2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[justbehappy]

KSP:

If my child has a choice, I would suggest this.

1st choice: RGS/RI
2nd choice: HCI/NYGH
3rd choice: NUSH

I think for students who are eyeing NUS for their university education, then NUSH is a good choice as it is the ONLY high school in Singapore which has affiliation to NUS. Gifted NUSH students can take NUS modules in most of the faculties (not just Science faculty), and they have the opportunities to try the various modules before they enter NUS. Advantages - there is less risk of landing in wrong course in NUS, faster track if they are taking double degrees since they would have taken some modules during the NUSH time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NUS_High_School_of_Mathematics_and_Science
NUS Non-Graduating Programme
Only NUS High School students are entitled the privilege of being eligible for the NUS Non-Graduating Programme. Under this programme, NUS High School students are allowed to read and take up any NUS modules and courses from Faculty of Science (including Office of Life Sciences), Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Literature, History, Geography and Economics), and School of Computing (CS1101S - Programmimg Methodology), provided that students meet the minimum academic competency level or requirement as deemed by NUS High School. Gifted students with high talents in a specific subject may be able to be exempted from NUS High School modules and accelerate to take up NUS courses and modules from various faculties (Not limited to the above mentioned faculties).

[MUMMYOF3]

My boy told me the following question came out. Think it’s the same question as last year question.


1 cat can catch 2 mice in 3 days.How many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 30 days ?

[bwpj2000]

MUMMYOF3:

My boy told me the following question came out. Think it's the same question as last year question.


1 cat can catch 2 mice in 3 days.How many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 30 days ?

The answer is 5 cats.

1 cat - 2 mice in 3 days
5 cats - 10 mice in 3 days
5 cats - 100 (10 x 10) mice in 30 (3 x 10) days

[turquoise]

I’ve been following the discussions here and see that a number of parents are keen to know the questions asked at the GEP tests, perhaps to prepare their kids for the GEP tests. Some have also sent their kids to the so-called GEP preparatory training classes in the hope of getting their kids into GEP. I have to sound a word of caution here.


As highligted by previous posters, the GEP curriculum is a very rigorous one. If your child is successful at getting into GEP through extensive prepping, be prepared that he/she may struggle through GEP. It is no fun being bottom of the class constantly and being called in for counselling. As a result, the child may develop a low self esteem. Some kids have found the going so tough, they’ve requested to withdraw from GEP and return to mainstream. This comes with another set of problems because children can be cruel, and the child may be labelled as someone who couldn’t make it in GEP.

Some people view GEP as the golden ticket to the top schools in Singapore. Being in GEP does not guarantee you a place in a top IP school. During DSA, the schools will still scrutinize the child’s academic performance in GEP. If the child has been turning in below average grades, he/she may not be successful at DSA.

As pointed out by other parents, GEP does not prepare the child for PSLE as well as mainstream. GEP students only start preparing for PSLE in P6 Term 2 or Term 3. Indeed, they are still working on SS projects in P6 Term 2, leaving them with less time to prepare for PSLE. So there’s every chance that your child would have performed better at PSLE if he had remained in the mainstream rather than being in GEP.

The GEP programme is an excellent one for students who are academically gifted. I’m sure parents know if their own child is naturally academically gifted, or if they were extensively prepped for the test. For the latter, please consider carefully if the programme is the right one for your child, especially at the expense of his/her self esteem and confidence.

[pench]

Supersmart:

The maths was the easiest, the english was harder, but the GAT was the hardest. Could be diferent from your point of view :?

Supersmart, can u pls give us some example questions of the test?

my dd said GA was the easiest, english was the hardest....

[rains]

turquoise:

Some people view GEP as the golden ticket to the top schools in Singapore. Being in GEP does not guarantee you a place in a top IP school. During DSA, the schools will still scrutinize the child's academic performance in GEP. If the child has been turning in below average grades, he/she may not be successful at DSA.


As pointed out by other parents, GEP does not prepare the child for PSLE as well as mainstream. GEP students only start preparing for PSLE in P6 Term 2 or Term 3. Indeed, they are still working on SS projects in P6 Term 2, leaving them with less time to prepare for PSLE. So there's every chance that your child would have performed better at PSLE if he had remained in the mainstream rather than being in GEP.

Thank you for your comforting words.

hi pench,
My dd said the opposite. English was the easiest, GA was the hardest. But I feel that GA tests should have more weightage. As I recalled, there wasn't a GA test in the beginning when GEP started, and Maths was the emphasis then. Then they included 1 GA test. Now, they have 2. So it looks to me that GA tests are more crucial than English. I feel that the English test is just there to ensure that the GEP children have a certain standard of English.

[Zann]

MUMMYOF3:

My boy told me the following question came out. Think it's the same question as last year question.


1 cat can catch 2 mice in 3 days.How many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 30 days ?

Does this qns fall in GA or Maths paper ? Many school teachers have included this kind of qn into challenging math (non-rountine maths)portion, so many pupils now would have been exposed to it.

[Zann]

turquoise:

I've been following the discussions here and see that a number of parents are keen to know the questions asked at the GEP tests, perhaps to prepare their kids for the GEP tests. Some have also sent their kids to the so-called GEP preparatory training classes in the hope of getting their kids into GEP. I have to sound a word of caution here.


As highligted by previous posters, the GEP curriculum is a very rigorous one. If your child is successful at getting into GEP through extensive prepping, be prepared that he/she may struggle through GEP. It is no fun being bottom of the class constantly and being called in for counselling. As a result, the child may develop a low self esteem. Some kids have found the going so tough, they've requested to withdraw from GEP and return to mainstream. This comes with another set of problems because children can be cruel, and the child may be labelled as someone who couldn't make it in GEP.

Some people view GEP as the golden ticket to the top schools in Singapore. Being in GEP does not guarantee you a place in a top IP school. During DSA, the schools will still scrutinize the child's academic performance in GEP. If the child has been turning in below average grades, he/she may not be successful at DSA.

As pointed out by other parents, GEP does not prepare the child for PSLE as well as mainstream. GEP students only start preparing for PSLE in P6 Term 2 or Term 3. Indeed, they are still working on SS projects in P6 Term 2, leaving them with less time to prepare for PSLE. So there's every chance that your child would have performed better at PSLE if he had remained in the mainstream rather than being in GEP.

The GEP programme is an excellent one for students who are academically gifted. I'm sure parents know if their own child is naturally academically gifted, or if they were extensively prepped for the test. For the latter, please consider carefully if the programme is the right one for your child, especially at the expense of his/her self esteem and confidence.

If they do not have the scheme of EESIS and DSA. who wants to take up this programme or take it seriously, then GEP branch will never been able to say that they have implemented it successfully. I feel in currently system, both kids and parents are suffering. Parents have to go and work and back home got to do third shift to support their children study. While others claim their success and promotion. When we were all school students, where got like that one! We also can produce Minister, doctors, lawyers...

[watmekiasu]

Zann:

[


When we were all school students, where got like that one! We also can produce Minister, doctors, lawyers...

And jolly well-paid ones too - no.1 in the world in terms of salary.

[MdmKS]

All top IP schools are independent schools now. EESIS only pay $200. Those who got into IP still have to top-up 100+ to 200+ every month depend on the level of study. Compared to govt school which cost only $20+ a month.