2026 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2014)

[sharonkhoo]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2125172\" time=\"1703054731\" user_id=\"3:

PSLE is really the only exam that matters in Primary school. It is our rite of passage to adulthood, and pretty much the only exam that parents have a chance of helping their kids (at least for me as I've returned most of my secondary/college education in the last 30 years ) All Sg parents have to go through PSLE at least twice in their lives, once for themselves, and once for usually the eldest kid).
I bemoan the loss of examinations in Primary schools. Those were important indicators which show how well you are doing and whether you are prepared for the PSLE. Kids today will celebrate, of course, but we shall see how they'll fare in the coming years :sad: .

Not sure I can agree with this! 13 is still a long, long way to adulthood, especially in these days of prolonged adolescence.

I suppose my husband and I are exceptions - I coached my older girl up to H2 in some subjects, and my husband coached her in Maths up to H1. And he's now giving remedials to my Sec 3 nieces in E and A Maths!

I agree with you about exams - it's the way that some (many?) parents reacted to exams that has brought this about. If they had been more sensible about them, they are very good markers of progress and early-warning signs that more work needs to be done.

[newbieks]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2125172\" time=\"1703054731\" user_id=\"3:

PSLE is really the only exam that matters in Primary school. It is our rite of passage to adulthood, and pretty much the only exam that parents have a chance of helping their kids (at least for me as I've returned most of my secondary/college education in the last 30 years ) All Sg parents have to go through PSLE at least twice in their lives, once for themselves, and once for usually the eldest kid).
I bemoan the loss of examinations in Primary schools. Those were important indicators which show how well you are doing and whether you are prepared for the PSLE. Kids today will celebrate, of course, but we shall see how they'll fare in the coming years :sad: .

I wonder...is JC math and sciences more difficult than say in the 90s+? I look at JC stuff now and wonder how I studied all that by myself during those days hahahaa. So unfamiliar and tough even for H2 math.
but then before 2002, Singapore's A level has the same papers as UK A level, so maybe it was easier then?? And after 2002, things got tougher when Singapore's syllabus deviate from UK?? Or maybe our brains just degenerate over the years.

[00skyblue00]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2125172\" time=\"1703054731\" user_id=\"3:

PSLE is really the only exam that matters in Primary school. It is our rite of passage to adulthood, and pretty much the only exam that parents have a chance of helping their kids (at least for me as I've returned most of my secondary/college education in the last 30 years ) All Sg parents have to go through PSLE at least twice in their lives, once for themselves, and once for usually the eldest kid).
I bemoan the loss of examinations in Primary schools. Those were important indicators which show how well you are doing and whether you are prepared for the PSLE. Kids today will celebrate, of course, but we shall see how they'll fare in the coming years :sad: .

Assessment was meant for measurement of individual progression so having some sort of exams are only fair to all children, regardless of their backgrounds. Without exams, those with better background will have all the advantage to showcase themselves in alternative forms.

[sharonkhoo]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2125180\" time=\"1703057047\" user_id=\"178749:

I wonder...is JC math and sciences more difficult than say in the 90s+? I look at JC stuff now and wonder how I studied all that by myself during those days hahahaa. So unfamiliar and tough even for H2 math.
but then before 2002, Singapore's A level has the same papers as UK A level, so maybe it was easier then?? And after 2002, things got tougher when Singapore's syllabus deviate from UK?? Or maybe our brains just degenerate over the years.

My husband taught FMaths briefly in the 90s - his students said that what we did (in the early 80s) in the equivalent of H2 Maths (not F Maths) was harder than their H2 Maths. Can't remember if they said anything about the F Maths! Not sure what has happened since, but he generally feels that Maths got easier!

Are you sure that Singapore's papers were the same as the UK ones before 2002? I was under the impression they diverged long before that even though some papers were marked in the UK. In any case, the general opinion is that UK A levels have become easier.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/may/01/gcse-alevels-easier-says-ofqual

[newbieks]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2125188\" time=\"1703058859\" user_id=\"28674:

My husband taught H2 Maths (then called something else) briefly in the 90s - he said that what we did (in the early 80s) was harder. Not sure what has happened since, but he generally feels that it's got easier!

Are you sure that Singapore's papers were the same as the UK ones before 2002? I was under the impression they diverged long before that even though some papers were marked in the UK. In any case, the general opinion is that UK A levels have become easier.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/may/01/gcse-alevels-easier-says-ofqual

https://www.seab.gov.sg/home/examinations/gce-a-level/about-gce-a-level#:~:text=is%20available%20below.-,The%20Singapore%2DCambridge%20General%20Certificate%20of%20Education%20Advanced%20Level%20(GCE,of%20the%20management%20of%20the

However, since after COVID, UK's papers seem to have gotten harder. Seems like Singapore is trying to reduce A level stress with the new reforms, while UK system seems to be going the other way round (guess maybe they realise some flaws in their educational system). One good example would be that UK removes the modular system for A levels, so now their A level results is only determined by a singular exam at the end of 2 years (much like our A levels), whereas few years back, students take AS exam at the end of the 1st year and results carries a weightage of 40% towards the final A level grades.

[Tenacity2520]

Hi parents, is there any group chats or fb group we can join for exchange of 2026 prelim papers? thank you.