2022 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (born in 2010)

[zac's mum]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074921\" time=\"1658046037\" user_id=\"188234:

Treat yourself to a new phone (or is this like Google Photos?)! Give the old clunker to Zac for Sec 1

Haha it’s cos my photos are stored in iCloud storage. The physical phone has changed since then.

But I was quite surprised how long ago the announcement was. Our kids were only 6 years old then and I was stressed abt P1 registration that exact month. Back then it was probably the 2016 Primary 1 parents who were cursing that they were the AL guinea pig batch.

[cocacoco]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074920\" time=\"1658045577\" user_id=\"188234:

MOE has fixed automatic qualify for HMT and Third Lang at AL8. Previously, these two floated at Top 10%, so I would conclude AL8 is around Top 10% (+/-).

I think AL20 / 200 is more like Top 66% (% qualifying for Express), Top 50% around AL16 (Median subject score of 75 = AL4 x 4 = AL16).

Not sure on the gradient between these levels...

There was a top 30% as criteria for taking HCL? Can't remember exactly.

AL8, 252, top 10%
AL9-10, 250,
AL11, 240, top 20%
AL12-13, 235, top 25%
AL13-14, 230, top 30%
AL16, 220, top 50%
AL20, 200, top 66%

Just guessing lol

[cocacoco]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074920\" time=\"1658045577\" user_id=\"188234:

MOE has fixed automatic qualify for HMT and Third Lang at AL8. Previously, these two floated at Top 10%, so I would conclude AL8 is around Top 10% (+/-).

I think AL20 / 200 is more like Top 66% (% qualifying for Express), Top 50% around AL16 (Median subject score of 75 = AL4 x 4 = AL16).

Not sure on the gradient between these levels...

If top 10% to qualify for HCL is AL8, but cop of RV was AL9, hmmm

[sembgal]

RV had a murder/manslaughter case in the toilet on 19 July 2021. I was not surprised that the cutoff points increased by 1 point. You think and will know why.


'We don't focus on grades': Parents on what has changed in their approach to kids over the past year
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/we-dont-focus-on-grades-parents-on-what-has-changed-in-the-past-year

A year after alleged murder in school, RVHS community has moved forward: MOE
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/a-year-after-alleged-murder-in-school-rvhs-community-has-moved-forward-moe

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/year-after-alleged-murder-river-valley-high-student-school-counsellors-support-2815191

[SG_KP1]

cocacoco\" post_id=\"2074924\" time=\"1658046456\" user_id=\"194809:

There was a top 30% as criteria for taking HCL? Can't remember exactly.

You are correct. Under the old system it was Top 30% and [I think] A* for MT or Distinction/Merit for HMT. Now, it is AL14 and AL1-AL2 for MT or Distinction for HMT.

So Top 30% / AL14 is another rough data point.

cocacoco\" post_id=\"2074926\" time=\"1658046759\" user_id=\"194809:

If top 10% to qualify for HCL is AL8, but cop of RV was AL9, hmmm

IP was never fixed strictly at the Top 10%. Rather, the COPs were roughly about at that figure (obviously not everyone in the Top 10% elects to go IP either. ie MGS/SCGS non-affiliated O Level).

In t-score terms, the recent years Top 10% was 250-252 range (as seen by who was eligible for Third Lang). Some years a few IP schools had COP below the official Top 10% (think TJC was 250 when Third Lang was 252 one year).

In the AL Simulated COPs, TJC IP was AL9 and RVHS was AL9(D). Actual last year ended up at TJC = AL8 and RVHS = AL9(M).

So I think one or a couple/few schools could bounce around AL8 depending on the year and student choices. Regardless, each ALX will be associated with a different Top Y% each year. These are all just roughly speaking...

[SG_KP1]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2074923\" time=\"1658046356\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2074923 time=1658046356 user_id=53606]
.....
But I was quite surprised how long ago the announcement was. Our kids were only 6 years old then and I was stressed abt P1 registration that exact month. Back then it was probably the 2016 Primary 1 parents who were cursing that they were the AL guinea pig batch.[/quote]

Yes, it is amazing how time flies, and how little the kids were in the younger primary days (looking back at old photos).

If you think you may be bored next year or want to apply lessons learnt, process improvement, etc, you can always have another kid! The 2029 P1 Registration and 2035 PSLE are calling your name!

[zac's mum]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074930\" time=\"1658050011\" user_id=\"188234:

Yes, it is amazing how time flies, and how little the kids were in the younger primary days (looking back at old photos).

If you think you may be bored next year or want to apply lessons learnt, process improvement, etc, you can always have another kid! The 2029 P1 Registration and 2035 PSLE are calling your name!

Lol please no, the age gap would be too difficult to handle. Have considered fostering on and off though, as I prefer age>5, for easier communication.

Still no idea what plans I have for 2023. Let’s get thru the next few months first

[Mr.025413Clumsy]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074898\" time=\"1658041286\" user_id=\"188234:

Yes, that is correct. MOE has stated several times that the AL scores awarded are strictly based on raw marks.

The distribution of scores likely isn't normal (see my last comment), but is somewhat normal, and in every year there will most likely be a reasonably distribution of scores. But the number of students that score AL4, AL5, AL6, etc is not fixed and can go up or down based on cohort performance/paper difficulty.

Thanks for the clarification.

I guess even without a bell curve, nothing really changes for the students since everyone is on a level playing field. I always figured that a bell curve was more for schools to say that they had a specific percentage of students who had scored well (e.g. 90%+) and fared badly (e.g. below 50%) but realistically, if every student is marked and scored the same way, the outcome will be the same. This is not to say that a bell curve does not benefit students but only from a score perspective and not for admission to schools (again, since everyone is scored similarly).

Assuming my understanding above is correct, then I'm puzzled how MOE can say off the bat that admission to Express stream requires an AL score range of 4-20. This may not hold true if the PSLE is especially difficult where the best scores nationwide may be 7-8 (don't panic - it's an example only) which means that the range for entry into the Express stream should now be 6-22 (again, an example). The fact that MOE can confidently say that the highest AL score for entry into the Express stream is 20 implies that there's some algorithm which they've used to ensure that XX% of students get into Express and this may only be possible if there's some bell curve action going on (?)

Admittedly, I have little (or no) experience with AL scoring and MOE thinking so please take my comments with a bucket of salt. Just thinking aloud and wondering whether there really is no bell curve as claimed.

[mystique_j]

I think MOE is saying every year the standard is about the same.. just like the math paper having 15% challenging qns.. how true is this, I’m not sure. So for them, the students results doesn’t differ much from year to year.

Usually I hear parents saying, one year tough, one year easy.

If there’s no bell curve, by right, MOE should set more or less the same standard every year under the new AL scoring, no?
🤷🏻‍️

[floppy]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2074911\" time=\"1658044144\" user_id=\"188234:

No problem. Another rough data point/check is:

SNGS had affiliate t-score of 230, new AMR is AL14
MGS/SCGS had affiliate t-score of 220, new AMR is AL17
Various CHIJ had affiliate t-score of 200, new AMR is AL20

Not saying there is a direction translation between the two scoring systems (there isn't). But if you take the schools'/MOE's perspective of setting the bar roughly equivalent so that a similar number of students qualify (or hit a similar standard) the figures above can give some insight or sanity check.

Point to note.

It’s not wise and neither is it correct to co-relate affiliate t-score and affiliate AL score. The affiliate scores are determined by the school’s management and not by any fixed formula. Thus, a school who’s COP is t-score 220 may (and can) choose AL score 15, 16, or 18 as it’s COP as long as it deems fit.