Is Algebra allowed for PSLE Math?

[zac's mum]

Schootopia\" post_id=\"2104513\" time=\"1680855476\" user_id=\"143961:

Sec 2 Maths textbook. FYI.


https://ibb.co/n8J6Sfm

Thx for sharing. Am I right to presume that if a Sec 2 student uses the primary school “diagram” method in his Sec 2 school exam, he will be given 0 marks, rationale being that the school wants/needs to assess whether the kids have learnt the Sec 2 method of solving the same problem?

[phtthp]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2104514\" time=\"1680856109\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2104514 time=1680856109 user_id=53606]
Thx for sharing. Am I right to presume that if a Sec 2 student uses the primary school “diagram” method in his Sec 2 school exam, he will be given 0 marks, rationale being that the school wants/needs to assess whether the kids have learnt the Sec 2 method of solving the same problem?[/quote]

In Sec 2,
No more using primary school Algebra method.

Yes, will get zero mark, in Weighted Assessments, if still use primary school method.

Why ?

Because

ALREADY in SECONDARY school ! Follow the method taught by your class Secondary school teacher !

[lee_yl]

So is it common knowledge among the majority of the PSLE parents that one either scores FULL marks or ZERO mark if one chooses to use algebra?

[Zeal mummy]

If they teach you tennis and you use a badminton racket, should you be given points for scoring? I think it’s the same logic, please use the method that is being taught.

[lee_yl]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2104528\" time=\"1680864993\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2104528 time=1680864993 user_id=58173]
If they teach you tennis and you use a badminton racket, should you be given points for scoring? I think it’s the same logic, please use the method that is being taught.[/quote]

But for the tennis competition, organizer said one is allowed to use badminton racket wor. 😂

[Zeal mummy]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2104529\" time=\"1680865236\" user_id=\"17023:

But for the tennis competition, organizer said one is allowed to use badminton racket wor. 😂

No.. you’re allowed to use different brands of tennis rackets. You cannot score with a badminton racket.

[phtthp]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2104527\" time=\"1680864987\" user_id=\"17023:

So is it common knowledge among the majority of the PSLE parents that one either scores FULL marks or ZERO mark if one chooses to use algebra?

What kind of Algebra, are u refering to ?

If you use

1) the PRIMARY school Algebra method \"Units and parts\" method,

And

show your steps clearly, step by step logically,
SEAB will still award u some marks, even if u made mistake, cannot get the final answer correct.

\"Units and Parts\" method, after all, still fall under Upper primary school Maths Moe syllabus.


2) But,
if use the Lower SECONDARY school Algebra method,

if u did not get the final answer correct,
this part not too clear, how SEAB marked. Because all these while, SEAB has been quiet about this.

So,
GEP students who have been taught in advance some of the Lower Secondary school Algebra concepts, inside their GEP curriculum, have to the careful.


But, take note.
NOT every year, PSLE is going to set questions on Algebra.


Example
=======

In that year 2019 PSLE Maths paper, there wasn't any question set on Algebra, inside Section C.
Those qns, that carry heavily 5 marks.
Instead,
what came out were more on \"visualisation\" questions.
Eg.
That question, about semi-circle.
Either u can visualize it or u cannot, under tight exam condition.

So,
DON'T be so up-tight, thinking that every year, bound to have some question set on Algebra, in Section C. Every year, the PSLE Maths questions come out, differed. In some past year, the entire PSLE Maths paper set, was so simple.

[lee_yl]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2104534\" time=\"1680871516\" user_id=\"35251:

What kind of Algebra, are u refering to ?

If you use

1) the PRIMARY school Algebra method \"Units and parts\" method,

And

show your steps clearly, step by step logically,
SEAB will still award u some marks, even if u made mistake, cannot get the final answer correct.

\"Units and Parts\" method, after all, still fall under Upper primary school Maths Moe syllabus.


2) But,
if use the Lower SECONDARY school Algebra method,

if u did not get the final answer correct,
this part not too clear, how SEAB marked. Because all these while, SEAB has been quiet about this.

So,
GEP students who have been taught in advance some of the Lower Secondary school Algebra concepts, inside their GEP curriculum, have to the careful.


But, take note.
NOT every year, PSLE is going to set questions on Algebra.


Example
=======

In that year 2019 PSLE Maths paper, there wasn't any question set on Algebra, inside Section B.
Those qns, that carry heavy 5 marks.
Instead,
what came out were more on \"visualisation\" questions.
Eg.
That question, about semi-circle.

So,
DON'T be so up-tight, thinking that every year, bound to have some question set on Algebra, in Section C. Every year, the PSLE Maths questions come out, differed. In some past year, the entire PSLE Maths paper set, was so simple.

Fundamental question: do PSLE parents know that the marking rubric for using Algebra is either full marks or zero mark?

[tinker_bell]

I see https://www.gifted-school.com/ selling books teaching the IB and IGCSE O level secondary math syllabus to P5 & P6 kids to help them get AL1 in the psle.


So secondary school algebra method confirmed is accepted in the psle.

In fact you need to use secondary school algebra method to guarantee an AL1 in psle. Or else why would gifted and talented education centre sell such books.

https://i.imgur.com/ypEMzlF.png\">

https://i.imgur.com/JH9vc5t.png\">

[kaisuism]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2104351\" time=\"1680760600\" user_id=\"194652:

Ya, some parents in one of the parents chatgroup claimed that the entire group of 11 nan hua students used secondary school algebra for their psle mathematics paper, so that is why all did so badly.

\"https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/talk/story20221201-1339038\"

I found it very odd that SEAB immediately identified the algebra issue as something they have to address, when the zaobao forum letter from the nan hua students parents made no mention of methods used in the exam or even algebra techniques specifically.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/psle-maths-algebra-full-credit-nan-hua-primary-forum-letter-seab-3131246

SEAB knows something that we don't?

Could be. Since the parents mentioned their children are \"very good\" in math, which means most likely they use algebra as a technique to solve math problems. So SEAB mentioned it to alleviate the concerns of parents. The key sentence is \".....any solution which demonstrates the correct understanding and application of mathematical concepts and skills as requested by the question will be given full credit\" It could be the students did not show correct understanding and therefore did not receive any marks for it.