2023 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2011)
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Thanks for all who shared about IP. The point being missed often is, IP is not stress free. Do not mislead others in saying or suggest to choose IP because it can skip one major exam. In IP, there are exams and their are not "minor" too. As said, IP curriculum can be accelerated and more intense, hence not stress free. There are higher expectation from the IP program of the kids entering it, so it should not be less stress free from those in O levels. Students should not be told otherwise when making the choice, choose with their eyes wide open.
This will ensure they don’t go into IP thinking they can become slacker and get away without consequences. And ensure they will shout for help when they need earlier than later.
I just dont agree when some start simply saying IP can skip exam so choose IP. Not accurate and is misleading.
Added: choosing IP should be for the right reason of learning and stretching the children, should not be for parents to have a peace of mind as there is no O level, coz it may mean when parents have a peace of mind, some children may start to slack. -
I believe some of the perceived stress of the child going through another major exam in O level, could be the parents feeling stress of having to answer for the child’s results. Not so much the child facing the stress. one exam less mean parents can skip the uncomfortable feeling one time. It is understandable. But parents would have to be honest with themselves when deciding for the child to go to IP school, it’s not for parents themselves to avoid the stress. It’s should be whether it really suit the child or not. We are all human and often it not easy to avoid feeling stress. But we as parent should still try our best to strike a balance between child’s needs and our needs, giving more emphasis to the formal. Yes parenting is not easy we have to learn to care for ourselves too in order to care for our children. That is the reason I believe, “instead of constantly strive to becoming stronger, the solution could be just drop some unhelpful baggages.”
My 1.5 cents -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2122533\" time=\"1699724104\" user_id=\"175278:
Do you have kids in IP and have first hand knowledge of what IP is about or just guessing?
My position is, if it’s my children with the extra time from skipping O level in IP, I would prefer they spend those extra time and their extra capacity to become a student good at math (intelligence), and also can initiate some cross culture exchange social program (wisdom). And not a student that spend those extra time and capacities to be good at math (intelligence) and also go on to ace Olympiad (more intelligence), again, in math. To me STEM is too over rated because it is only 1 of the many aspects of life. Most of our current leaders are humanity major, not science major. It’s my personal perspective breath of knowledge gives more options and thus happier.
Moreover what IP schools are doing sounds like study ahead ( mostly same syllabus as non IP schools, and it’s not the same as what Olympiad demand ?) and not advance learning (math Olympiad level stuffs not taught in main stream syllabus or whatever we can call them). The purpose of NUS High school is for advance learning. The purpose of IP is for exposures to wider areas. But alas, seem like some part of it is for study ahead instead (if it’s really prevailing)
The programme allows for more time to be allocated to enrichment activities. Without the O-level examinations, students have greater flexibility and can immerse themselves in a more broad-based education…
I suspect your last paragraph is the case for a sizeable % of all students, both IP and O level.
My 1.9 cents
The STEM and Math Olympaid are just examples. I did not say everyone in IP must do these.
Exchange programmes and interdisciplinary projects etc.. are all opportunities that IP students are exposed to, just to name a few. They DO EXIST! Only need to be a bit more resourceful and spend time to read the websites of every IP school and the info is ALL there.
Not every IP student will get the same exposure because it depends on so many factors. IP schools provide different opportunities, some are made compulsory while others are up to individual to apply for them.
Some kids who are good in Math and Science will WANT to go deeper, further in MORE MATH and Science! They want to, love to, aspire to. They live and breathe Math and Science. Why not? If that is what they enjoy absolutely and have the mental capacities to do so?
Exposure to wider areas is misleading and vague and suggests one is unsure. If wider areas refer to non-academic areas, then there is a wide range of CCAs to choose from. Why must it be part of the curriculum which is then compulsory for all students?
There has to be sufficient demand in each school to make it feasible to offer even as an elective and if one is not taking exam for the subject, eg. can anyone just choose Robotics, Animation and even Horticulture for a term or two without having to take exams? Yes, why not? In IP schools that I know, they have hundreds of special programmes that kids can pick and choose. Absolutely spoilt for choice! -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2122531\" time=\"1699722618\" user_id=\"175278:
I agree that those who can enter IP-JC or IB with sterling O level results have good chance to do well at A levels/IB. There may be some skills that they may lack at first and may be at a disadvantage at start of Yr 5 but it is not impossible to learn. By doing well at O levels is also a great booster to their confidence which will motivate a lot of them to continue to aim high for the A levels or IB.
