2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[Option]

678Yess\" post_id=\"2048540\" time=\"1637891288\" user_id=\"7364:

Pegasus08\" post_id=\"2048528\" time=\"1637888978\" user_id=\"41264:

Hi, for parents whose child did well for PSLE, may I know how you or your child prepared for it? My elder one did not do as expected (out of IP range) and I was wondering if there is anything i could do better so as to prepare my number 2 (who is going to P5 next year).

For my elder one, I had to make (force) her to do past year papers for all subjects. For science, I made her read the science textbooks and the PSLE notes on science. She had Chinese tuition but pretty much nothing else. Maths I think nothing really much to memorize, need to know the formula and practise a lot of papers. For English, I was not sure how to prepare her (other than doing past year papers), got her into a last minute writing class to try to improve her writing and then found lists of words online to make her go through them, know how to spell and their meanings. But along the way, I was not sure what else I can give to her or make her study. She is pretty chill one, anything goes kind, so making her study really have to depend on her mood, plus towards the end, she got really sianz of doing papers.

Please share if you have something constructive. Particularly, how your child prepared for both languages, which have so many components, it seems hard to score. I hope to take this as a learning experience to see how I can improve to support my number 2 better (who unfortunately at this stage, seems to be more slack than number 1 😔). Thank you for your time.

PSLE preparation started at P4, at least, cause, you cannot hurried the process of building the language proficiency within a very short time. In the lower primary, we focused on Languages for both my daughter and my son. My daughter dropped the English writing class in P4 while my son continue to fill p6 as he was a lazy reader. Both of them continue their Chinese tuition til p6. For maths, both of them being drilled consistently since P5. They studied science and do other school paper on their own. Both my kids made it to IP schools.

We did away with tuitions and started language preparations in the lower primary. I agree with 678Yess that language preparations is something that cannot be rushed.
The preparations for language oral components were low because we started bilingual communications at home when they were young, and freed time for other areas. Granted that Pegasus08's 2nd child is moving to P5, in the interests of time, consider oral communications in both languages at home (even if the child has tuition). Then played by ear to regulate the intensity. Our communication arrangements were weekdays in English and weekends in Chinese.

We didn't get our children to complete all questions in any past year paper (I know this can be unnerving), only those deemed as tricky ones and in particular application-based ones for science. Our original concerns stemed from the fact that rushing the child to finish every question in every past year paper would mean he/ she has less time to absorb what went wrong, or even rest.
We accepted the risks that important questions/ concepts could be inadvertently omitted, and had less understanding how the children will handle actual papers within time limits.
Not sure if the uneasiness is due to 'being out of IP range' limits certain school choices that psle children may opt for. My DD and DS are doing reasonably ok in OP and IP respectively so perhaps as parents, be conscious not to give a child the impression that being out of IP range = not as good.

[CCK2008]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2048559\" time=\"1637894449\" user_id=\"2358:

CCK2008\" post_id=\"2048557\" time=\"1637893719\" user_id=\"26004:

[quote=Imp75 post_id=2048555 time=1637893440 user_id=2358]
Happy left in sec 4 to go UK to study. She did not proceed to HCI.

That's odd, my colleague did mention that that she went on to JC1, as my colleague's DD is in same cohort as her in NYGH. They are quite famous in NYGH because ang mo wear white uniform. Not a common sight in chinese school.

No la. Both jiemei were already very outstanding in chinese even in NYPS. They lived and breathed in chinese as they had a live-in private Beijing accented chinese tutor for many years. How to compare Hahaha.[/quote]If Ang Mo knew the importance of Chinese now and the future, I still see many Singaporean parents still ignorant of the importance. It is sad. So when my younger DD decided to choose NYGH, instead of following her sister into RGS, I totally agreed with her choice.

[kylene]

Would like some thoughts on Cedar IP vs SCGS IP . Friend’s child scored AL7, no HCL . Traveling not an issue as they stay toa payoh

[laurencewong]

Hey Parents, is anyone familiar with the school culture in Cat High? Is it very academic-driven? (not so inclined, prefer more holistic education)

For AL8, Nan Chiau High will be really near home. But a friend said Cat High is good. Any thought?

