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

[tinker_bell]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2074979\" time=\"1658104701\" user_id=\"28674:

If the Maths paper is set intentionally so that only the more able students can get AL1, then perhaps parents need to give up the idea that any student who works hard enough can get AL1. Some kids just can't, and to set a clearly unattainable goal would be really hard on them.

So MOE is trying to tell parents of average kids to moderate their hopes and only expect a a max of AL3?

[sharonkhoo]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2074982\" time=\"1658106394\" user_id=\"194652:

Oh I think I got confused by the AL system. AL3 is from 85% to 89%. AL2 is from 80% to 84%.

Still, having 15 marks reserved for challenging and tough questions, means the max an average student can score is 85%, just lose 1 more mark and it's an AL3.

I think you have AL 2 and AL3 reversed?

It's not as clear-cut as \"average students can't do the challenging questions\" or \"average students can only score 85 marks\" - there are so many individual differences. Some kids can have a brainwave under pressure and do more than expected; some bright kids can have a \"blank out\" at a crucial time even for quite simple questions; some \"average\" students might score a few of the 15 marks by managing to do parts of those questions. If students (and teachers and parents) just focus on doing their best and building up their mental resilience, they will achieve the best score they are capable of, whatever that is.

[tinker_bell]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2074985\" time=\"1658107164\" user_id=\"28674:

I think you have AL 2 and AL3 reversed?

It's not as clear-cut as \"average students can't do the challenging questions\" or \"average students can only score 85 marks\" - there are so many individual differences. Some kids can have a brainwave under pressure and do more than expected; some bright kids can have a \"blank out\" at a crucial time even for quite simple questions; some \"average\" students might score a few of the 15 marks by managing to do parts of those questions. If students (and teachers and parents) just focus on doing their best and building up their mental resilience, they will achieve the best score they are capable of, whatever that is.

🤣 ROFL. My bad! early morning blues.

I agree with your stand, and have explained it clearly.

Can't say the same for the press release from MOE though. They could have communicated their point across better.

[Mr.025413Clumsy]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2074986\" time=\"1658107760\" user_id=\"194652:

🤣 ROFL. My bad! early morning blues.

I agree with your stand, and have explained it clearly.

Can't say the same for the press release from MOE though. They could have communicated their point across better.

I agree. I (sorta) get what MOE was trying to articulate but I think it caused more confusion and anxiety than they had expected.

[zac's mum]

Hi tinkerbell, as u are the thread creator, could u please amend the thread title to indicate that 85% is AL2? Thank u. It’s to avoid confusing other parents.

[lee_yl]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2074979\" time=\"1658104701\" user_id=\"28674:

If the Maths paper is set intentionally so that only the more able students can get AL1, then perhaps parents need to give up the idea that any student who works hard enough can get AL1. Some kids just can't, and to set a clearly unattainable goal would be really hard on them.

That’s why earlier many parents already said that the change from tscore to AL banding will not help to reduce PSLE stress.

Friend’s daughter from MGS Pri took PSLE last year. The girl was expected to score an AL2 for Maths but her actual result was AL5. I think that’s every parent’s nightmare. Maybe if we deduct 15 points for the challenging questions plus some careless mistakes here and there, it’s around this score? I am not sure.

If my kids have trouble with maths, the first thing on my mind is tuition. Highly unlikely I will ask them to give up trying. Perhaps just before PSLE, if still cannot make it, I will give up and move on.

[zac's mum]

Assuming the child was at the lower boundary of AL2 (85 marks) and dropped to the highest end of AL5 (74 marks), that’s only an 11-mark difference. More than explainable if couldnt do the 15-marks worth of challenging qns.


I say that not to induce further stress on parents, but it illustrates an example of how a child average in Math (like my son) can swing from AL5 to AL2 and back, depending on the qns.

[skii]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2074983\" time=\"1658106527\" user_id=\"194652:

Looks like MOE is preparing parents for a challenging PSLE math exam this year. Luckily my kid only taking PSLE next year.

hmmmm
as long as the kid is diligent, this year or next year also same la.

[zac's mum]

I beg to differ that diligence and hard work alone will get good marks for Math nowadays.


SEAB is always gonna create some new, never seen before qns to challenge the brain. Hard work cannot overcome these qns.

[SG_KP1]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2075010\" time=\"1658113498\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2075010 time=1658113498 user_id=53606]
I beg to differ that diligence and hard work alone will get good marks for Math nowadays.

SEAB is always gonna create some new, never seen before qns to challenge the brain. Hard work cannot overcome these qns.[/quote]

I tend to agree. SEAB is not going to give them the Helen and Ivan question repackaged as \"Mary and Bob.\"

Some of these questions the computations are not hard but you need to recognize what is going on and then apply the underlying math skills. Generally, I would say if you don't see it in the first minute or two just move on and try to secure the rest of the points that are reasonable for you.

More often than not, I think the extreme swings in performance come from exam pressure and failing to manage one's emotions rather than loads and loads of difficult questions. Kids need to avoid having one or two hard questions torpedo their whole paper. But easier said than done, especially for a 12 year old.