Mid-year exams to be scrapped in all primary, secondary schools by 2023

[SG_KP1]

While we'd all like fewer exams, less stress, more non-academic development, etc, I think you need to consider exactly how the S1 posting system and JAE work. When exam results determine what options you have, I question how many people currently in the process will say \"test less\" or \"I don't care what the testing policy is.\"


Not saying things can't change for the better. Just saying sometimes I think there's a bit of a disconnect between what is the input-output of the system and theoretically what we all think is better...

Another way to look at it is how did all of the CAs, SAs, WAs, and loads of homework/practice exams come about? One of the first questions each late-November seems to be “what % of the cohort scored above 250/AL8?” Sometimes the problem is looking right back at you in the mirror…

[SG_KP1]

All that being said, as mentioned my younger kid (P6 this year) has never had a mid-year exam. Always WA1-WA3 + SA2. At the end of the day, I can’t say it has made a difference, so maybe it doesn’t matter.


And I found out my secondary kid wasn’t planning to have any mid-year exam either (Sec 2 so technically eligible for it). Still Class Test (15%), Common Test (15%), and EOY Exam (70%) (with some subjects having other projects, which will generally reduce the EOY Exam weight).

[Imp75]

Actually hor in my daughter ex pri sch eons ago, its really quite kiasu cos in P6 we had the MYE, no WA3 but replaced with prelim 1 (internally set exams), prelim 2 ( combination of few sch prelim papers, supposed to be easier than prelim 1) then PSLE. How glad I was when WA3/prelim 1 was scrapped…kids no need so much practice and potential burnout leading to PSLE right? Some parents even stop their kids from piano ballet or any other recreational activities from P6 onwards just to ace the PSLE. Sometimes I feel is a bit extreme le… put bluntly if you can make it, you lead life as usual also can make it. If you cannot make it, isolating the child and loading w practice papers will not make any difference.

[tinker_bell]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2061169\" time=\"1646907553\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2061169 time=1646907553 user_id=58173]
Did you know why you were not stressed back then? What differences were there between then and now?[/quote]

Times were different I suppose. My parents are lowly educated and hence did not put a premium on education.

I was always the top few in my neighborhood school. All I did was pay attention in class and do my homework diligently. Come and think about it, most of my homework was completed during recess because I had to help at my parent's shop after school. I wanted tuition for my english, because I wanted to top my school, but my parents just said that tuition is only for the rich folk and that was that.

Also, there were much less distractions growing up. No handphones, video games, internet, social media. Just my neighborhood friends and whatever games we could think of. Hopscotch, 5 stones, marbles, dai ti.

Exams are also more straight forward during my time. My hubby was just mentioning that he didn't remember using calculators in primary school. So he felt that while our primary school math exams were less challenging, it is a lot more tedious to complete.

Now everything just seems to be so turbo charged! All the kids busy with school work, supplementary lessons, CCAs, tuition, enrichment, social media, games, handphones, discord, tik tok. And the exam papers are so different from my time! So much expectations laden on the small shoulders of our kids.

[tinker_bell]

sushi88\" post_id=\"2061187\" time=\"1646915908\" user_id=\"100857:

That's because parents are less involved too... A lot has changed. Parents are more affluent, kids are lesser, expectations are higher and school is tougher as the rat race becomes more intense. The exposure of the kids today are also different, they have more distractions digitally. I actually do not envy them at all.. I loved my blue skies and better sun when I was growing up.

Try and sit for the PSLE today? :siam:

I think I will fail if I took the PSLE today. Brain lao kok kok already.

[MrsKiasu]

Psle I think I can still pass…Secondary subjects will likely fail.

[Imp75]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2061265\" time=\"1646987543\" user_id=\"43981:

Psle I think I can still pass...Secondary subjects will likely fail.

I think I can A* all subjects in psle given my many years of language skills and come on, maths and science shouldn't be hard if you have been sitting down and studying with your kids too.
For sec level, except for languages or anything I can smoke through, the rest I think I will F9.....ie the maths and sciences ......

[MrsKiasu]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2061268\" time=\"1646987808\" user_id=\"2358:

I think I can A* all subjects in psle given my many years of language skills and come on, maths and science shouldn't be hard if you have been sitting down and studying with your kids too.
For sec level, except for languages or anything I can smoke through, the rest I think I will F9.....ie the maths and sciences ......

Maybe put it this way..if we all can study like a student that is full time student, I think we should be able to get through it..but no promise of all As for me lol.

[Imp75]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2061270\" time=\"1646988184\" user_id=\"43981:

Maybe put it this way..if we all can study like a student that is full time student, I think we should be able to get through it..but no promise of all As for me lol.

Ya hahahaha this goes to show i dunno whats going on in sec sch syllabus.....I leave everything to my girls to ownself manage ownself. I have been relegated to the role of cook/washer/cleaner/the finance minister at home muackhahaha

[MrsKiasu]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2061274\" time=\"1646988666\" user_id=\"2358:

Ya hahahaha this goes to show i dunno whats going on in sec sch syllabus.....I leave everything to my girls to ownself manage ownself. I have been relegated to the role of cook/washer/cleaner/the finance minister at home muackhahaha

I wanted to try the Math with my Sec 3..then I realised I need to go all the way back to basic..forget abt it la..too stressful to me.

Math for Pri anytime can try to answer but not Sec.