Parents, not enrichment centres, are key to result

[PiggyLalala]

Just to share… my ds way of doing the above questions… Concept used = RATIO, and need a bit of simple simultaneous skills…


A: shaded: unshaded = 1u:1u
shaded: unshaded = 1p:4p
B: shaded: unshaded = 1u + 1p: 3u+3p

Given area A+B = 125% tt of C,
therefore 2u + 4u + 4p: 5p = 5z: 4z
6u + 4p = 5z ----- (1)
5p = 4z --------(2)

from (1) 24u + 16p = 20z
from (2) 25p = 20z

therefore 24u + 16p = 25u
24u = 9p
8u = 3p
4u = 3/2p; 2u = 3/4p
Therefore area A/area B = 2u/4u+4p = 3/4p divide by (3/2p +4p) =3/22.

[PiggyLalala]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62167097@N02/6705370185/in/photostream

Mathizzzfun's solution by model

[metz]

Funz:

My kiddos are not yet at the PSLE stage yet so all is still kinda rosy right now. Just trying to understand what I might be heading in for so don't shoot me hor.


But I am just wondering, all these talk about testing beyond what is taught or beyond the abilities of kids this age, is it really so? Of the entire exam paper, are all the questions beyond what is taught in the syllabus? Or just a small percentage of the questions to sniff out those with higher order thinking?

Is it the paper that is forcing the parents to need all these tuition and enrichment or is it the parents who refuse let their children stumble on these questions that led to this 'tuition culture'?

A strong understanding of concepts and exposure to various application-type qestions (i.e practising beyond the textbooks and workbooks) should help in solving most of the P5 & P6 questions. However, some acceleration may be required when one reaches P5. For instance, the topic on Ratio. The P5 school syllabus touches briefly on Ratio. But to solve higher level questions at P5, one needs the knowledge from P6 ratio topics, ie. Ratio & Fraction, Changing Ratios. These are covered in P5 Onsponge Book. However, it is possible to tackle P5 & P6 papers without going through the Onsponge books. Tried and tested.

For me, the school syllabus does not include all the topics one may encounter in the school test papers or assessment books. We picked up some 'new Maths' from Maths Olympiad books (MOB). But I must confess these form a small percentage in most test papers. What stumble most students would be the application of concepts learnt in problem solving. From the question that PiggyLalala posed, we see that one can arrive at the same answer via different methods. In fact, a number of the questions posed in the maths threads can also be solved using various methods. It is not so much the depth but the skill in applying concepts learnt that makes Maths seemingly difficult.

Just my 2 cents - from someone whose kids have no school teachers/materials but only textbooks & assessment books to rely on ...

Edit : As for questions from MOB, though not included in the textbooks, they do appear in some assessment books. Schools may have even taught or introduced them to their students. Such MOB questions which include http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=149&start=1530, http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=25114&start=60, intervals, etc, are fairly common in the various Maths threads of this forum.

[metz]

insider:

I shared before about PSLE is really not that bad a monster. 'Regular' kids should not have big issues getting their As in all subjects (T score around 220), even for those who are weak in Chinese (like my son with horrible Chinese and still managed an A and so the standard is real LOW). The papers are manageable. If a 'regular' child is looking at getting all A*s, then another totally different story...(need to do like what Chamonix is doing with 'chimmer' external guide books).

chimmer guide books? You mean Maths Olympaid Books? I don't think Maths Olympiad books alone will help much in getting A*.

Insider, there is some misunderstanding. I don't advocate any special or chim Maths guide books. Rather, I emphaszie on horning the skill of applying concepts for Maths. I have always encouraged my kids to think of various ways to solve a question, be it simple or difficult, based on their knowledge and understanding. For instance, my six year old figured out division by herself. She told me it's simply the number of times a big number can be subtracted by the smaller number.

[metz]

insider:

chamonix:

chimmer guide books? You mean Maths Olympaid Books? I don't think Maths Olympiad books alone will help much in getting A*.

I picked up MOB in Popular, browsed through, and then kwai kwai put it back.

This book will probably help a child to score an additional 2 or 3 points in PSLE and so I feel not worth the time and efforts (unless a child is really interested in Maths but my kids not that type that enjoys MOB questions).

