2023 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2011)
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laughingcat\" post_id=\"2122422\" time=\"1699610813\" user_id=\"3309:
Thanks for sharing. :thankyou:
Year in Year out every year, parents will share about whether to do IP or just into O level.
At the end of the day, whatever the debates it all boils down to the parent's assessment on your own child. Don't compare. No need to compare whether who and who have more tuition in primary school. No need to debate who are bored in primary school will ultimately survive in IP environment.
IP program isn't for every kid. The rigour in IP is not the same as O level route - projects, presentation, writings and the academic contents are heavy. Some kids love it. Some kids don't really fancy it. Some kids strive in systematic study environment which is O level route. Some kids automatically rather independent and will navigate seamlessly. Some kids can balance between studies and outside curriculum. Some kids just cannot balance at all. Some kids strive in that environment. Some kids barely float and get demoralized. Some kids just sink.
Just last year, I need to help my son's ex-classmates out of his depressing mode and school is not helping to address this. He was a high achiever and had Edusave Merit Award in P1-P4 and Edusave Scholarship in P5-P6 and a holder of ESIS. His PSLE score almost the same as my son. Smart boy I must say. Everyone thought he can strive in IP (one of the top school) but everything just went downhill at the end of Y1 IP and then the struggles. Both my son and myself suspect his study method is all wrong. Decided to pull the plug, went on to register Poly using his Y4 result. Thank goodness he got into his choice course. At Poly, he strives. Not only strives but came in top in Semester 1 and now a happy boy.
So as parents, nothing is lost. Choose wisely with your kids. Don't compare. You know your kids, you put in your best analysis for your own kids.
Also choose a school that can address/help demoralized students. Some school know of such problem but simply not doing much.
I also know of one. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2122441\" time=\"1699623584\" user_id=\"175278:
I guess it's because the curriculum is designed for advanced kids, so they can take on specialised research or H3 subjects later.
If this is indeed the case, lack of wisdom on the part of that school to me. IP is about exploring diverse area of interest with the extra time obtained from skipping O level. And why the rush to study ahead ? No O level in year 4. And students still have to wait till year 6 and take A level together with the O level path students. So why squeeze themselves when these IP schools are given the luxury of spare time? It sound silly to me. -
Based on parents sharing of IP A here, not very different from what we understand of IP IB. So is there a point to choose IB over A then?
OP was asking if they should choose IP A as they did not get their preferred IP IB. -
I don't think that is a wise decision to think that if IP A don't fit, then consider IP IB.
Is not really comparing apple to apple. That is entirely my opinion, coming from a mum with 2 boys - one in A and one going to start IB in 2 years down the road. Parents should do a thorough research. Hear from the school teachers/educators in the tuition center. Hear from parents who have kids in both the system. My advice is choose the school that fit your child and not the other way round. Again is my opinion.
Some kids can take either IP A or IP B and they strive. But most I feel cannot switch. There is no data to show that those who did IP A can do well in IP B or vice versa because there is no such situation.
My oldest in IP A saw my younger IP IB scope of works, he doesn't like it. Likewise for my younger one, who doesn't like the IP A scope of work. To me, both are equally challenging but I personally think IB students has a stronger critical-thinking skills. My oldest son echoes it too when he saw a group IP IB students on a specific task. If I were to reborn to this generation and with a mind of 13 years old, I will stick to IP A coz I am lacking such skill. I rather stick to the traditional regime and be let on. No need to think too hard. Just stick to the academic contents. -
laughingcat\" post_id=\"2122456\" time=\"1699633531\" user_id=\"3309:
Thanks for sharing.
I don't think that is a wise decision to think that if IP A don't fit, then consider IP IB. Is not really comparing apple to apple. That is entirely my opinion, coming from a mum with 2 boys - one in A and one going to start IB in 2 years down the road. Parents should do a thorough research. Hear from the school teachers/educators in the tuition center. Hear from parents who have kids in both the system. My advice is choose the school that fit your child and not the other way round. Again is my opinion.
Some kids can take either IP A or IP B and they strive. But most I feel cannot switch. There is no data to show that those who did IP A can do well in IP B or vice versa because there is no such situation.
My oldest in IP A saw my younger IP IB scope of works, he doesn't like it. Likewise for my younger one, who doesn't like the IP A scope of work. To me, both are equally challenging but I personally think IB students has a stronger critical-thinking skills. My oldest son echoes it too when he saw a group IP IB students on a specific task. If I were to reborn to this generation and with a mind of 13 years old, I will stick to IP A coz I am lacking such skill. I rather stick to the traditional regime and be let on. No need to think too hard. Just stick to the academic contents.
Ya, i also think A level is safer route for those are already doing ok in academic aspect. More straightforward.
But some parents may wish their kids to develop better soft skills and critical thinking skills by putting them through IB. It seems that IB is known to be better for preparing kids for the working world and university learning.
What do you think? -
00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2122453\" time=\"1699629404\" user_id=\"143605:
H3 subjects are available to small group of A level students. And it’s optional. And it’s not useful for Uni/scholarship applications and Uni module exemptions. Don’t think it’s the reason for those fuss
I guess it's because the curriculum is designed for advanced kids, so they can take on specialised research or H3 subjects later. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2122462\" time=\"1699659287\" user_id=\"175278:
I come from the point of view of education provider answering to MOE. Their IP curriculum has to provide something more than the standard express stream. Otherwise, easier to make internal exam and criteria bar lower, all students clear to year 5. Moe will not allow schools offer IP to take easier way out too.
H3 subjects are available to small group of A level students. And it’s optional. And it’s not useful for Uni/scholarship applications and Uni module exemptions. Don’t think it’s the reason for those fuss
End of the day, it's abt dollars and cents and MOE also want to produce future leaders for the nation.
For those talented kids, they dont take extra eg advanced subjects for the sake of credits, they take for interest and their own hunger for knowledge. -
Apart from the extras probably like learning more in researching, team working, presentations etc.
Academic content wise for majority of the IP students in their first 4 years, are they about the same as what covered by the O level students in the first 4 years? Then 5th year when the O lvl students joined them, they study together for A lvl exam? Or they study alot more in preparing the A lvl during the IP-A first 4 years? If yes, the O lvl students may have more to catch up in their Y5. -
00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2122463\" time=\"1699661209\" user_id=\"143605:
I thought the purpose of IP curriculum is about moving beyond only academic focus? If it’s still all about that - study more with all the extra time, even if it’s out of interest , i personally would not sign up my children for IP. And I don’t think my children will see studying the same subjects as their O level counterparts but ahead of time, as advanced subject studying.
I come from the point of view of education provider answering to MOE. Their IP curriculum has to provide something more than the standard express stream. Otherwise, easier to make internal exam and criteria bar lower, all students clear to year 5. Moe will not allow schools offer IP to take easier way out too.
End of the day, it's abt dollars and cents and MOE also want to produce future leaders for the nation.
For those talented kids, they dont take extra eg advanced subjects for the sake of credits, they take for interest and their own hunger for knowledge.
I really hope the studying ahead in IP schools is not all prevailing else IP curriculum of developing students holistically will only be high idea but lack substance -
I m not sure…I just guess that these kids will just likely get through the O lvl with quite a breeze anyways. So let them learn more outside the academic stuffs, develop them in other aspects. The process streamlined, saved the resources etc. Good for all.
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