2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[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.

[glchua]

Reading through all the posts after the GEP test makes me worried for my son. Guess his nature is just too uncompetitive.


My son is the kind of person that cares very little, just want to play and play.

When I picked him up after the test, the first thing he does is to eat his snack and read his funny book. When I asked him how he did, he just told me he only know 50% of every test and then continue munching. Tempted to press him for more information but have to mentally restrain myself.

I think he should be out of it already.

Well, I should happy that at least he made it through the first round. sigh

[elizszu.06231hotmail.06231com]

glchua:

Reading through all the posts after the GEP test makes me worried for my son. Guess his nature is just too uncompetitive.


My son is the kind of person that cares very little, just want to play and play.

When I picked him up after the test, the first thing he does is to eat his snack and read his funny book. When I asked him how he did, he just told me he only know 50% of every test and then continue munching. Tempted to press him for more information but have to mentally restrain myself.

I think he should be out of it already.

Well, I should happy that at least he made it through the first round. *sigh*

Same here, my ds is also the laid back type, thus I am already contented that he has made it through the first round

[znzyzyzx]

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 ?

According to my son, this is just the example question, not the real question.

[rains]

glchua:

Reading through all the posts after the GEP test makes me worried for my son. Guess his nature is just too uncompetitive.


My son is the kind of person that cares very little, just want to play and play.

When I picked him up after the test, the first thing he does is to eat his snack and read his funny book. When I asked him how he did, he just told me he only know 50% of every test and then continue munching. Tempted to press him for more information but have to mentally restrain myself.

I think he should be out of it already.

Well, I should happy that at least he made it through the first round. *sigh*

Hey, why sigh? The first round 'throws up top 10% of the cohort', quoted from some GEP link. I am already so glad my kid is at least the better quarter at P3. It only tells me that she won't do too badly at psle. My kid's principal told the parents at one of the briefings that a parent went to an MP's office to cry bcos her son didn't get into GEP, and the MP came to her and asked her to go educate the parents,\"Only 1% gets into GEP. So your child is NORMAL if he doesn't get into it!\"

My kid is also only keen on playing all day, going to JB and of course reading her harry potter. Like you, I couldn't fish out much info about the test. I know more about it from here than from her. And my kid also said the same thing, that she couldn't do half of the ability test, and said,\"I think I fail.\" Isn't that worse? Not to mention her bloody molar during the test!

My kid told me that half her class got thro the first round and some boys in her class cried when they didn't get the letter. I thought it quite sad. I don't know what the parents have been telling them.

[glchua]

Thanks for all the comforting replies!


I guess he would not do too badly but I know he wouldn’t do well too for the "straight" PSLE exams.

Since P1, his results are always mediocre, some subjects are even bordering on band 3. It is difficult enough to get him to finish his homework, so trying to get him to prepare for tests and exams is near impossible. I had already given up pushing him.

That is also why I send him to a neighbourhood primary school as I can see the problems coming. Hahaha…even his kindergarden teacher thinks he lacks focus and motivation.

Sometimes it is a fine balance between letting them have their childhood or pushing them to achieve.