It's this type of 'extra-ordinary' points that put a 'bester' child above a 'best' child... (experience from my second sister who is a guru in assessment books...)

No free lunch, if want to be the 'bestest' child, need to work the BEST!

Really? My kids haven't taken the PSLE yet, so I won't know. But based on the experience we have with school test papers, it doesn't really help much. Maybe, we haven't touched the chimmer MOB you mentioned, that's why.

[corneyAmber]

chamonix:

insider:

I shared before about PSLE is really not that bad a monster. 'Regular' kids should not have big issues getting their As in all subjects (T score around 220), even for those who are weak in Chinese (like my son with horrible Chinese and still managed an A and so the standard is real LOW). The papers are manageable. If a 'regular' child is looking at getting all A*s, then another totally different story...(need to do like what Chamonix is doing with 'chimmer' external guide books).

chimmer guide books? You mean Maths Olympaid Books? I don't think Maths Olympiad books alone will help much in getting A*.

Insider, there is some misunderstanding. I don't advocate any special or chim Maths guide books. Rather, I emphaszie on horning the skill of applying concepts for Maths. I have always encouraged my kids to think of various ways to solve a question, be it simple or difficult, based on their knowledge and understanding.

This is what I have been advocating.
Btw, Math is not about Math only, it forms the basis for the development of a problem-solving mind which is required in the real world.

[metz]

insider:

No worry, I don't mean you are advocating 'chimmer' books. I was trying to say if want that extra so-difficult-to-get marks, then may need to look at 'chimmer' books. This you have also stated clearly that formed only a small % of marks.

I know you are not that 'type' lah!

Cheers!

You know, I am also very kiasu. That's why I am here. :evil:

Some of the questions that I encountered in Maths Olympiad books are already found in the Maths threads. No need to go through Maths Olympiad books nowadays. Thanks to KSP.

Perhaps, one way to score well in PSLE or school exams is combing through the various Maths threads. :imcool:

[metz]

insider:

chamonix:

Perhaps, one way to score well in PSLE or school exams is combing through the various Maths threads. :imcool:

Maybe I have the privilege of personally seeing three kids (now age 25, 19, and 17) and other friends' kids through PSLE and so I can see 'patterns' in PSLE clearly and so not being 'intimidated' at all. Those 'extra-ordinary' IQ question/s aside, main bulk of the questions are quite 'predictable'.

First time parents maybe more anxious coz not sure what to expect and hence over-preparing is better than under-preparing. Therefore their subsequent kids, if any, tend to enjoy lesser stress as compared to their elder sibling... (qualifier: not if parents are eyeing at all A*s...)

Have fun!!

We are certainly having fun with Maths now. (Maybe too much.) Otherwise, I wouldn't be teaching my gal roman numerals (as per her request). Should be making her learn her multiplication tables instead ... hehe

If it's within the child's reach with some hard work, aiming for A* is not really something bad too.

[metz]

ksi:

chamonix:

Insider, there is some misunderstanding. I don't advocate any special or chim Maths guide books. Rather, I emphaszie on horning the skill of applying concepts for Maths. I have always encouraged my kids to think of various ways to solve a question, be it simple or difficult, based on their knowledge and understanding.

This is what I have been advocating.
Btw, Math is not about Math only, it forms the basis for the development of a problem-solving mind which is required in the real world.

Certainly agree with you on that. :celebrate:

[metz]

insider:

chamonix:

If it's within the child's reach with some hard work, aiming for A* is not really something bad too.

Definitely!

For regular kids, if they are accurate and careful enough in their computations with good understanding of concepts and completing diligently those past year papers that teachers piling on them, getting an A* actually is quite probable...

My kindergarteners are using this to have some basic concepts of tens and ones. Our schools use it as a game when introducing this concept... (Egyptian number system). Quite fun that you may want to take a look...

http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/topics/num-sys.html

Thanks! We are actually using the book 'Exploring Ancient Number Systems\". Supposed to be for Grades 5-8. She'll probably be lost along the way. But what the heck, we are just having fun with ancient systems here.

cheers!