type of qn? I agree with model mtd for this type of qn..very clear.

Hi MKS, to answer your qn, the kids are taught how to solve this type of heuristic qn beginning of P5.

Of course my son’s class forgot. After the PSLE qn made the news and everyone was talking about it, P5 Math teacher went through it during HBL Zoom again to refresh their memory.

Personally, for a child to be able to recall & implement under exam conditions is not easy. The P5 boys could all solve part (a) on their own using their own methods, but only after thinking very long, definitely longer than under exam conditions.

[MrsKiasu]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2044944\" time=\"1636064353\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2044944 time=1636064353 user_id=53606]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044903\" time=\"1636034032\" user_id=\"43981:

Hi MKS, to answer your qn, the kids are taught how to solve this type of heuristic qn beginning of P5.

Of course my son’s class forgot. After the PSLE qn made the news and everyone was talking about it, P5 Math teacher went through it during HBL Zoom again to refresh their memory.

Personally, for a child to be able to recall & implement under exam conditions is not easy. The P5 boys could all solve part (a) on their own using their own methods, but only after thinking very long, definitely longer than under exam conditions.

So this is called heuristic and will be taught in P5, ok good..thanks.

[MrsKiasu]

I remember there were these 4 and 2 legged animals qns…any MO way or short &sweet way of solving these type of qns?

[Liew Nga Wing]

sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"2044941\" time=\"1636043357\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=2044941 time=1636043357 user_id=130531]
OT:

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2044938\" time=\"1636040772\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2044938 time=1636040772 user_id=195250]...This make me recalled the time I had an argument with my Japanese teacher because she insisted that I had to answer the test paper in \"Romaji\" to show that I knew how to use the \"Romaji\" but I could directly answer the test paper in \"Hiragana and Katakana\"...[/quote]

Wow, thank goodness my teachers (not even the Business Japanese teacher!) did not make me write rōmaji! - I wouldn't know where to parse... But she was shinsetsu not to have you write kanji (we were not to use hiragana if there's a commonly used kanji)[/quote]

People may not know how to pronounce the word if you just write in \"kanji\" instead of \"hiragana\".

[zac's mum]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044951\" time=\"1636068137\" user_id=\"43981:

I remember there were these 4 and 2 legged animals qns..any MO way or short &sweet way of solving these type of qns?

This type of qn, the kids will be taught to solve using:
- Guess & check method (lower primary)
- Assumption method (P4 onwards)

The 2nd way is faster.

But also must bear in mind, for some types of qns, Assumption method will not work, have to “regress” to Guess & Check method.

It is so tricky. For a young kid, definitely not easy for them to decide which method to use. What more under exam conditions.

Stressful or not, depends on how child has been taught to deal with curveballs in life.

[Veyron]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2044954\" time=\"1636068709\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2044954 time=1636068709 user_id=53606]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044951\" time=\"1636068137\" user_id=\"43981:

This type of qn, the kids will be taught to solve using:
- Guess & check method (lower primary)
- Assumption method (P4 onwards)

The 2nd way is faster.

But also must bear in mind, for some types of qns, Assumption method will not work, have to “regress” to Guess & Check method.

It is so tricky. For a young kid, definitely not easy for them to decide which method to use. What more under exam conditions.

Stressful or not, depends on how child has been taught to deal with curveballs in life.

4 legs vs 2 legs or wheels are bread and butter maths questions, where the assumption method is more efficient.

The algebra method is a complete NO-GO for this type of question.

[MrsKiasu]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2044954\" time=\"1636068709\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2044954 time=1636068709 user_id=53606]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044951\" time=\"1636068137\" user_id=\"43981:

This type of qn, the kids will be taught to solve using:
- Guess & check method (lower primary)
- Assumption method (P4 onwards)

The 2nd way is faster.

But also must bear in mind, for some types of qns, Assumption method will not work, have to “regress” to Guess & Check method.

It is so tricky. For a young kid, definitely not easy for them to decide which method to use. What more under exam conditions.

Stressful or not, depends on how child has been taught to deal with curveballs in life.

We didn't know got such systematic way to approach qns!

[MrsKiasu]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044957\" time=\"1636070424\" user_id=\"17023:

...
The model method for this question hinges upon the student having that one critical insight, without which he couldn’t solve the problem too. This problem went viral because it’s difficult and I don’t think many PSLE students are able to solve it

I wonder does school expose kids to this kind of qns or not?

For kids with no MO exposure, no tuition mostly study on own, likely they got sifted out..whose fault? Parents fault? :sad:

[zac's mum]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2044965\" time=\"1636071825\" user_id=\"43981:

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2044957\" time=\"1636070424\" user_id=\"17023:

...
The model method for this question hinges upon the student having that one critical insight, without which he couldn’t solve the problem too. This problem went viral because it’s difficult and I don’t think many PSLE students are able to solve it

I wonder does school expose kids to this kind of qns or not?

For kids with no MO exposure, no tuition mostly study on own, likely they got sifted out..whose fault? Parents fault? :sad:

DS school started giving them these heuristics worksheets in P3 and P4 (the easier type & all using models)…come P5, the heuristic worksheets start to be the PSLE type of qns. If teacher got time during regular Math lesson time, will cover, but mostly no time & can only cover during supplementary lessons (after school).

DS didn’t attend supp lessons due to clash with tuition. So I asked him to consult teacher how to do. Later on, we asked to join back the supp class but they never resumed (due to Heightened Alert etc measures). Just have to make do and figure out ourselves.

I don’t know whether every school will bother teaching. But if they never teach, could be the reason why some kids cannot do. Definitely not in textbook.