GEP 2011 - Screening & Selection
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jedamum:
having said that, this year my boy's sch's top math scorer (ohyes, we already know..) neither cleared GEP round 1 nor score high distinction in ICAS math.mommyNg:
Ha ha! My cousin told me that she did not let her dd sit for the GEP screening/selection tests last year. She said in the end her dd beat all those who got into GEP to emerge top in school. Her reason is that taking the GEP tests distracted the kids from preparing for SA2. :
getting top in main stream is any body's game so long one is willing to work hard and have that element of luck and in tiptop condition when sitting for the paper. but to forgo GEP testing to focus on SA2 prep...how many GEP testing can one experience in a lifetime?
I know of a boy who insisted on not taking GEP round 1, so that he will have 1 or 2 less test/exam to go for. He always tells his mum that it's ok to attend school but no no to sit for tests and exams. So, if the test is optional, he will definitely opt out, and he did. -
jtoh:
If you get in, you get in. If you don't, you don't.
This is the healthy mindset. -
jedamum:
but to forgo GEP testing to focus on SA2 prep...how many GEP testing can one experience in a lifetime?
You mean not taking the tests, right? Actually, not many singaporean kids residing overseas would fly back for the GEP tests. It's not something one must experience.
A friend's brother (in his twenties now) chose to forgo the GEP programme. He did very well in mainstream and graduated from a renowned university in UK. A GEPPER (in his thirties now) opted not to attend university and joined the commercial airline as a pilot. Both are very happy with their lives.
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ksi:
:goodpost:jtoh:
If you get in, you get in. If you don't, you don't.
This is the healthy mindset. -
ksi:
I know of a few students who were doing pretty well (in first class of cohort) from P1 - P3, and they are those who will con't to do well in mainstream, but alas, when they 'luckily' got into GEP, they suffer low self-esteem as they become the most struggling in their GEP cohort. Definitely not something that the parents and kid had imagined. Whether they would be DSAed into their dreamschool later on, I believe, for a better childhood, they should be better off in mainstream.jtoh:
If you get in, you get in. If you don't, you don't.
This is the healthy mindset.
Be careful what you wish for. -
chamonix:
definitely not a loss to not want to take the test. there are many routes to success (and many definitions too), so long one has the correct mindset and attitude.jedamum:
but to forgo GEP testing to focus on SA2 prep...how many GEP testing can one experience in a lifetime?
You mean not taking the tests, right? Actually, not many singaporean kids residing overseas would fly back for the GEP tests. It's not something one must experience.
A friend's brother (in his twenties now) chose to forgo the GEP programme. He did very well in mainstream and graduated from a renowned university in UK. A GEPPER (in his thirties now) opted not to attend university and joined the commercial airline as a pilot. Both are very happy with their lives.
but just because want to prepare SA and forgo the test...it is like too
already.
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Picolo:
I know of a few students who were doing pretty well (in first class of cohort) from P1 - P3, and they are those who will con't to do well in mainstream, but alas, when they 'luckily' got into GEP, they suffer low self-esteem as they become the most struggling in their GEP cohort. Definitely not something that the parents and kid had imagined. Whether they would be DSAed into their dreamschool later on, I believe, for a better childhood, they should be better off in mainstream.ksi:
[quote=\"jtoh\"] If you get in, you get in. If you don't, you don't.
This is the healthy mindset.
Be careful what you wish for.[/quote]but the thing is, this is like a 'gamble'. some say we know our kids capabilities best; some said that we should trust our kids to surprise us with their abilities. then how? for those not specifically/obviously gifted and then got thru 2nd round, how? throw a dice? leap of faith?
all those who opt to take up should have a ready option to transfer back to mainstream. -
jedamum:
Err... Actually I don't think my cousin told her dd to forgo the GEP tests just to prepare for SA2 lah (the first test was in August rite?). She said she prefers \"big fish small pond\", prefers her daughter to do well academically in an above average school and have positive self-esteem, rather than risk the possibility of being the average/bottom in a GEP cohort and lose self-esteem... So the SA2 results example she gave, I presume, was to make the point that her decision was right anyways...
definitely not a loss to not want to take the test. there are many routes to success (and many definitions too), so long one has the correct mindset and attitude.
but just because want to prepare SA and forgo the test...it is like too already.
Well... I think there has been a lot of debate about whether big-fish-small-pond is better or small-fish-big-pond better... So my cousin is one who subscribes to the former.... -
Judging from what’s happening these 2 years,ie. increasingly, bright students can’t cope with GEP programmes, excessive focus on GEP as if it’s the new DSA to choiced sec schools, I agree that it really seems like a ‘gamble’ like what you say.
The backup plan to go back to mainstream is a very weak one, by then, people would have lablelled the child 'the child who cannot make it. Sad.
Unless the kid is finding mainstream too boring and predictable, I think staying in mainstream is not a bad idea. -
mommyNg:
I know what you mean, usually people would be very surprised why the kids opt out, and when asked by the curious folks, the kids will just add on ' oh... so that I have more time to study for SA2... ' blar blar blar in order to give a 'valid' answer... actually, they are just very decisive and have long decided not to take part in the GEP chase...
Err... Actually I don't think my cousin told her dd to forgo the GEP tests just to prepare for SA2 lah (the first test was in August rite?). She said she prefers \"big fish small pond\", prefers her daughter to do well academically in an above average school and have positive self-esteem, rather than risk the possibility of being the average/bottom in a GEP cohort and lose self-esteem... So the SA2 results example she gave, I presume, was to make the point that her decision was right anyways...jedamum:
definitely not a loss to not want to take the test. there are many routes to success (and many definitions too), so long one has the correct mindset and attitude.
but just because want to prepare SA and forgo the test...it is like too already.
Well... I think there has been a lot of debate about whether big-fish-small-pond is better or small-fish-big-pond better... So my cousin is one who subscribes to the former....
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