MOE says 15 marks of the Mathematics PSLE paper are challenging. So average students can only hope to score 85% max?

[00skyblue00]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2074710\" time=\"1657937228\" user_id=\"3:

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.

First hand experience here from last yr PSLE, my child and another boy our family is close with had never math tuition, never impressed that they must or not complete the papers. They are of different learning abilities, one is a stretch to expect more than average, from past school performance. Both solved the Ivan and Helen question and other last qn. I never ask more details either.
If the questions are marked as challenging on paper, this child may doubt himself and limit his possibilities.

We only made a point to tell them both, expect that there will be questions they have to read and read again, give a try and move on. No need to worry. We love them no lesser. Give them that assurance.
One scored AL1, the other surprised us with AL2, pleasantly surprised. This meant they got the easier questions wrong, could be careless, or that different type of qns are seem challenging to different kids. My dd usually solve the \"harder\" qns but get the directions qns wrong. Harder to child A may be easier to another child. Eg. Visual type qn may be harder for other kids.

Let our kids lead the way. Because their performance had not been inflated with tuition, I can safely say, their sec schools are good fit to their traits, abilities and possibilities too. PSLE has been accurate for our kids. Both are very happy with their current schools even though they were not the same choices that we started out earlier in the same PSLE year.

The boy scored 74 in P6 sa1 math, AL5. So have faith in our kids. This boy jumped grades by 4AL in total from P6 SA1 to PSLE. Sharing to inspire all P6s.

[manorway]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2074732\" time=\"1657940517\" user_id=\"3:

Hmm... sounds like it is a question of is the glass half full, or half empty Will marking the questions allow kids to know they should avoid doing them until they have done the rest of the questions, or will it give them fear so that they cannot do the questions at all?

Does it really matter if they cannot do the questions at all, if they have already successfully finished the rest of the other questions? I think not. It's a bonus if they can do the questions, but what they have already done is enough.

It's ok if the questions are not marked but placed at the end of the paper, so that students can naturally move from doing the easier questions to the hardest.

If you examine Math Paper 2, the first 5 questions of 2 marks each should be the easiest questions. Then followed by some 3 marks and then a mix of 4 marks and 5 marks questions. I have kids who are high abilities who may occasionally struggle with a 3 marks question but can solve a 4 marks or 5 marks question with ease. Though most of the time, we should expect the 3 marks question to be easier. Why is this so? It can be because the 3 marks question belongs to a certain type of question that he struggles with. So if we start to separate the questions into Paper 1, Paper 2 and then a Paper 3... and anything in Paper 3 is just extra challenging (or whatever you want to name them)... are we telling the kid that you should keep trying your 3 marks question until you can solve it BEFORE you even attempt the questions in paper 3?

For some average abilities, they may not even have the time to get to the last few questions that are very challenging. So the approach to take should be the get the low lying fruits first. Start from the first page of the paper and work your way to the last page. Skip a question that you find too challenging/confusing after reading the question or if you are always intimidated with one question type (eg. Triangles, Circles or patterns), skip and do the others first. Return to it when you have finished the paper.

It is an EXAM. Why do we place questions in the paper that are optional, do not carry marks? Then why include in the first place? Questions that are just BONUS should earn them bonus in exam. Otherwise give them as \"Just for fun\" worksheets before or after exam. The challenging questions that made up 15% can be seen as bonus questions too. If you cannot do them at all, tell yourself that you can already achieved 85% and that should be good enough.

[manorway]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2074733\" time=\"1657940547\" user_id=\"143605:

First hand experience here from last yr PSLE, my child and another boy our family is close with had never math tuition, never impressed that they must or not complete the papers. They are of different learning abilities, one is a stretch to expect more than average, from past school performance. Both solved the Ivan and Helen question and other last qn. I never ask more details either.
If the questions are marked as challenging on paper, this child may doubt himself and limit his possibilities.

We only made a point to tell them both, expect that there will be questions they have to read and read again, give a try and move on. No need to worry. We love them no lesser. Give them that assurance.
One scored AL1, the other surprised us with AL2, pleasantly surprised. This meant they got the easier questions wrong, could be careless, or that different type of qns are seem challenging to different kids. My dd usually solve the \"harder\" qns but get the directions qns wrong. Harder to child A may be easier to another child. Eg. Visual type qn may be harder for other kids.

Let our kids lead the way. Because their performance had not been inflated with tuition, I can safely say, their sec schools are good fit to their traits, abilities and possibilities too. PSLE has been accurate for our kids. Both are very happy with their current schools even though they were not the same choices that we started out earlier in the same PSLE year.

