All About GEP

[Twinkiestars]

magically\" post_id=\"2118981\" time=\"1694577344\" user_id=\"197072:

Here's a recap of the activities my child went through last year:

June:
Completed the most recent three years of PSLE booklets, mostly assigned as school holiday work.
Worked on the 2021 SA2 top school paper.
Engaged in extensive oral practice.

July:
Focused on creating a DSA portfolio and prepared for interviews.
Continued with ongoing school projects.
Participated in a competition.
Prepared for the NUSH math module test.
School teachers continued to cover the syllabus, and went through of the last three years of PSLE booklets which was done in June holiday.

August:
In Science, students were encouraged by their teacher to complete a 10-year PSLE booklet (though not compulsory, many followed suit). Extra lessons were provided to support the students.
In Math, I have forgotten how many years teacher had covered, but my child worked through a 10-year PSLE booklet and the 2019-2021 SA2 top school paper.
English received relatively less attention due to its perceived ease compared to GEP English. Nevertheless, my child dedicated a term (Q1) to a compo class to refine her writing skills. Few top school papers were completed, with a focus on the 2021 SA2 S&T. Specific in-school activities during this period remain unclear.
In Chinese, we have completed several sets of top school papers assigned by the teacher. Self-covered an additional two years of top school papers (2020-2021). Put considerable effort into memorizing exemplary compositions (好词好句好段).

September:
Completed the 2022 Prelim papers for Math and Science, English S&T, and Chinese MCQ.
Reviewed and corrected mistakes made in the PSLE booklets and top school papers.
School activities primarily consisted of consultation sessions, where students approached teachers with their questions and concerns.

Hi Magically, thanks so much for the detailed recap, it gives a good idea of what to expect. It sounds really intense from Jun on and I salute all P6 parents and kids (and teachers). Are the PSLE revision booklets from school or are parents expected to get them (are they sold in popular?). Am a bit worried to hear they are still doing projects in July - what are some of these projects?

[magically]

skii\" post_id=\"2118997\" time=\"1694597208\" user_id=\"82603:

Thank you for the very detailed summary.


Like other concerned parents, our kids are always busy with RRJ, brochures, IRS and etc - instead of more cloze and S&T.
Not sure which will make the kids happier in the longer run.


Don’t mind me asking the golden question.
(There are sure to be topper who go on to RI / NUSH and etc... )

What’s your kid’s class average performer doing?
How about the students at the lower end of the spectrum?

There’s always this common here say that Geppers seldom don’t score more than AL10. (Or lesser than 250 T score.)
Is this statement quite accurate in your opinion?

Thanks.

P5 proved to be an incredibly hectic year. In addition to various project commitments, it was also the time to construct a DSA portfolio by participating in numerous competitions.

We shared the same concerns as your \"golden question\" from the previous year. After consulting with our senior parents, we received reassurance that the majority of students would achieve AL4, with only a few reaching AL5-6. As it turned out, this was indeed the case for my child's class last year, and I personally didn't come across anyone who scored higher than AL6.

[skii]

magically\" post_id=\"2119040\" time=\"1694666557\" user_id=\"197072:

P5 proved to be an incredibly hectic year. In addition to various project commitments, it was also the time to construct a DSA portfolio by participating in numerous competitions.

We shared the same concerns as your \"golden question\" from the previous year. After consulting with our senior parents, we received reassurance that the majority of students would achieve AL4, with only a few reaching AL5-6. As it turned out, this was indeed the case for my child's class last year, and I personally didn't come across anyone who scored higher than AL6.

I will be happy with 2-2-2-2

and thanks again for your insights.

[magically]

Twinkiestars\" post_id=\"2118999\" time=\"1694599324\" user_id=\"97569:

Hi Magically, thanks so much for the detailed recap, it gives a good idea of what to expect. It sounds really intense from Jun on and I salute all P6 parents and kids (and teachers). Are the PSLE revision booklets from school or are parents expected to get them (are they sold in popular?). Am a bit worried to hear they are still doing projects in July - what are some of these projects?

I assume that most schools will assist in procuring the most recent three years of PSLE booklets. If not, you should have no trouble finding them at Popular in January 2024. However, for the other years, you may need to seek them out yourself or ask your child to approach his teacher for additional years.

Regarding school projects in July, I believe they may have included ungraded tasks such as Social Studies, but I can't say for certain because I typically didn't pay much attention to those ungraded aspects

[mburg777]

Thank you Magically for the valuable sharing, the information really does ease our worries regarding the PSLE.

