2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[watmekiasu]

rains:

Earlier on, she said that prior to the release of the result of 1st round screening, a (stupid) relief teacher who (cleverly) didn't identify himself to the class told the class that those who can get into GEP are normal and those who can't are stupid. I reckon that's why her class boys cried when they didn't clear the first round. Oh, of course the teacher claimed that he went to GEP, which I totally don't believe.

Wow, that's a truly insensitive remark from a zero EQ teacher. Prob he was from the gifted stream previously, unfortunately he was one of those that turned out wrong with an elitist attitude. I would report such a teacher to the principal as I wouldn't want my child around him.

[watmekiasu]

Tks 2centsworthy for your thoughts on the GEP - very insightful indeed.


I know a number of parents here have mentioned that GEP is not automatically a freeride to DSA - I agree. It would be interesting to know why some GEP students do not get an offer. I know of 2 exGEP-ers who got into their school of choice thru DSA even though their COP were way below the schools requirements :

Tscore 255, got into HC thru DSA with only an interview. His GEP exam results were very poor, according to the mom. Teacher in his GEP class totally unsatisfied with his performance.

Tscore 247, got into ACS thru DSA after taking GAT. Just an average student in the GEP class.

[glchua]

rains:

hihi,

I'm one of the waiting mummies, but I've already prepared my kid for it. I don't bring up the topic of GEP. In fact, when she says 'If I get into GEP ...', I would say,\"I thought you said it's very difficult? Others say very easy. So how can you get in?\" After that, I would tell her not to pin hopes on GEP, that those who don't get in are normal, and that her beloved and all-time respected principal said so ( not her useless mummy).

Haha.... I don't think my son gives a hoot about getting in or not. He doesn't even care if his normal exam/test marks are below average!

rains:

Earlier on, she said that prior to the release of the result of 1st round screening, a (stupid) relief teacher who (cleverly) didn't identify himself to the class told the class that those who can get into GEP are normal and those who can't are stupid. I reckon that's why her class boys cried when they didn't clear the first round. Oh, of course the teacher claimed that he went to GEP, which I totally don't believe.

How can we have teachers like this? No one complained?

rains:

I do believe that GEP should be reserved for the truly gifted. As in the all-time respected principal's words, it's not fair to the child if he's trained to get in.

I guess many parents are tempted to train their kids for this labelling. I wonder if the GEP hosting schools did that to their own students too. Quite dubious that hosting schools have a higher percentage of their students getting in. I guess statistics like this already point to the fact that the selection process might not be that fair.

As parents, we are always tempted by the \"dark side\" to look only at the results, so easy to forget that we are trying to cultivate happy, broad minded, contributing adults.

[rains]

glchua:

Haha.... I don't think my son gives a hoot about getting in or not. He doesn't even care if his normal exam/test marks are below average!

Some time early this year, I mentioned that if she ever gets in GEP, I'll take her to camp out at Sentosa for 3 days. She wants that more than anything.

glchua:

How can we have teachers like this? No one complained?

I supposed no one. Even if there is, I also won't know. The parents there usually don't make a big fuss over remarks that don't target at their own kids.

glchua:

I guess many parents are tempted to train their kids for this labelling. I wonder if the GEP hosting schools did that to their own students too. Quite dubious that hosting schools have a higher percentage of their students getting in. I guess statistics like this already point to the fact that the selection process might not be that fair.

As far as I know, nyps doesn't train students for GEP. I feel that it's more of the demographics that the children come from and the standard of the papers churned out by the schools. If the children have been exposed to a certain standard most of the time, there will naturally be more students qualifying for at least the first round. I don't think any school would cheat to place their students in the GEP programme.

[atutor2001]

2centsworthy:

I am a newbie... thought I could share what I do know about GEP....

Hi 2centsworthy

You are great! You have put it so clearly and with such detail, information that all prospective GEPers parents must know.

Most of the times, parents couldn't cope or have too high an expectation, end up sending their child for tuition. The saddest thing about tuition is that it is addictive. In the Top 2 Sec schools, at least 70% of the students have tuition. Such tuitions go all the way to JC. In Bishan, there are a couple of tutors who cater to mostly only students from 1 schools. They are so well know and sought after. Are these bright children expecting tuition at uni too? I wonder.

Regards

[jesschan]

rains:

hihi,

I'm one of the waiting mummies, but I've already prepared my kid for it.

Hi, me too! But contrary to many of you, I am just curious to know whether my boy can pass the second selection test because we have already decided that it is better for him to stay in the mainstream even if he is selected, after analysing the pros and cons.

I believe my boy is above average quality but not to the extend of \"gifted\". I think putting him in a class of truly gifted kids will put us under too much stress and I know that he thrives better when he can lead from the front. Currently, he enjoys going to school and has plenty of time for sports which he likes. I think that is very important for a child.

[Puffer]

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...

How would we know if the results are released - via school or mail to us parents? And for those who do not make it, would they still be notified? TIA

[hopeless]

Is it true that hosting school have higher percentage of GEP students? As my son's school was one of the testing center, he told me that one of the hosting school students' number was small as compared to his school. But I think maybe those hosting students present are the creme-la-creme. :?

[vlim]

hopeless:

Is it true that hosting school have higher percentage of GEP students? As my son's school was one of the testing center, he told me that one of the hosting school students' number was small as compared to his school. But I think maybe those hosting students present are the creme-la-creme. :?

sorry .. just to clarify.. what u mean by 'hosting school' is the school that use to host gep screening tests? Well if u mean that u might get us wrong as what we are saying are the 9 pri schools that have gep classes usually have higher number of students qualified for gep.

[keroppi]

Puffer:

How would we know if the results are released - via school or mail to us parents? And for those who do not make it, would they still be notified? TIA

Via school. Those who qualify will each be given a large envelope holding all the GEP information. Good luck to all parents!!