2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[atutor2001]

Are ALL kids selected for GEP really comparatively MORE gifted than those kids not selected? Lets look at the selection criteria from MOE site :


Who is an exceptionally gifted child?

An exceptionally gifted child is one whose intellectual ability is significantly advanced. Some common characteristics of exceptionally gifted children include:

1. an extraordinary speed in processing information
2. an ability to relate to a broad range of ideas and synthesise commonalities among them
3. a high degree of ability to think abstractly which develops early
4. an extraordinary degree of intellectual curiosity
5. an unusual capacity for memory
6. a long concentration span
7. a fascination with ideas and words
8. an extensive vocabulary.

If we look closer at the selection guide and the method of testing for identification of gifted kid, we will find that for a kid to be identified as gifted, he/she needs to have a very good command of English at P3 because the test is conducted in English. The top gifted kid from China will probably fail the tests.

Among my friends and peers, I find that only those who speak good English or who are very particular about language have \"gifted\" kids.

As usual, my kap poh self made me follow the development of the \"gifted kids\". My observation :

1. About 50% of the gifted kids need DSA to enter the Top school
2. 20% of the gifted kids are just simply hardworking
3. Top 30% are really gifted - self motivated, good time management, ...

So when they casted the net and caught 100 fishes, only about 30 of the fishes are what they are looking for. Therefore, it is quite easy to train an above average kid to be selected for GEP.

However, there are drawbacks to take up GEP if the child is not really gifted (especially for boys - based on real life examples I have witnessed) :

- too lazy (not unable to) to catch up with the work
- think that he is really gifted & becomes complacent
- feeling lousy as there is no way to match the real gifted

Those poor gifted boys I know barely passed their A level. Now the parents have to send them overseas as they can't qualify for local U.
Their results might have been much better if their heads did not swell thinking that they are gifted. Just some observations to share.

[john.09525316]

Vlim and Rosie, do all GEP students sit for the same test/exam papers, having the same time schedule when they are not be from the same GEP primary school?[/quote]



Yes! All the GEP are taking the same paper.

Heard. This yr GEP P5 the Eng paper was tough, one of the GEP’s centre one third of them failed their Eng paper 2.

Anybody would like to share about it.

Heard too. This year CHIJ St Nicholas P5 (main stream) 80% of them failed Eng paper 2. That sound very scrary right!!! Anyone would like to confirm this.

It seems like the English paper is going to be very tough for the future generation.

[keroppi]

atutor2001:

Among my friends and peers, I find that only those who speak good English or who are very particular about language have \"gifted\" kids.

These were my thoughts about the traits of gifted children too so I was quite apprehensive about enrolling DS into GEP when he was offered last year. His language skill is poor to average.

I tried to look at the bigger picture. I know that DS' mathematical skills were several years ahead of his peers. By P1 his concept of fractions is already very solid ... by P3, he has learnt everything about algebra, Gauss theorem, Pythagoras theorem, Fibonacci series, etc by borrowing books from school library on his own - he also has a vast knowledge of history (also through reading) and science too.

I am glad we took the plunge. GEP is definitely a good programme. For the first time in his life, DS felt challenged and loved school.

[ApronMama]

john.316:

Heard too. This year CHIJ St Nicholas P5 (main stream) 80% of them failed Eng paper 2. That sound very scrary right!!! Anyone would like to confirm this.

It seems like the English paper is going to be very tough for the future generation.

hi john.316,

In order that the CHIJ students will work very hard this holiday and do well in the national exam PSLE next year.

Offen we hear students comment PSLE English easy after the exam. However, if everyone workhard and average score is high in the population, their T-score may not be high even if a week student make improvement in his/her English result.

BTW, how did you know CHIJ English result so quickily, most school just had their English SA2 P2 yesterday. :?

[Full.010894Cream]

atutor2001:

1. About 50% of the gifted kids need DSA to enter the Top school
2. 20% of the gifted kids are just simply hardworking
3. Top 30% are really gifted - self motivated, good time management, ...

So when they casted the net and caught 100 fishes, only about 30 of the fishes are what they are looking for. Therefore, it is quite easy to train an above average kid to be selected for GEP.

I have to disagree on your above point 3. yes, there are some who will be more perfectly gufted than others. But that doesn't mean the rest are NOT 'really gufted'. Being able to work hard and get results is also a form of giftedness.

My guesstimation is that there's abt 10% of those who were selected thru extensive training (not necessarily hardworking in nature). Another 20% right up there in terms of grey cells and leadership/management quality.
The in-between 70% are a mixture of high-ability kids who are mainly good in both maths and science.

[vlim]

ApronMama:

Vlim and Rosie, do all GEP students sit for the same test/exam papers, having the same time schedule when they are not be from the same GEP primary school?

Oh yes. Primary gep are centrally controlled by moe. all gep students from the 9 gep schools took the same tests and exam at the same schedule. So if happen that any of the students was sick and need to take the test at a later date, the papers will not be issued out to those already taken till the sick students taken it.

[atutor2001]

keroppi:

...His language skill is poor to average.

I tried to look at the bigger picture. I know that DS' mathematical skills were several years ahead of his peers. By P1 his concept of fractions is already very solid ... by P3, he has learnt everything about algebra, Gauss theorem, Pythagoras theorem, Fibonacci series, etc by borrowing books from school library on his own - he also has a vast knowledge of history (also through reading) and science too.

I am glad we took the plunge. GEP is definitely a good programme. For the first time in his life, DS felt challenged and loved school.

Hi keroppi

Congratulation, despite the limitation in his language skill he is selected for GEP. It is a confirmation of his \"gifted talent\".

What is more heartening is that the system did not miss him in the selection process. Otherwise it will be a great loss.

Regards

[atutor2001]

Full.Cream:

....The in-between 70% are a mixture of high-ability kids who are mainly good in both maths and science....

Hi Full Cream

Those numbers are just my kay poh guess only.

However, the 50% that needs to DSA to Top school is pretty accurate because my kids ex-Pr School has GEP. I noted that generally, about half of the \"gifted\" cohort did not meet the entry point of the Top schools and actually went in through DSA.

The 20% figure on \"hardworking students\" is actually feedback from students of those schools. They generally don't appreciate this group of students. Maybe they don't feel that \"hardworking\" is a form of giftness. Maybe this group spend too much time studying and did not socialise.

Regards

[ApronMama]

atutor2001:

Full.Cream:

....The in-between 70% are a mixture of high-ability kids who are mainly good in both maths and science....

However, the 50% that needs to DSA to Top school is pretty accurate because my kids ex-Pr School has GEP. I noted that generally, about half of the \"gifted\" cohort did not meet the entry point of the Top schools and actually went in through DSA.

The 20% figure on \"hardworking students\" is actually feedback from students of those schools. They generally don't appreciate this group of students. Maybe they don't feel that \"hardworking\" is a form of giftness. Maybe this group spend too much time studying and did not socialise.

Regards

Those who work hard whether in GEP or non-GEP stream are usually girls.

[john.09525316]

BTW, how did you know CHIJ English result so quickily, most school just had their English SA2 P2 yesterday. :?[/quote]


Hi Apronmama,

CHIJ St Nicholas has completed their SA2 more than a week ago.
My friend daughter failed her Eng paper. Daughter said a lot of my friends failed too.

Cheer!