Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary
-
My daughter sat for the entrance exam a few years back and we did not feel unduly stressed as she already had a confirmed place in another primary school. It does seem to be a fair system.
-
-
-
today i rang up the school.
being the start of a fresh new year 2012, this Sat P1 admission tests (14 Jan 2012) cover only what had already been taught in the K2 kindergarten curriculum. Officer said can't reveal nor disclose specifically which topic, but in general cover stuff on what K2 pupils had already been taught in the kindergarten, basic stuff that by end of K2 will know or should know, upon entry into P1.
perhaps we may google MOE website for K2 kindergarten curriculum. Take a look at K2 syllabus. It may provide some clue or hint, at least help define what it means by end of K2 ought to know, as there are different type of kindergarten around, curriculum not standardized. Besides, the standard varies quite a fair bit from one kindergarten to another. We have mixture of traditional teaching / setting kindergarten, montessori kindergarten, PCF (formerly called PAP), childcare centres, etc. The standard varies widely. Some kindergarten core curriculum are able to stand on its own, empower & prepare kids for P1, without the need of further enrichment. In contrast, some kindergarten are ... pathetic. Due to the difference in standard, some students may find the tests ... tough. Others may find it manageable.
for Transfer case -
SCGS is fair, transparent, eliminate back door \"pull string\" or \"Who you know that matters\" or celebrity status. Going foward, other interested schools can follow SCGS similar style. No need re-invent the wheel from scratch. Borrow P1 to P6 sample admission test papers from SCGS, modify accordingly to suit their own school standard (if needed).
All the very best to applicants this Sat in Transfer Wait list!
would be nice if can hear some parents feedback (both P1 and P5 level), after this Sat test.
when will you be notified of outcome ?
FAQ
http://www.scgs.edu.sg/content/view/24/155/
detail
http://www.scgs.edu.sg/content/view/116/25/ -
Read the report in TNP, and gosh, the picture painted was very different from what’s in ksp (ie what the tests are like, level of difficulty etc). Gosh, how I love ksp.
And yes, parents are not forced to have their girls take the entrance exam. Personally do not like the tone that was used in that article. Is it wrong to have a transparent way by which kids can get transfer to a school?
Hate all that backdoor jockeying that MAY be happening elsewhere (i have no knowledge, first hand or otherwise). I’m proud that scgs has stayed transparent by offering such entry tests. -
The New Paper report
http://www.tnp.sg/content/tough-test-primary-1-transfer-pupils -
Thanks for the link, phtthp, but the online version seems quite brief. I understand the printed version had more information.
Does anyone happen to still have the full write up that was published on TNP? Can you be so kind as to scan the article? :please: :please:
Thanks. -
It feels like Japan & Hong Kong System after watching ‘Being a child’.
-
the school selecting from the best!
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120112-321483.html
The New Paper
Saturday, Jan 14 2012
FIRST, they apply for the opportunity - with a $25 application fee.
Then they sit for three tests - each lasting 45 minutes and all within 3 hours.
Those who do well enough are then called in for an interview, with only the best accepted.
No, these aren't young graduates looking for a job.
They are children fighting for limited transfer spots in Primary 1, at the super-popular Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS).
Many children have gone through this gruelling procedure in the past few years, with another batch of hopefuls sitting for it this Saturday.
But some parents, including those whose children have been through it, are saying: Enough! Why put our children through this just for the chance to study in your school?
Reviewing policy
Anxious parents have been voicing their concerns about this for some time on Kiasuparents.com, a networking website where parents share their experiences on bringing up their children.
The school says it is now reviewing its policy after receiving feedback from parents.
One mother of a Primary 3 pupil who went through the test two years ago regrets putting her daughter through the process.
Her daughter had just started primary school in January 2010, but was also an SCGS transfer hopeful.
The girl was put through an admission test, which is part of the standard drill for potential transfers, with about 20 other Primary 1 pupils.
They sat for English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue papers that lasted 45 minutes each, with short breaks in between, on a Saturday morning.
A check with the school confirmed that the tests include writing compositions and exercises suitable for primary school pupils.
The mother, who declined to be named, told The New Paper through the site's forum: \"My girl didn't make it. She said the papers weren't easy and I didn't want to stress her further.\"
Her daughter is now in Primary 3 at Fairfield Methodist School (Primary).
The mother had written on the forum two years ago that her daughter found the tests really tough.
She had said then: \"I am extremely worried as to how she has done! I wish the school will reveal the number of vacancies.\"
Other parents have also raised their concerns that the SCGS transfer admission test is too tough on Primary 1 hopefuls.
Another Kiasuparents.com user, whose daughter took the test, described the papers as being of a \"high standard\".
The user added: \"My daughter told me then that she had to write compositions for both English and Chinese, and she was only in Primary 1.\"
Even parents whose children didn't have to take the test are uncomfortable with it.
A housewife with a daughter in Primary 3 at SCGS told TNP: \"Having to take tests for three subjects in a day may be way too much for Primary 1 pupils to cope with.
\"It should be spread out over three days, or the pupils should be given a few hours of rest between each test.\"
SCGS is believed to be the only primary school to hold an admission test for potential transfers at the Primary 1 level.
The school said the test has been conducted twice a year since 1995.
An SCGS spokesman told TNP in an e-mail reply that the admission test is conducted to fill \"a small number of vacancies\" that may arise at the start of each school year.
Pupils who make the cut after taking the test are then called for an interview.
The spokesman said the interview was for the school to \"speak to the pupils to find out more about their needs and whether they are ready and enthusiastic about a transfer\".
The process is, however, under review.
Said the spokesman: \"After considering feedback from parents, we will review our process in our continued focus on holistic education.\"
The reply did not provide details on the review.
Reasonable
But some parents have no issues with SCGS having such a test.
Assistant accountant Teo Poh Yap, 33, who has a daughter in Primary 1 in Woodgrove Primary School, felt that it's reasonable to have an admission test for Primary 1 transfer pupils.
Said Madam Teo: \"The test is a good gauge of whether transfer students can cope with the education system of elite schools.\"
A father whose daughter is sitting for the test this Saturday is actually excited about it.
He said this is because he has already made sure that his daughter is well-prepared for the test.
The businessman, who wanted to be known only as Mr Goh, 47, told TNP yesterday: \"I feel the test is necessary. Even if it is indeed difficult, parents should not be complaining as it is set by those who know the standards of the SCGS system best.
\"I am very comfortable with the idea. If she makes it, she makes it. But if she doesn't make the cut, so be it.\" he said of his daughter who is currently studying in a neighbourhood school in the west. -
My dd went for the tests last yr for admission to P2 this yr. She did well enough to be selected for the interview. After the tests, i asked dd how was it and she said it was ok. We wanted to transfer her from her current SAP school to a school with affiliation so as to reduce the stress at PSLE.
During the interview, she was asked general questions about her hobbies and the subjects that she likes. The final question was "Do you want to transfer to SCGS?" My dd, very innocently, said "It is not me. It is my mummy. I prefer my xxx primary school. I love my school and teachers very much." Well, she blew her chance. But to us, it was just trying to see whether she can get in. If she gets in, good. If not, her current school is good too though very academic focused. At least, i know that she loves her current school very much and at the yr of her P1, she was selected the best model student of her class!
I did ask her a few days ago whether she wants to try again for SCGS. Her answer is still a No. LOL! -
mummy of 3:
It feels like Japan & Hong Kong System after watching 'Being a child'.
Is this documentary still being screened? Or can we watch it off the internet?
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login