MOE says 15 marks of the Mathematics PSLE paper are challenging. So average students can only hope to score 85% max?
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Us parents are probably still stuck in the 1980s when it was super easy to score 100 for Math (I dont recall any differentiator qns back then).
Let go of the expectation that Math is easy to score in, just becos it is less subjective than Science OEQ or the languages.
It is not possible to rote drill those differentiator qns. If it can be done, whole cohort will score AL1. -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"2074634\" time=\"1657878625\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2074634 time=1657878625 user_id=53606]
But hor… looking at the current PSLE math paper, I still think it’s not difficult to score 100% leh. The differentiator questions are, and have always been, there.
Us parents are probably still stuck in the 1980s when it was super easy to score 100 for Math (I dont recall any differentiator qns back then).
Let go of the expectation that Math is easy to score in, just becos it is less subjective than Science OEQ or the languages.
It is not possible to rote drill those differentiator qns. If it can be done, whole cohort will score AL1.[/quote]
The challenge, as always, is who can finish the paper first. -
floppy\" post_id=\"2074636\" time=\"1657879184\" user_id=\"97579:
Obviously there is a wide range of math abilities within the cohort. IMO, the differentiator questions are not that hard but they are not simple either. i.e. all of the \"difficult\" problems can be solved by Non-GEP/Math DSA/Olympiad podium type kiddos if things go well. But unfortunately things don't always go so well
But hor… looking at the current PSLE math paper, I still think it’s not difficult to score 100% leh. The differentiator questions are, and have always been, there.
.....
It's all whether you can see it and the light blub turns on under the stress/timing of exam (PSLE in particular) conditions.
Regardless, there's no need to be perfect under the current format. May even be able to leave one or two questions blank and still be tied with the Platinum Medal winners on this 1/4 of PSLE... -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074646\" time=\"1657881866\" user_id=\"188234:
Which is why this particular topic heading is misleading. You only need to score 91% to be graded as being on par with Albert Einstein in this exam.
…
Regardless, there's no need to be perfect under the current format. May even be able to leave one or two questions blank and still be tied with the Platinum Medal winners on this 1/4 of PSLE... -
floppy\" post_id=\"2074636\" time=\"1657879184\" user_id=\"97579:
Have u bought the 2019 PSLE math paper to try? (2020-2021 dont count as CLT were excluded)
But hor… looking at the current PSLE math paper, I still think it’s not difficult to score 100% leh. The differentiator questions are, and have always been, there.
The challenge, as always, is who can finish the paper first.
Objectively, my 12-year old self (though I scored 90+ consistently) would not have been able to do the current PSLE qns within the time limit. Our PSLE syllabus was probably what the kids do in P3/P4 now. -
Are we reading too much into the article? What is challenging for some may not be for others. By that same token, what is not challenging for some may still be quite challenging for others. Essentially, we’re trying to dissect something which is intangible and possibly jumping to unfair conclusions.
Telling the children that 15% of the paper is supposedly challenging is simply a distraction and may ultimately cause more confusion than calm. Let them do their very best, and hope that it materializes in a good grade irrespective of what MOE claims or others say. -
Technospaz\" post_id=\"2074671\" time=\"1657891004\" user_id=\"135989:
I think their main point is that from the exam setting perspective they believe the papers are basically the same year to year. Some questions have made it into the press/news and caused a bit of commotion. For better or worse, there seems to be a perception that the paper swings in difficulty every other year. It's possible that the end result is a self-fulfilling prophecy when some people have difficulties with a few problems in certain years; it must have been impossible this year!*
Are we reading too much into the article? What is challenging for some may not be for others. By that same token, what is not challenging for some may still be quite challenging for others. Essentially, we're trying to dissect something which is intangible and possibly jumping to unfair conclusions.
Telling the children that 15% of the paper is supposedly challenging is simply a distraction and may ultimately cause more confusion than calm. Let them do their very best, and hope that it materializes in a good grade irrespective of what MOE claims or others say.
In the end you are correct that every student just needs to try their best. I think most kids know that they won't be getting 100, and it shouldn't be a surprise if a question or two are difficult. Unfortunately, the stakes of the exam tend to amplify how one feels, and this can impact the rest of the paper for the child (this is the big thing kids need to try to avoid).
As a parallel, I don't think many kids expect to get full marks on Science Booklet B (OEQ) or EL Comprehension Cloze. At least not like clockwork. There will be some tough ones and some points will be lost, even for the AL1 kids. But for some reason, maybe because it is possible to max out the Math paper, \"difficult\" gets treated differently here. :?
*I do have empathy for those that find any particular paper difficult. Anything can be extremely challenging under these conditions. -
floppy\" post_id=\"2074648\" time=\"1657882204\" user_id=\"97579:
The new grading reduces a lot of stress for the high abilities who are hovering around AL1, 2 and 3. Esp for Math. We can afford some careless mistakes if we know we can do nearly all types of questions. If there is one type of question that stresses us out a lot, we know we can give it up and just focus on the rest since 91% or 99% are both AL1.
Which is why this particular topic heading is misleading. You only need to score 91% to be graded as being on par with Albert Einstein in this exam.
Then the time freed up can be used to work on the subjects that are currently at AL3. -
manorway\" post_id=\"2074683\" time=\"1657896899\" user_id=\"9303:
Somewhat of a different issue but the question then is whether the Total AL Score Distribution has stabilized yet? If not, scores could compress either lower or more within the current range.
The new grading reduces a lot of stress for the high abilities who are hovering around AL1, 2 and 3. Esp for Math. We can afford some careless mistakes if we know we can do nearly all types of questions. If there is one type of question that stresses us out a lot, we know we can give it up and just focus on the rest since 91% or 99% are both AL1.
Then the time freed up can be used to work on the subjects that are currently at AL3.
For this year, it really doesn't matter much. Just use last year's actuals and assume it holds. But watching for the future years... -
OK. It’s weird that MOE would put up an announcement on something like that. I think most parents are already expecting the math paper to be difficult to be able to rank students properly. For them to say it upfront right now, before the event, only heightens parents’ concerns, especially those who have kids doing PSLE for the first time.
Perhaps MOE can highlight those difficult questions, or place them in a separate section (Section "E" for Extra Hard!). That way, students can do all the rest of the paper first instead of trying those questions and getting stuck on them, stopping them from answering the easier questions. That way, it would be a fairer and more accurate assessment of competency.
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