English Assessment Books

[QuiteKSMum]

Excuse me, ladies, don't mind if I barge in...


I think I only started S&T Assmt bks in P5 for son ( think after I saw he got 2 or 4 /10 !). P5 we used Conquer - I like this Bk, his marks for this section improved, almost full marks regularly.

P6 we used Longman Practice S&T by Adrian Tan & EPH Editing, Punctuation, S&T by Geetha Menon. We used more the Longman Bk for S&T practice, for the EPH title, we practised more on the former 2 sections, we did refer to this Bk for their explanatory notes re:S&T.

Looking at these bks wh I still keep, I realized a lot are not done via writing, esp the S&T qns. I noted in the bks \"done verbally\". Think there's simply not enough time for son then to write down the ans .... so compromise sought...

Just my 2 cts sharing ... :celebrate:

P.S Don't ask me why I didn't continue with Conquer in P6, I also don't know ... :?

[janet88]

I find Synthesis & Transformation challenging and interesting…esp when I try to figure out answer and compare with the given one at the back. Some answers given seem rather ‘strange’ but on the whole, Conquer range is ok.

[QuiteKSMum]

Yes, janet_lee88, I'm also like you, more comfortable with languages than Maths & Science, which by P5, are like Greek to me, esp Maths! :stupid: Sci at least can still read up & try ...

[teh_oh]

janet_lee88:

teh_oh:

Went to Popular to buy Synthesis book yesterday (last minute). Remember that I read earlier that someone recommended Conquer over Longman. However, I bought Longman as there is a simple explanation preceding every 'connectors'. However, realised that the examples/exercises in Longman is not sufficient/some have ambiguity. Probably going back to buy Conquer next round.

I bought several assessment on Synthesis bcos some titles do not cover what is taught/used in school. Even Conquer range may not necessarily have all the connectors, so I compare between 2 or 3 books to decide which ones to get. Not too long ago, I got the Conquer Synthesis for P1 as daughter was taught 'because', 'so' and 'or' for Term 1/2.

Hi Janet,
So far my child only learned 4 types. I bought Longman because they have little notes in front to teach me how to use these 'connectors'.

[teh_oh]

janet_lee88:

I find Synthesis & Transformation challenging and interesting...esp when I try to figure out answer and compare with the given one at the back. Some answers given seem rather 'strange' but on the whole, Conquer range is ok.

Hi Janet,
I find some of Longman's answers rather strange too. There are instances that the answers does not match what my child and I had in mind. So we intend to get Conquer for more practices.

[teh_oh]

QuiteKSMum:

Excuse me, ladies, don't mind if I barge in...


I think I only started S&T Assmt bks in P5 for son ( think after I saw he got 2 or 4 /10 !). P5 we used Conquer - I like this Bk, his marks for this section improved, almost full marks regularly.

P6 we used Longman Practice S&T by Adrian Tan & EPH Editing, Punctuation, S&T by Geetha Menon. We used more the Longman Bk for S&T practice, for the EPH title, we practised more on the former 2 sections, we did refer to this Bk for their explanatory notes re:S&T.

Looking at these bks wh I still keep, I realized a lot are not done via writing, esp the S&T qns. I noted in the bks \"done verbally\". Think there's simply not enough time for son then to write down the ans .... so compromise sought...

Just my 2 cts sharing ... :celebrate:

P.S Don't ask me why I didn't continue with Conquer in P6, I also don't know ... :?

Hi,
I went through the Longman synthesis book via 'verbal exercise' too. He gave his answers verbally and we checked against the answers. Never had the intention to let child write out everything as it is tedious. Have intend that even if I am not free and he is to do it independently, he need only to amend the sentence given (eg insert 'connectors', amend plural/singular, cancel additional words etc) and not to copy the whole sentence again.

[janet88]

QuiteKSMum:

Yes, janet_lee88, I'm also like you, more comfortable with languages than Maths & Science, which by P5, are like Greek to me, esp Maths! :stupid: Sci at least can still read up & try ...

I gave up Maths since son was in P1...must give hubby something to do Even my P1 gal's Math is left to him, esp with heuristics now...no thanks.

Regarding Synthesis & Transformation assessment, answers given must be consistent.
For instance, direct & indirect speech, 'last week' is changed to 'the week before' but son's teacher marked him wrong and wrote 'previous week'. I got son to ask teacher at enrichment centre for clarification.

[QuiteKSMum]

janet_lee88:

For instance, direct & indirect speech, 'last week' is changed to 'the week before' but son's teacher marked him wrong and wrote 'previous week'. I got son to ask teacher at enrichment centre for clarification.

Son's T also told his class last yr to use \"previous week\" & not \" the week before\"... Not sure is this std directive for schools but since T said so, directed son to just follow strictly ... ( since S&T marking scheme is really strict ...)

[janet88]

QuiteKSMum:

janet_lee88:

For instance, direct & indirect speech, 'last week' is changed to 'the week before' but son's teacher marked him wrong and wrote 'previous week'. I got son to ask teacher at enrichment centre for clarification.

Son's T also told his class last yr to use \"previous week\" & not \" the week before\"... Not sure is this std directive for schools but since T said so, directed son to just follow strictly ... ( since S&T marking scheme is really strict ...)

Son's English enrichment teacher told me to use 'previous' and NOT 'the week before' as it's not clear. Since T corrected him with 'previous', it's better to follow and get that precious 2 marks if the question appears.

I'm at a loss now...perhaps you can give me some advice.
Registered son in Creative Writing class at Jan & Elly last month...he's already attending the English Made Possible (comprehensive English) since last year...to continue with 2 programs is too expensive but yet both are equally important. Don't know what to do know.

[QuiteKSMum]

janet_lee88:

QuiteKSMum:

[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]
For instance, direct & indirect speech, 'last week' is changed to 'the week before' but son's teacher marked him wrong and wrote 'previous week'. I got son to ask teacher at enrichment centre for clarification.

Son's T also told his class last yr to use \"previous week\" & not \" the week before\"... Not sure is this std directive for schools but since T said so, directed son to just follow strictly ... ( since S&T marking scheme is really strict ...)

Son's English enrichment teacher told me to use 'previous' and NOT 'the week before' as it's not clear. Since T corrected him with 'previous', it's better to follow and get that precious 2 marks if the question appears.

I'm at a loss now...perhaps you can give me some advice.
Registered son in Creative Writing class at Jan & Elly last month...he's already attending the English Made Possible (comprehensive English) since last year...to continue with 2 programs is too expensive but yet both are equally important. Don't know what to do know.[/quote]Hi, not advice but just sharing my own experience ...
Son attends Morris Allen English since Mar last yr. For EL, P1 he attended Growan (in Marine Parade - not bad ), P4 (after SA1) he attended Mind Stretcher ... timing clash etc, we stopped. P6 we outsourced again as we find that my own teaching is shi bei gong ban ( double efforts, half the returns) .... and time was running short ...

Son enjoys the lessons at MAE v.much even thou I could see that the lessons are not strictly sch curriculum related, thou they do use MOE syallabus as their teaching framework. But DH & I decide to take a more holistic and long-term view towards the EL, hence he's still there now ( of course the O levels of L1 still weighs heavily on our mind...).

My personal take is to see which prog is more suitable for your son ( as you know him best) ....

P.S. MAE does have this 10 Weeks Intensive PSLE Prep course wh.I let son attend ard July last yr ...
:celebrate: