2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[corneyAmber]

rains:

vlim:

well maybe we as a parent need to be relax and happy first before we can make our kids relax and happy.... I had heard someone saying .. ' live as if today is the last day of your life'.. so treasure whatever u have and live happily ... ha haaaaa ... sorry if I am not in the same track as what u guys are discussing

I always thought care needs to be exercised when you use that line 'live as if today is the last day of your life'. When I was a teenager, I took it as 'don't bother to plan too much and don't need to study hard. For all I know, tomorrow I die liao'. So I always never did well in my studies.

That was because you had missed the part 2 to this saying...

\"Dream as if you'll live forever..\"

[corneyAmber]

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.

We might be going a little into \"analysis paralysis\" syndrome here on GEP. To me, we assume the GEP system is fair unless we have a better way to offer. Problem definition is always the easy part, providing the solution is tough. It does not bother me who gets into the GEP because anyone who enters the programme has a price to pay whether truly gifted or not:

1. Labelling
2. High expectations of being super in everything, mentally and sometimes even physically
3. Higher esteem roller coaster
4. Hard to stay low profile
5. Growing up not so ideally.......subject to further criticisms
6. Become big talking point for people and constantly being monitored

So to me even if the wrong candidates get into the programme, they have to pay the price for it, not in monetary terms but in worser terms.

I believe being gifted and talented also means one has to know how to carry the gift.

With the above, staying in mainstream and excel has alot of more merits.

[vlim]

ks2me:

We might be going a little into \"analysis paralysis\" syndrome here on GEP. To me, we assume the GEP system is fair unless we have a better way to offer. Problem definition is always the easy part, providing the solution is tough. It does not bother me who gets into the GEP because anyone who enters the programme has a price to pay whether truly gifted or not:


1. Labelling
2. High expectations of being super in everything, mentally and sometimes even physically
3. Higher esteem roller coaster
4. Hard to stay low profile
5. Growing up not so ideally.......subject to further criticisms
6. Become big talking point for people and constantly being monitored

So to me even if the wrong candidates get into the programme, they have to pay the price for it, not in monetary terms but in worser terms.

I believe being gifted and talented also means one has to know how to carry the gift.

With the above, staying in mainstream and excel has alot of more merits.

:udawoman: :goodpost:

[father_of_3]

Pl allow me to input my comments on lower T-score for GEP students as compare to mainstream:

1. Pl understand that during GEP screening, MT is not tested.
2. GEP students start their PSLE revision from May-Jun
3. some GEP students may have confirm slot in IP school during DSA. Some may hv more than 2 or 3. From here, I think here is where boys may slack a bit. That’s where during DSA-Open hse, school always advise student to work hard even after their slot is confirmed.

[father_of_3]

I recall in the 1st briefing session with MOE on GEP school selection, they mentioned that from their experience, girls are more emotion. Since they hv with their schoolmates for 3 yrs, it may be difficult for them to leave to new school. There were some who refused to switch to GEP due to emotion bond.

[Full.010894Cream]

believe my boy did quite badly for his p5 sa2. but on the brighter side, last night he started talking about methane (guess his friends must have been talking abt fart or sthg like that), and then our discussion went on to hydrocarbons, glucose, covalent bond, ionic bond, electron orbital distribution....


you win some, u lose some....just have recognise the blessings. :celebrate:

[atutor2001]

ks2me:

We might be going a little into \"analysis paralysis\" syndrome here on GEP. To me, we assume the GEP system is fair unless we have a better way to offer. .... .

Hi ks2me

I think you get me wrong. \"fairness\" of the GEP test was not my concern but rather the accuracy of the selection results, inevitably, caused by the limitation of having to set the tests in English as it is our medium of instruction - we cannot hide from it. I have gone through this process and only wish to share with others that they must be aware of this \"imperfection\" in the testing method and think through carefully before deciding whether to send their kids to GEP.

The estimate of 30% of gifted kids was brought up to highlight that from past records, out of every 100 kids identified, only approximately 30 of them will not suffer undue pressure or stress due to the additional workload. So all discerning parents with the advantage of past data in hand, please make a conscious decision when deciding. GEP gives additional exposure and is definitely an advantage. However, we must be prepared to spend additional PERSONAL time and effort to provide the necessary support and share the load with our little ones, in case the kid is not in the 30% (hope we don't delegate such tasks to tuition centres :lol:; the personal touch is very important; quitting GEP halfway can be very demoralising)

ks2me:

With the above, staying in mainstream and excel has alot of more merits.

I share the same belief and my kids are fine without all the extras.

Regards

[MdmKS]

atutor2001:

I share the same belief and my kids are fine without all the extras.

Any statistics how many kids are offered but did not take up the offer after the GEP selection test yearly? For these kids, correct me if I am wrong, will still skip GAT during DSA process at P6.

[kiasimom]

Hi. My son went for the GEP selection test on the 20th and 21st October. I heard from MOE that the results will be out on 31st October.

I am pretty nervous and is counting down the days.

My son is already planning which school he wants to transfer to if he makes it...

But I am not very sure if he can pass the selection test as nobody knows how MOE rates them.

Any of you here who is also waiting for the results like me

[vlim]

kiasimom:

Hi. My son went for the GEP selection test on the 20th and 21st October. I heard from MOE that the results will be out on 31st October.

I am pretty nervous and is counting down the days.

My son is already planning which school he wants to transfer to if he makes it...

But I am not very sure if he can pass the selection test as nobody knows how MOE rates them.

Any of you here who is also waiting for the results like me

aiyoyo i don't even dare to mentioned about which sch to put my son in in front of him after the test last yr.. scared he would feel bad if he could not get in.. :lol: