Q&A - P5 English

[janet88]

ZXmum:

Hi Janet_lee88, my kid is in P5, going P6 next year. I come across the question in the assessment book, the school did not go through the question.


Hi atutor2001, thanks for your reply. Sometimes, I am confused as there is few possible answers to a question.

I see...my son is going to P5 next year. I've been looking at several titles of 'Synthesis & Transformation' this year. Reason is some of the connectors tested in worksheets are not found in P4 assessment books...instead they are found in P5 ones.

[atutor2001]

ZXmum:

Hi atutor2001, thanks for your reply. Sometimes, I am confused as there is few possible answers to a question.

Actually the answer for Q1 given by the book will be considered wrong as it is not in the most concise form.

I faced the same problem when my kids were in Pr. What I did then was to write down such \"cases\" in a note book and revised with my kids.

For example, \"her arms\" and \"her legs\", the \"her\" cannot be shared when using conjunction and \"in Singapore\" & \"in Japan\", the \"in\" also can shared.

Soon I discovered that such type of \"difficult\" questions would be coming out over and over again in the exam papers. Although we can't explain the \"grammatical\" reason behind, we will still get the sentence structure right. Unfortunately I have lost my little note book - it would be wonderful if I still have it and can it share here. Many interesting little notes like \"after if need to use were instead of was\"... Now I rely on my fading memory and luckily there is this new toy call google.

[janet88]

Hi,

I would like to seek your advice on the title of Synthesis & Transformation assessment books to get for P5…going to Popular is like finding a needle in a haystack. Hope you can share some good titles for P5/6. Thanks.

[atutor2001]

Hi janet_lee88


Back then, I didn’t really bothered about the publisher. Instead, I will flip through and select the one that contains more questions that I don’t know. Actually I very cheapskate, usually goes through those on special discount (no longer in print - last few copies) at Big Book Shop to pick out the better ones. Big Book Shop has more books from small time publishers and I find them better. Not sure if it is still the case now.

[janet88]

atutor2001:

Hi janet_lee88


Back then, I didn't really bothered about the publisher. Instead, I will flip through and select the one that contains more questions that I don't know. Actually I very cheapskate, usually goes through those on special discount (no longer in print - last few copies) at Big Book Shop to pick out the better ones. Big Book Shop has more books from small time publishers and I find them better. Not sure if it is still the case now.

I went to Popular yesterday...standing to kneeling to compare the different books...so frustrating not to be able to find an assessment. What Casco has, Conquer Synthesis doesn't have :frustrated: Then there is another one by EPH and Longman.

[corneyAmber]

ZXmum:

Hi, need advice for the following T&S questions.


1) Penny broke her nose. She also broke her arm.
Given ans: Penny not only broke her nose but also her arm.
DS's ans: Penny broke not only her nose but aso her arm.

2) The film is popular in Japan. It is also popular in Singapore.
Given ans: The film is popular not only in Japan but also in Singapore.
DS's ans: The film is popular in not only Japan but also Singapore.

3) You can choose to wash the car. If not, you can choose to prepare dinner.
Given ans: You can choose either to wash the car or to prepare dinner.
DS's ans: You can choose to either wash the car or prepare dinner.

Is my son's answers acceptable?

Sorry to say this but your son's answers seem like spoken Singlish. We often make these mistakes in our spoken language hence it affects the written language.

[Aberc]

I bought the synthesis and transformation book published by just education. It is on sale now @$4.80 at Popular. I find that it is suitable for p4, maybe p5 level but seems too simplistic for p6 prep. Does anyone have a good book to recommend?

[janet88]

Aberc:

I bought the synthesis and transformation book published by just education. It is on sale now @$4.80 at Popular. I find that it is suitable for p4, maybe p5 level but seems too simplistic for p6 prep. Does anyone have a good book to recommend?

I saw that yesterday and was still wondering if I should get it...found the connectors rather simple. There is another one I saw by Geetha Menon 'Editing, Punctuation, Synthesis & Transformation'. Having a headache getting assessment books for upper primary as son's EL teacher used connectors from P5 even though he is in P4 this year.

[atutor2001]

janet_lee88:

..... What Casco has, Conquer Synthesis doesn't have :frustrated: Then there is another one by EPH and Longman.

Hi janet_lee88

I share your sentiment. To my knowledge there is no one book that carries all the \"good\" worthwhile questions. Last time a friend of mine also write such books. She told me that they just borrow questions from exam papers, other books - modify here and there. That is why I go for books on sales because I feel that most books contain a huge chunk that does not value-add if Ilet my kids practise. So, not to increase the work load, I only select questions that are interesting for them to do. Those left out (that I think they already know), they will have a chance to do it when they do exam papers - where my emphasis is on speed and accuracy. Assessment book cannot test speed & accuracy as the format may be different.

[janet88]

atutor2001:

janet_lee88:

..... What Casco has, Conquer Synthesis doesn't have :frustrated: Then there is another one by EPH and Longman.

Hi janet_lee88

I share your sentiment. To my knowledge there is no one book that carries all the \"good\" worthwhile questions. Last time a friend of mine also write such books. She told me that they just borrow questions from exam papers, other books - modify here and there. That is why I go for books on sales because I feel that most books contain a huge chunk that does not value-add if Ilet my kids practise. So, not to increase the work load, I only select questions that are interesting for them to do. Those left out (that I think they already know), they will have a chance to do it when they do exam papers - where my emphasis is on speed and accuracy. Assessment book cannot test speed & accuracy as the format may be different.

Very big headache...I normally focus on one subject each time I go to Popular...and after 1 hour, will end up with backache bcos EPH books are placed right on top and other publishers are on lower shelves...usually compare between 2 or 3 publishers. Just yesterday, I was comparing assessment books on Synthesis & Transformation, which is why Popular 20% coupon for Dec issue is insufficient.