2022 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (born in 2010)

[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.

[floppy]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2044970\" time=\"1636072787\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2044970 time=1636072787 user_id=53606]

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

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.

My kid's school did the same with the heuristics worksheets in P3 and P4... whether P5 will be similar, akan datang. I suppose the teachers will have to cover these type of questions during normal class as supp class are 'by invitation only', and it only starts in Term 2. Unfortunately, MO trainings were severely disrupted due to Covid this year but hopefully, the trainings will resume soon.

With regard to Helen and Ivan, the question is not exceptionally difficult. One issue that may have bewildered students is the structure of the question. Honestly, the question could be better phrased without the 'weight' being introduced early, since it has no relevance in solving part (a). Under time pressure, it's difficult for some students to mentally sift / sort out the necessary information.

---
Helen and Ivan had the same number of coins. Helen had a number of 50-cent coins, and 64 20-cent coins. Ivan had a number of 50-cent coins and 104 20-cent coins.
(a) Who has more money in coins? (1)
(b) By how much? (1)

Helen's coins weigh 1.134kg in total.
(c) If each 50-cent coin weighs 2.7g more than a 20-cent coin, what is the mass of Ivan's coins in kilograms? (2)
---

If written as above, part (a) and (b) is actually a simple model question that many students have been exposed to in either P4 or P5. Just follow the 3 statements and draw the model accordingly.

[zac's mum]

FYR: P5 onwards the heuristics worksheets will start to use Unit Transfer Method. And then the teachers will teach them to “classify” the various “types” of qns in their mind first. There’s a whole list & it gets mind-boggling after a while (difference unchanged, internal transfer, total unchanged, repeated identity, etc) Even after u get all these down pat, u can still expect the unexpected during PSLE becos SEAB will be one step ahead of kiasu parents.


So just pre-empt your kid that life will always throw you some curveballs. And that it’s not the end of the world if cannot do.

[MrsKiasu]

For this dd, guess we need to be more systematic…with the older one…it is really no frame…see qn just do.

[Veyron]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2044992\" time=\"1636083344\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2044992 time=1636083344 user_id=53606]
FYR: P5 onwards the heuristics worksheets will start to use Unit Transfer Method. And then the teachers will teach them to “classify” the various “types” of qns in their mind first. There’s a whole list & it gets mind-boggling after a while (difference unchanged, internal transfer, total unchanged, repeated identity, etc) Even after u get all these down pat, u can still expect the unexpected during PSLE becos SEAB will be one step ahead of kiasu parents.

So just pre-empt your kid that life will always throw you some curveballs. And that it’s not the end of the world if cannot do.[/quote]

UTM is not an easy concept to master and I believe students should equip themselves with the ability to use a hybrid of different concepts when dealing with challenging problems.

[Grr_roxy]

I believe a lot of our P5 kiddos have finished their SA2 exams. Good job to all for the efforts and have a good break!

[AHsDad]

Algebra was always allowed.