All About Preparing For PSLE

[JRLam]

Fretting:

My own experience - spend time on the languages. That pays off.

Hi. Apologies if this question had been asked. I have been given different answers to it, hence will like to clarify it again.

In PSLE, are the weightages for EL and CL higher than Sci and MA? If so, what are they and how are they computed?

I am concerned that we are spending an unproportionate time on CL, but not sure if this is worthwhile at the end of the day, from a weightage point-of-view. As much as I want my DS to improve his CL, his resistance in this subject not only means much LONGER time to cover a short passage (read : VERY INEFFICIENT!), but it is also seriously straining our relationship.

Thanks!

[Fretting]

Based on personal experience. I think it probably makes sense to be ahead of the curve on all subjects including languages if you’re looking at a very high psle score. Its probably easier to be ahead of the curve on maths and science if the kid is already doing very well in those subjects and its probably more challenging to be ahead of the curve on languages since that is more subjective (so hence more effort). Just my personal view from personal experience; may not necessarily apply to everyone. Think also you need to see the emphasis of different schools and then judge how the curve will turn out. If I could do it all over again, I would have asked kiddy to swot the languages more and also to take HCL!

[jtoh]

JRLam:

Fretting:

My own experience - spend time on the languages. That pays off.

Hi. Apologies if this question had been asked. I have been given different answers to it, hence will like to clarify it again.

In PSLE, are the weightages for EL and CL higher than Sci and MA? If so, what are they and how are they computed?

I am concerned that we are spending an unproportionate time on CL, but not sure if this is worthwhile at the end of the day, from a weightage point-of-view. As much as I want my DS to improve his CL, his resistance in this subject not only means much LONGER time to cover a short passage (read : VERY INEFFICIENT!), but it is also seriously straining our relationship.

Thanks!

No. All subjects have EXACTLY THE SAME WEIGHTAGE.

[Fretting]

The PSLE results are based on the T-score and not the Raw Score. So weightage of subject is a consideration, but the relativity of how a child performs compared to others is probably more important. The child’s final PSLE score is calculated by reference to how he or she performs relative to his/her peers, and the standard deviation or spread of marks around the average mark of the cohort. So the final psle score aims to show how the pupil stands relative to his or her peers. So where you are in the curve for a subject and how easy it is to be ahead or at the top of the curve becomes important, imho. A number of schools post the method for calculation on their website with good explanations.

[JRLam]

Fretting:

The PSLE results are based on the T-score and not the Raw Score. So weightage of subject is a consideration, but the relativity of how a child performs compared to others is probably more important. The child's final PSLE score is calculated by reference to how he or she performs relative to his/her peers, and the standard deviation or spread of marks around the average mark of the cohort. So the final psle score aims to show how the pupil stands relative to his or her peers. So where you are in the curve for a subject and how easy it is to be ahead or at the top of the curve becomes important, imho. A number of schools post the method for calculation on their website with good explanations.

Thanks Fretting and jtoh.

So if it is taking a disproportion amount time to attempt to improve my ds' CL results from mediocre to average (eg grade C to B or B to A) vs other subjects, does it make sense to spend lesser time on it, and focus on his other stronger subjects to get a high A or A*?

I understand there are students who are exempted from CL in PSLE. Any idea how will their T-Score be calculated then? Won't the total T-score of 3 subjects be naturally lower than the norm who are taking 4 subjects?

[Fretting]

that’s hard to answer, because the results are relative to what everyone does. In the 2011 exams, the national standard for pupils scoring A in the four subjects below is as follows - how you score within these bands, or outside these bands, relative to everyone else, has the ability to take your score up or down.

EL - 44.3% A and A*
CL - 80.6% A and A*
Maths - 43.5% A and A*
Science - 43.5% A and A*

[Mummy-oan]

I thought the most easier to score A* should be Maths and Science as CL and EL having oral and compos components.


so… can any1 share the tips?

[Lenny08]

I would think is math and chinese.



Lenny

Mummy-oan:

I thought the most easier to score A* should be Maths and Science as CL and EL having oral and compos components.

so.... can any1 share the tips?

[Pen88n]

Every subject is equal weightage. To score well in PSLE, one need to be a all-rounder. Every year, the various subject paper may differ in standard. In the case of "easy" paper, the subject overall marks will be higher and top T-score for that particular subject will be relatively lower (compared with the other subjects).


From my observation, in the last 2 years, the Maths and Science paper were relatively easy, so languages became the "determining factor" and those who excel in the language papers will get higher T-score. In year 2009, the Maths paper was very difficult, so those able to excel in Maths scored very well.

In conclusion, if you can "predict" the "difficult" paper for the year and excel in that paper, you can then score well. Otherwise, be a all-rounder and score in every subject to do well.

[Mummy-oan]

Can share experience how you coach your children on Maths and Science?