[revils_ling]

AHsDad\" post_id=\"2117117\" time=\"1692701287\" user_id=\"172457:

My second daughter is in P5 and in a GEP school in the east with a cohort of 19 students. She asked each and everyone of them last year and none took a GEP preparatory course. (Yes, she actually surveyed each and everyone)

Is it an Easterner thing? or some Gep schools more atas and competitive?

Just to set the context clear, both my girls never had tuition or academic enrichment. But have plenty of sports, music, dance and art classes. Yes I do identify as kiasu because I loaded them with hundreds of P6 prelims and psle papers since P3 and go thru with them myself. FYI, all of us suck at MO.

I am not against any enrichment or tuition at all. Just saying GEP preparatory courses are bullshit.

😂 flame away… 🔥

Just to share as well... my only child is also in P5 GEP this year, but he's in the other GEP school in the East 😉 and his cohort has 53 kids (2 classes). He also hasn't attended any tuition or academic enrichment in his life and still doesn't at all, except for a few days of short-term course at Think Academy for NMOS prep in June this year. And this he attended because he wanted to, because Maths is his 1st love, not because he was forced to. He's only strength in life is Maths, and for others areas he just gets by. We don't believe in drowning our kid in tuition, especially since he's a very self-directed learner. But I do believe that tuition can help kids who ate struggling with school work, but the teacher or teaching style has to be fitting for the individual student in need. One size doesn't fit all, and if there's trial classes available, good to let the child try it out first. I hope parents can try not to simply \"go with the flow\" and sign their kids up for everything just because their neighbours/colleagues/relatives are doing so. Bottom line is for us as parents to do what's truly best for our kids. Something that worked for another child might not work well for ours. ️😊

[revils_ling]

jialinmum\" post_id=\"2117279\" time=\"1692838399\" user_id=\"202564:

Yes I agree. Have not heard of more than 3-4 classes being integrated. It will be a logistics nightmare.
FYI, the integrated classes are only together for the non-academic subjects like CCE, PE, etc
GEP kids re-assemble for English, Math, Science AND Chinese.

JTS, in my child's GEP school, the 53 of them were spread actoss 10 mixed-form classes in P4 (last year), and this year in P5, the 53 of them has been split into 4 mixed-form classes together with the mainstream kids (about 50 of them) who are in the bicultural enrichment program in school, and all of them will also have their Higher Mother tongue lessons together on top of their Art, Music and PE lessons.

[revils_ling]

Twinkiestars\" post_id=\"2118960\" time=\"1694514599\" user_id=\"97569:

Any P6 GEP / ex-GEP parent able to share on how the kids are coping and prepared by school for PSLE thus far? When do the teachers start getting the kids to do more PSLE related assessments to get used to exam format and syllabus? Curious and concerned parent of a P5 GEP student here. DS has had quite a fair bit of non-conventional WAs this year and the Grades fluctuate greatly so am finding it hard to gauge if he’s ok or will be in trouble next year.

I have to agree with you on your concerns for PSLE and the fluctuating grades in P5 😅 it's the same for my P5 child. We are only certain of his Maths and CL/HCL standards, other subjects are sort of in the wind. But what I heard previously from an ex-GEP parents was that the school will usually let the P6 students start doing past year papers in April of their P6 year. I should think it will be similar for our cohort when the time comes.

[Twinkiestars]

Anyone knows if the GEP kiddos will still need to stay back to do HEP in P6?

[wwjd.040411idkwhatiamdoing]

revils_ling\" post_id=\"2119186\" time=\"1694935633\" user_id=\"136480:

I have to agree with you on your concerns for PSLE and the fluctuating grades in P5 😅 it's the same for my P5 child. We are only certain of his Maths and CL/HCL standards, other subjects are sort of in the wind. But what I heard previously from an ex-GEP parents was that the school will usually let the P6 students start doing past year papers in April of their P6 year. I should think it will be similar for our cohort when the time comes.

2023 P6 GEP parent here.

Real PSLE style past year papers only started in Term 3. Some teachers gave it as June hols homework (not consistent across schools/classes/subjects). Depending on teacher, we are facing issue of a lot of work done but not marked and no feedback/answer sheets given. PSLE is next week, and we only have 3 school days left.

In term 3 they still have other projects for SS and science which took up a lot of time. On top of DSA trials/selections/interviews (not factoring time to prep for these yet).

Don't wait for the school and don't depend on the school if you are hoping for good PSLE results.