2023 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2011)
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Mr.Clumsy\" post_id=\"2096280\" time=\"1675069722\" user_id=\"135989:
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-assumptions-behind-psle-science-question-are-contentious by science teacher Chee Chin Young from https://funlearners.edu.sg/.
In the science paper of the Primary School Leaving Examination on Oct 4, there was a question about mosquito breeding on human waste.
The question has been debated extensively on social media. It asked why the mosquito was attracted to lay eggs on human waste. The subsequent question asked why the mosquito was attracted by the smell.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. After doing some research,
I have not found any evidence of mosquitoes breeding on human faeces.
In fact, there is some evidence suggesting the contrary.
In a study conducted on mosquito larval habitats in the African country of Benin in 2022, there was a significant negative correlation between larval productivity and faecal coliform concentration (degree of faecal contamination of water).
As an educator myself, I appreciate the approach taken by the education system in testing pupils on real-world applications of scientific concepts.
Due to real-world complexity, it is understandable that the assumptions behind some questions may be contentious.
A clarification of the question from the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board would go a long way towards allaying anxiety felt by pupils and parents.
Chee Chin Young -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2096096\" time=\"1674875889\" user_id=\"188234:
This is very well said . Psle is done and dusted for me and looking back , I would have prob changed my advice to my kid not to expect to be able to handle ALL the questions . For the 1-2 super difficult ones , aim to get that M1 mark (which is quite easy) .
Just commenting on some of the various PSLE Math related questions/threads here. I feel one thing that is being overlooked is WHY a student (any student / no student in particular) did not perform as hoped (or to some, get AL1 in Math). For some reason, it seems like everyone is gravitating towards the questions are so hard or the training was not enough.
In reality, there are many reasons why a student (even a highly capable one) can stumble on any subject test (EOY, Prelim, PSLE, etc). Lack of sleep the night before, extra pressure (want to use the subject results for DSA, feel like one of the earlier other subject tests did not go well so now pressing to makeup points, etc), lost one's nerve in the middle of the exam, etc.
For better or worse, the number of full school based exams before PSLE is dwindling. In the name of efficiency and scare resources (time being one of them), I feel like it is all the more important for the parent to have an understanding of what the child is capable of, including a range of sensible outcomes. I.e. if one of the exams did not go as hoped, try to understand whether it was a bad day, any number of the things mentioned above, or an understanding gap. For some of these, the solution is something other than more practice/training.
I've found that some kids \"expect\" (with near certainty) to get AL1 in Math and the minute something goes wrong the extra anxiety kicks in and this likely impacts how the student performs on the rest of the paper. For example, if any entire strategy is predicated on securing AL1 for Math, the student is likely going to start feeling the heat if there is one or two problems he/she can't do.
For those that are targeting AL1 in Math, I'm not saying don't get extra help or training. But observing from afar, at times it just feels like there is an obsession with this subject, maybe because it is possible to get 100 on the paper (and/or I would guess that this subject has the most AL1s across the cohort).
Just remember that there's no benefit from anything beyond 90 now (90 = AL1, 100 = AL1). Spending a lot of time to go from 80-85 to being able to answer every question imaginable may not be the best use of time. Picking up a total of 15-20 points across different subjects a) may be easier (deal with the low hanging fruit first) and b) could move the Total PSLE AL Score in a more favourable way.
Best of luck to all giving it a go this year.
Focus should be the rest of the lower hanging fruits . If the kid can be mentally prepped to handle the math paper in that manner , an AL1-2 is well within reach .
I’ve seen kids who get so upset when they can’t handle 1-2 difficult questions that the rest of the paper is affected .
I find that there is generally over-emphasis on paper 2 . Paper 1 is often over-looked and therein lies the danger of careless mistakes made n not reading the questions carefully . N don’t forget that no calculator is allowed in paper 1 . For students who’re used to
a calculator , mental calculation under stressful exam conditions can be formidable .
Out of curiosity , I attempted the 2022 math paper 1 and boy was I shocked by the number of mistakes I’ve made in such a seemingly easy paper . So I think that explains why many kids got surprisingly low grades in last year’s math paper 🤣 -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"2096098\" time=\"1674877544\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2096098 time=1674877544 user_id=53606]
In last year’s psle Sci exam, my DD’s answer to mosquitoes and waste question is regarding the warmth, food etc for eggs. I told her it was wrong and she should think it more deep towards the direction of decomposition and carbo dioxide. It turned out that I am the one who think too “deep”.