My position is not O level students are better than IP students. I was responding to the another parent’s position that IP curriculum give its students an absolute edge over O students from Y 5. I was giving examples in some situations an O level students can do better than IP students. I also painted an opposite speculated scenario where all O level students failed that physics paper whereas only 1/4 IP students fail. I think a lot has been written with pieces of them over many posts and that may have caused confusions over our positions. -
@bbay, you once shared in ksp that your DS was eligible for IP but you deliberately chose the O level route instead? Can’t help but feel that your earlier comments are like trying to justify your choice.
If you love to see kids “enrich” themselves other than in the academic domain, how is the O-level route any better? I suppose your DS practised Ten Year Series for the entire year of sec 4? My DH once commented that how he wish there was IP during his era as O level wasted one year (sec 4) of his life.
Both my kids in IP took Bicultural Studies Program to learn more about contemporary China. I reckon that I would have asked them to stop wasting time on things that are not tested in O levels should they be on the O level track!!! Because of IP, stress has been taken out from me, thus, when they were keen to take up BSP, I find it was actually a good thing.
My DD1 did more than 100 hours of VIA a year in secondary school as she enjoyed volunteering. Had she needed to take O level exams, how many parents will allow their kids to go missing from home for more than 100 hours during weekends? -
lee_yl\" post_id=\"2122542\" time=\"1699755759\" user_id=\"17023:
Me too. If I were to turn back the clock, I will still choose IP for both my kiddos. If their attitude to learning is self-driven, motivated and their result speak for itself, I will still choose IP over O level. I rather skip another National Exam so as not to over-burn for another National Exam in less than 2 years. Besides the IP is already accelerated learning and that is a plus point for me and my children. Some topics are not necessarily needed to learn and might as well put the time to other uses. In addition, the IP years that my kids are exposed to have been very fruitful. Cultural exchanges, overseas trips for symposium and Science competition internationally are all what they have experienced in IP could not be seen in O level route.
Exactly my thoughts. If I were to turn back the clock, I would still have picked IP (should my kids still be eligible) and skip the O level.
Yes, the O level kids in IPJCs are smart and hardworking. But in the first place, if they are not smart and hardworking, they wouldn’t have fought their way in to R and H schools via the O-level route.
To me the runway of Y5 and Y6 leading to A level Exam is extremely short plus to accustom to another new environment and studies and PW is in Y5. Yes, skipping another National Exam is to reduce stress and don't waste time study unnecessary subjects/topics. Just keeping the core subjects and move on.
Reducing the stress of having to take another National Exam is a plus point. But not saying IP route is no stress at all. By itself on IP curriculum, is already accelerated. So naturally there are stress in the academic as well on top of other extra curriculum that stretched them intellectually and creativity. The students are being stretched and enriched.
Accelerated learning is overexaggerating to some. I am very sure all kids went through that since kindy time. Parents teaching them to speak, to read, to learn mathematic timetable way early. To some kids, they will feel bore not learning in advance. To some kids learning in advance makes them feel somewhat comfortable and prepared for classroom learning.
At the end of the day, even if one couldn't go into IP for whatever the reason or do not wish to go IP, all is still not lost if the ultimate goal is to go into A level. Just study hard and study smart.
But those who can go IP, I encouraged the child to go provided as a parent you know what your child aptitude in learning. Motivated? Can take the stress? Wants to be challenged? Feeling bore with the mundane curriculum? Prefer non-structured curriculum? -
If I were a new psle mom and reading the past few pages, I might think that going to IP is like ultra competitive, super charged kids who like to challenge themselves with all the “advanced” learning etc and may seem daunting……
Actually the envnmt is not like that la. There are a broad spectrum of kids who enter IP schools. Some are really super charged and enjoy advanced learning (therefore the various talent programmes are for), the majority are not like that. I think we are happy that the kids do not need to waste time drilling for O levels. Instead, whatever they do, even if it means being a slacker, I think it’s still ok because the race is at the end of Y6. Yes, there are internal promotional exams in IP too but I believe if kids are consistent in homework, understand the concepts, it shouldn’t be too difficult to clear the promotional requirements (after all, they are the top 10% kids right). For eg, some cleared O HCL exams w distinction without even practising TYS at all and self study w just tchr notes.
