Networking Group - JCs General

[sushi88]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2100268\" time=\"1678094473\" user_id=\"143605:

Just for the sake of better understanding, how can mid yr exam be a wakeup call in terms of performance? If for example, a student score 60 in mid year, it is supposed to be a below par performance? Or it is considered a good performance since it is only mid year, so expect by year end the student will score above 75 with completed curriculum?
So is this wake up call necessary? Or it is a reasonable measure at mid pt?
Qn is, should mid year be the full EOY format and length?

Scoring 60 for a mid year paper can have a few evaluation outcomes for some kids:
1. Can't finish the paper? Time management? Stamina?
2. Content concept issue? Establish the weaker topics and fix it?
3. Careless issues? This can certainly be eradicated because types of mistakes can be categorised for corrections to avoid them.
4. For some, it is also to set the right expectations on what to expect and not have unrealistic expectations for the actual exam? Knowing the estimated standard can help determine the next course of action in the education journey.

Actually there are many things that can be inferred from looking at an exam paper's outcome together with some past data as well. However, it is still a choice of the individual because kids are motivated differently.

[jedamum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2100268\" time=\"1678094473\" user_id=\"143605:

Just for the sake of better understanding, how can mid yr exam be a wakeup call in terms of performance? If for example, a student score 60 in mid year, it is supposed to be a below par performance? Or it is considered a good performance since it is only mid year, so expect by year end the student will score above 75 with completed curriculum?
So is this wake up call necessary? Or it is a reasonable measure at mid pt?
Qn is, should mid year be the full EOY format and length?

Numerical grades r pointless with no reference to how the peers are performing on same paper.
As a parent w kid who scored 60+ in mid yr in a particular subj in sec4/Y4, there was no stress until the teacher informed me that it was a poor grade n mentioned he might go below 60 in next test if nothing was done to address the poor study/writing techniques. Then with the teacher's systematic Jun revision plan, extra hw, remedial n monitoring by both teacher n parent, with no tuition, my kid got a low A1 grade by eoy.

[jedamum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2100264\" time=\"1678090844\" user_id=\"143605:

Thanks for sharing so much.
Previously, my questions were using sec level mid year exam as an example for discussion but they are also applicable to JC level too.

If the curriculum for one level is one full academic year, what are our expectations of mid year exam? Is mid yr exam half content but full exam length? Or the same format and length as EOY exam. If latter, is it even reasonable to expect students to do well, not alert alarm, when the curriculum has not been completed in class?

Regardless of duration of mid yr exam, the content tested in mid yr is typically up til the topics the teacher has covered (based on my experience). So a 60% grades probably means mastery of 60% of topics covered, 80% equates 80% mastery. Hope that clarifies.

[00skyblue00]

jedamum\" post_id=\"2100290\" time=\"1678105722\" user_id=\"159:

Numerical grades r pointless with no reference to how the peers are performing on same paper.
As a parent w kid who scored 60+ in mid yr in a particular subj in sec4/Y4, there was no stress until the teacher informed me that it was a poor grade n mentioned he might go below 60 in next test if nothing was done to address the poor study/writing techniques. Then with the teacher's systematic Jun revision plan, extra hw, remedial n monitoring by both teacher n parent, with no tuition, my kid got a low A1 grade by eoy.

Was this in recent years? Can PM which sch is this?

[00skyblue00]

Now schs don’t release such info on relative performance anymore. Kids are supposed to try to improve based on own results and targets.

[jedamum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2100294\" time=\"1678107387\" user_id=\"143605:

Was this in recent years? Can PM which sch is this?

Oh? Maybe IP sch n Olevel sch mid yr pp are structured differently? My experience is w IP sch. My apologies. I cannot visualise how a full mid yr paper that tested on topic not taught can be useful.

[jedamum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2100296\" time=\"1678107671\" user_id=\"143605:

Now schs don't release such info on relative performance anymore. Kids are supposed to try to improve based on own results and targets.

Yes, schs don't issue anymore. Until your kid really is at the bottom layer n u get called up for ptm, then can ask teacher where he stand. Otherwise, u can try to write in to ask, but depending on what kind of teachers u get, the feedback can be useful or useless.

[Kimkar]

jedamum\" post_id=\"2100299\" time=\"1678108338\" user_id=\"159:

Yes, schs don't issue anymore. Until your kid really is at the bottom layer n u get called up for ptm, then can ask teacher where he stand. Otherwise, u can try to write in to ask, but depending on what kind of teachers u get, the feedback can be useful or useless.

I am not sure of other JC (but not for sec sch i thk) but my elder DD's JC prepares slides for the whole cohort after every CT and after mid yr n EOY exam. It will indicate each class' mean RP, class ranking, no of students in each class attaining 3H2 & GP passes. At the same time, there are also other slides showing each subjects' performance in % by grades (A, B,...E, S, U). So the students are well informed of their standing after each CT or exam. This is actually very informative for the students to gauge their performance and do whatever is necessary to raise the rank.

[lee_yl]

At least 30% of J1 will get results like E, S, U, for mid-yr exam, especially for H2 Econs and Physics.

Meaning, it is time to wake up and work harder!!!

[phtthp]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2100252\" time=\"1678082301\" user_id=\"17023:

Does the majority of JC students or their parents wish to have mid-yr exam or not? From an earlier online article, seems like JC students prefer mid-yr exam to be kept.

Doing away with mid-yr will penalize students who are more playful. The shock will come later during promo exams. For those who are mature, motivated, ambitious and very hardworking, with or without mid-yr exams, they will still do well. My DD1 told me she was not the only one who got a wake up call after seeing her J1 mid-yr results, all her friends also started to be more focused after seeing their respective exam results. If not for mid-yr, DD1 would probably continue going out with her orientation group friends and classmates. On the other hand, doing away with J1 mid-yr exams may not be a bad thing, with more time on hand now, can go “paktor”, hopefully more couples (and fewer singles) to help increase birth rates next time.

Did MOE mention anything about J1 retention rate under the new system? Will doing away with mid-yr exam lead to more students being retained? :roll:
Or is that MOE’s strategy to filter off those more playful and less mature students vying for the limited places in local universities

If JC(2) students truly prefer receive an earlier wake up call at mid-year,
then

students at aged 18 years old should feedback directly to their class subject 3H2 Teachers, to arrange for one.

Which one, safer ?
To get an early wake up call in mid-year (May) at JC (2) level


OR

To get a frightening late wake up call only at Prelim (August), when u are just about to sit for the actual written A-level papers, very soon ?