FWIW, I had a look through the 2022 Math & Science PSLE papers (already available in print at Popular). What one parent said (can’t remember which thread in KSP) is true: last year’s Math Paper 2 wasnt terribly difficult. But it was Paper 1 that contained some differentiator qns. This may have thrown off some usually-AL1 kids. Or they may have not thought - as according to tradition - that Paper 1 qns would be tricky (and ended up tricked).
Similarly with the Science qn on the outdoor toilet & why mosquitoes were attracted to the waste container. It was tough - in the sense that no further info was provided in the qn. The concept tested was not from an expected topic that most P6 kids are drilled on. I believe it was a P3 lower-block concept that living things need Warmth, Oxygen, Water to survive.
After having taken a look, I am satisfied that my child’s PSLE results indeed matched his ability to answer the 2022 papers.
By all means, find some tuition centres that drill on the differentiator qns. But just be aware that SEAB is always one step ahead of any drilling method. Their papers have no established reliable trend as they always have some new tricks to pick out the true AL1s.[/quote]
Since chatGPT is so hot recently, I tested it on this question. It gave me the same “popular” answer as what I told her. So even the most advanced AI engine could not pass our psle exam
https://postimg.cc/jLrvcg1X -
Ya! Even chatGPT can't solve the https://www.facebook.com/nicklebeetutors/posts/pfbid0eM3epcr9idxMEk8sVcbarFac61Eh7ZrvtoL3My9Hma1r1mzBwWk1NDFzq5EPrR7Fl?__tn__=-R from psle 2021 mathematics
![](\"https://i.imgur.com/q7fk9gc.png\")
https://i.imgur.com/q7fk9gc.png\">
![](\"https://i.imgur.com/5Wk4Nta.png\")
ji_linda\" post_id=\"2096920\" time=\"1675823561\" user_id=\"117794:
In last year’s psle Sci exam, my DD’s answer to mosquitoes and waste question is regarding the warmth, food etc for eggs. I told her it was wrong and she should think it more deep towards the direction of decomposition and carbo dioxide. It turned out that I am the one who think too “deep”.
Since chatGPT is so hot recently, I tested it on this question. It gave me the same “popular” answer as what I told her. So even the most advanced AI engine could not pass our psle exam
https://postimg.cc/jLrvcg1X -
ChatGPT is a language/information model. It is not a language/analytical model. It is an expert in only a sub domain. Can’t solve PSLE math question? Cannot look at ChatGPT with too much awe lah.
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Just curious, what are schools doing for P6 Assessment this year now that "SA1" (or mid-year) has been eliminated?
One of my kid’s school seems to be going with just non-weighted FAs in Term 1 and Term 2. I.e. no WAs or CAs that will make up a "grade/mark" in the report book for T1, T2, and Semester 1.
For DSA purposes, I guess this also means one’s academic record is what it is as of closing the books for P5 SA2. Maybe there will be teacher comments, conduct, awards, etc to download but doesn’t seem like any other "AL Score" is going in (subject or total). Of course, there are still the domain specific things to do / compete in during the first half of the year.
Anyways, wish everyone much luck for the year ahead. -
Hi Parents, Tutors & Students! I would like to share something I've been working on. A free online practice platform for Primary & Secondary students. I'm releasing content as I complete them but there's already content for term 1 for maths for every level. For P6 I've made more content available. Registration is free, so is the content, there's nothing that requires any payment. Do give it a try and I'm happy to receive any feedback!
You can try it out at: https://exams.gg
https://exams.gg -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2096998\" time=\"1675907468\" user_id=\"188234:
My son’s school also like that…..
Just curious, what are schools doing for P6 Assessment this year now that \"SA1\" (or mid-year) has been eliminated?
One of my kid's school seems to be going with just non-weighted FAs in Term 1 and Term 2. I.e. no WAs or CAs that will make up a \"grade/mark\" in the report book for T1, T2, and Semester 1.
For DSA purposes, I guess this also means one's academic record is what it is as of closing the books for P5 SA2. Maybe there will be teacher comments, conduct, awards, etc to download but doesn't seem like any other \"AL Score\" is going in (subject or total). Of course, there are still the domain specific things to do / compete in during the first half of the year.
Anyways, wish everyone much luck for the year ahead. -
This is for parents with children born in 2011 and after 2011.
If your child has intention to go JC in future, please ensure your child passes PSLE and get offered G3 subjects.
https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=67330&p=2099336#p2099336
https://postimg.cc/XXK2wsCQ -
Scholars worked through day and nights to think of ways to change the education policies .
After much discussion and research, they finally changed!
What changed? The names… hahah…
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