It is also true that because things are quite ok in Y1-4 (no drilling remember), so when they go to Y5, they will get culture shock because the O peeps are simply exam-smart and very well-oiled in tackling exams. The super brilliant ones no problem cos they have advanced learnings via the special programs. The majority just either 1. Watch the O peeps whizz by while some are just heating up the engine in Y5 2. Continue to slack till Y6 Sem 1. 3. The real battle comes in Y6 A levels where everyone will start to Chiong.
I quite like the Y1-4 landscape cos it’s really allowing my kids to pursue what they like (ie K-pop, jpop, dance, arts, anime, whatever teenager stuff that we all go thru) without fear of being sorted into schools at end of Y4. I will expect them to refocus at Y5 onwards to ensure they get into good universities and hopefully scholarships. -
IP is going to to be competitive this year
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manorway\" post_id=\"2122551\" time=\"1699765950\" user_id=\"9303:
Do you have kids in IP and have first hand knowledge of what IP is about or just guessing?
The STEM and Math Olympaid are just examples. I did not say everyone in IP must do these.
Exchange programmes and interdisciplinary projects etc.. are all opportunities that IP students are exposed to, just to name a few. They DO EXIST! Only need to be a bit more resourceful and spend time to read the websites of every IP school and the info is ALL there.
Not every IP student will get the same exposure because it depends on so many factors. IP schools provide different opportunities, some are made compulsory while others are up to individual to apply for them.
Some kids who are good in Math and Science will WANT to go deeper, further in MORE MATH and Science! They want to, love to, aspire to. They live and breathe Math and Science. Why not? If that is what they enjoy absolutely and have the mental capacities to do so?
Exposure to wider areas is misleading and vague and suggests one is unsure. If wider areas refer to non-academic areas, then there is a wide range of CCAs to choose from. Why must it be part of the curriculum which is then compulsory for all students?
There has to be sufficient demand in each school to make it feasible to offer even as an elective and if one is not taking exam for the subject, eg. can anyone just choose Robotics, Animation and even Horticulture for a term or two without having to take exams? Yes, why not? In IP schools that I know, they have hundreds of special programmes that kids can pick and choose. Absolutely spoilt for choice!
Thks for the elaborations. I should have researched more myself.
I was mainly making these 2 points with my earlier posts:
1. I was a little appalled by the impression given that accelerated learning is all about cramming more standard contents in shorter time. What I read from further postings on the forum was i) come year 5 it will be mostly revisions for the IP kids because they have already learnt the content in junior years. ii) And, the benefits of learning ahead is those smart kids wont get bored. These remarks further cemented in my mind accelerated learning is really all about learning ahead the same standard contents. There was still a part in me that didn’t believe this is the case. That was why my earlier opinions all end with the caveat “ …. if learning ahead is really prevailing in IP schools”. Now that I have visited one of the IP school webpage and read for myself. Their core math syllabus includes content like using mathematics language with precision and applying math for interdisciplinary work. I believe these contents are absent from mainstream secondary school syllabus. So the accelerated learning covers more and not just about studying the same standard contents ahead of schedule.
2. I have shared my personal preferences for my kids, if they get the chance to have a curriculum that allows wider choices of subjects domains, like IP or IB. I do have a reference of what exposures to wider areas look like to me, and I have shared that with another parent too: lB syllabus. Details can be found on the web. I have shared those preferences and the reason for choosing them. And i have also repeatedly and consciously emphasised those are my personal preferences. And that would mean other kids are entitled to their preferences too, be it math or humanity or biculturalism. There was never a time I was belittling others’ choices of subject interest. -
manorway\" post_id=\"2122552\" time=\"1699766529\" user_id=\"9303:
There isn’t any significant disadvantages for O level students actually from what I can see. They can mix readily with the IP kids and some of them, their results and projects handling comfort level are encouraging too. An interesting observation though: in R and H, the IP kids all came from single gender environments and the O level kids (from mix gender Sec) were more at ease in a mix gender JC environment than the IP kids initially. But that will also pan out well after few weeks.
I agree that those who can enter IP-JC or IB with sterling O level results have good chance to do well at A levels/IB. There may be some skills that they may lack at first and may be at a disadvantage at start of Yr 5 but it is not impossible to learn. By doing well at O levels is also a great booster to their confidence which will motivate a lot of them to continue to aim high for the A levels or IB.
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