[CCK2008]

kylene\" post_id=\"2048570\" time=\"1637895575\" user_id=\"6993:

Would like some thoughts on Cedar IP vs SCGS IP . Friend’s child scored AL7, no HCL . Traveling not an issue as they stay toa payoh

Cedar partner JC is victoria JC, SCGS is eunoia JC. THink SCGS is more suitable as eunoia JC is near Toa Payoh.

[floppy]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2048559\" time=\"1637894449\" user_id=\"2358:

No la. Both jiemei were already very outstanding in chinese even in NYPS. They lived and breathed in chinese as they had a live-in private Beijing accented chinese tutor for many years. How to compare Hahaha.

When $$$ is not an issue, you can be fluent and well-versed in English, Chinese, German, French, Japanese and maybe a little Arabic.

[Imp75]

floppy\" post_id=\"2048576\" time=\"1637896384\" user_id=\"97579:

Imp75\" post_id=\"2048559\" time=\"1637894449\" user_id=\"2358:

No la. Both jiemei were already very outstanding in chinese even in NYPS. They lived and breathed in chinese as they had a live-in private Beijing accented chinese tutor for many years. How to compare Hahaha.

When $$$ is not an issue, you can be fluent and well-versed in English, Chinese, German, French, Japanese and maybe a little Arabic.

Yalor

[Pegasus08]

Option\" post_id=\"2048561\" time=\"1637894755\" user_id=\"185249:

We did away with tuitions and started language preparations in the lower primary. I agree with 678Yess that language preparations is something that cannot be rushed.
The preparations for language oral components were low because we started bilingual communications at home when they were young, and freed time for other areas. Granted that Pegasus08's 2nd child is moving to P5, in the interests of time, consider oral communications in both languages at home (even if the child has tuition). Then played by ear to regulate the intensity. Our communication arrangements were weekdays in English and weekends in Chinese.

We didn't get our children to complete all questions in any past year paper (I know this can be unnerving), only those deemed as tricky ones and in particular application-based ones for science. Our original concerns stemed from the fact that rushing the child to finish every question in every past year paper would mean he/ she has less time to absorb what went wrong, or even rest.
We accepted the risks that important questions/ concepts could be inadvertently omitted, and had less understanding how the children will handle actual papers within time limits.
Not sure if the uneasiness is due to 'being out of IP range' limits certain school choices that psle children may opt for. My DD and DS are doing reasonably ok in OP and IP respectively so perhaps as parents, be conscious not to give a child the impression that being out of IP range = not as good.

Thank you both. I guess I wasn't too prepared for the new system, going the old way and just trying to score for best subjects rather than adopt to the new system to put equal emphasis on all subjects. I enrolled my younger one in English writing class a few months ago and she is already in berries. That's a good suggestion regarding oral, it's actually a very high percentage of the total score. When you mention oral communications, is it just talking normally at home or do you go through oral questions with your kids?

For the past year papers, how did you know which one are application type questions that need to be worked on? Did you try out the paper yourself or you pick randomly?

Yeah, I know not getting into an IP school is not an end-all scenario but just with the hopes and expectations and knowing that she can do better is just disappointing. Weirdly, I'm more affected than her 😝 ask her what school she wants, she still says anything. How to motivate her. Sigh. Telling her it's for her future is too abstract for her as well. Any tips on motivating children?

[Veyron]

floppy\" post_id=\"2048576\" time=\"1637896384\" user_id=\"97579:

Imp75\" post_id=\"2048559\" time=\"1637894449\" user_id=\"2358:

No la. Both jiemei were already very outstanding in chinese even in NYPS. They lived and breathed in chinese as they had a live-in private Beijing accented chinese tutor for many years. How to compare Hahaha.

When $$$ is not an issue, you can be fluent and well-versed in English, Chinese, German, French, Japanese and maybe a little Arabic.

This boy is not rich and with internet, one can now learn a foreign language for free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoBcruz1Gac

[leeff]

Hi all mummies & daddies,

Am new to this platform. I’m in a dilemma, my gal scored AL15 and she really wish to get into her first choice school with COP13. Should I risk and put it as my first choice?