The boy scored 74 in P6 sa1 math, AL5. So have faith in our kids. This boy jumped grades by 4AL in total from P6 SA1 to PSLE. Sharing to inspire all P6s.

Thanks for sharing. I agree wholeheartedly. Some kids froze and told me they could not do a question because it has an asterisk next to it even before reading it properly and it takes so much effort to undo that mindset. Some kids are excited by the Label \"Challenging Questions\" and will find in them the will to persevere until they have solved them.

[manorway]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2074733\" time=\"1657940547\" user_id=\"143605:

First hand experience here from last yr PSLE, my child and another boy our family is close with had never math tuition, never impressed that they must or not complete the papers. They are of different learning abilities, one is a stretch to expect more than average, from past school performance. Both solved the Ivan and Helen question and other last qn. I never ask more details either.
If the questions are marked as challenging on paper, this child may doubt himself and limit his possibilities.

We only made a point to tell them both, expect that there will be questions they have to read and read again, give a try and move on. No need to worry. We love them no lesser. Give them that assurance.
One scored AL1, the other surprised us with AL2, pleasantly surprised. This meant they got the easier questions wrong, could be careless, or that different type of qns are seem challenging to different kids. My dd usually solve the \"harder\" qns but get the directions qns wrong. Harder to child A may be easier to another child. Eg. Visual type qn may be harder for other kids.

Let our kids lead the way. Because their performance had not been inflated with tuition, I can safely say, their sec schools are good fit to their traits, abilities and possibilities too. PSLE has been accurate for our kids. Both are very happy with their current schools even though they were not the same choices that we started out earlier in the same PSLE year.

The boy scored 74 in P6 sa1 math, AL5. So have faith in our kids. This boy jumped grades by 4AL in total from P6 SA1 to PSLE. Sharing to inspire all P6s.

Thanks for sharing. I agree wholeheartedly. Some kids froze and told me they could not do a question because it has an asterisk next to it even before reading it properly and it takes so much effort to undo that mindset. Some kids are excited by the Label \"Challenging Questions\" and will find in them the will to persevere until they have solved them.

[zac's mum]

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/moe-caps-challenging-questions-psle-15-keep-difficulty-level-consistent-some-parents-call-lower-cap-1945681

[MrsKiasu]

Those challenging qns will have about 2 or 3 parts? If the first part made easier then guess should be ok? Don’t know if 15% is at high side but 5% the feel is at the low side? Will end up with more balloting in Secondary sch placement or not? Then luck is more important then?

[manorway]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2074797\" time=\"1657969072\" user_id=\"43981:

Those challenging qns will have about 2 or 3 parts? If the first part made easier then guess should be ok? Don't know if 15% is at high side but 5% the feel is at the low side? Will end up with more balloting in Secondary sch placement or not? Then luck is more important then?

Even if they do not come with parts, children who attempt and can show one or two steps of working will still get method marks. So even though these questions make up 15% of total, it does not mean that the average will get zero out of the 15%. Just try after completing the easier questions.

[sembgal]

100 - 15 = 85 marks (AL2)

It’s still possible to achieve AL2 if the child cannot do 15 marks of challenging questions.

If the child deemed most of the questions tough, I would say that the child has a very weak Math foundation and should revise back his P3 to P5 Maths.

2021 Maths - Helen and Ivan question is not that challenging too. Wonder why the children cry.

https://mothership.sg/2021/10/psle-coin-question/

[sembgal]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2074593\" time=\"1657869390\" user_id=\"194652:

Been asking around in the parent chatgroups. General consensus is that since last year's PSLE mathematics paper was challenging, it means that this year's paper will be easier?

I think the 2019 Maths PSLE questions were more challenging as it was based on full Math syllabus and I counted the number of marks worth of challenging questions. They were worth more than 15 marks! Go do the paper, parents.

Due to COVID-19, PSLE 2020 and 2021 were based on reduced syllabus so the kids should count their lucky stars.

Brace yourself for 2022 PSLE. No news of reduced syllabus means your children had better work harder to improve.

[phtthp]

sembgal\" post_id=\"2074910\" time=\"1658043784\" user_id=\"5559:

I think the 2019 Maths PSLE questions were more challenging as it was based on full Math syllabus and I counted the number of marks worth of challenging questions. They were worth more than 15 marks! Go do the paper, parents.

Due to COVID-19, PSLE 2020 and 2021 were based on reduced syllabus so the kids should count their lucky stars.

Brace yourself for 2022 PSLE. No news of reduced syllabus means your children had better work harder to improve.

fully agree.

Last 2 years' PSLE Maths (2020 & 2021), SEAB gave chance, because of lockdown. Kids born in year (2008, 2009) are lucky. This year, brace up for a challenging PSLE Maths