Exemption from MT (Chinese)

[verykiasumummy]

phankao:

That's how my ds classmate can get high 260+with only 3 subjects. Another friend ds also got high 260 with 3 subjects .

only when chi is their worst subject, that is far lower than other 3...

[Gxmas]

phankao:

Gxmas:

Gxmas wrote:

.... but how the T-score is calculated without MT is another mystery....
..


Er, just add the 3 subject together for the t-score lah. Not difficult.

But that would make the T-score of those exempted from MT much lower than th MTose taking 4 subjects. When it comes to posting using T-scores, then how?

How so ? Eg. Adjusted tscores for 3 subjects is 90 each , then the PSLE aggregate would be 270 . If the child is not exempt from his supposedly poorer subject and get. 70 adjusted t score for MT , then adding top the 3 other subject's adjusted tscores of 90 each. , his PSLE aggregate will be 255 instead.

Sorry can't really follow.... :scratchhead:

That means the T-score of each subject will change depending on how many subjects are taken? in ur eg, if MT is exempted and adjusted T-score of 3 subjects is 90 each, so total T-score is 270. This i got it
But if MT is exempted and the raw scores for the other 3 subjects remain the same, how to get 255? :?

Appreciate it if you could share, thanks!

[phankao]

Gxmas:

phankao:

[quote=\"Gxmas\"]Gxmas wrote:

.... but how the T-score is calculated without MT is another mystery....
..


Er, just add the 3 subject together for the t-score lah. Not difficult.

But that would make the T-score of those exempted from MT much lower than th MTose taking 4 subjects. When it comes to posting using T-scores, then how?

How so ? Eg. Adjusted tscores for 3 subjects is 90 each , then the PSLE aggregate would be 270 . If the child is not exempt from his supposedly poorer subject and get. 70 adjusted t score for MT , then adding top the 3 other subject's adjusted tscores of 90 each. , his PSLE aggregate will be 255 instead.

Sorry can't really follow.... :scratchhead:

That means the T-score of each subject will change depending on how many subjects are taken? in ur eg, if MT is exempted and adjusted T-score of 3 subjects is 90 each, so total T-score is 270. This i got it
But if MT is exempted and the raw scores for the other 3 subjects remain the same, how to get 255? :?

Appreciate it if you could share, thanks![/quote]Every subject will have an individual adjusted T-score. It doesn't change. It is adjusted based on each subject's performance for that individual cohort each year. Then you have to add the scores together to make it over 300. So, just add 90, 90, 90,70, then multiply by 3/4.

[verykiasumummy]

Gxmas:

phankao:

[quote=\"Gxmas\"]Gxmas wrote:

.... but how the T-score is calculated without MT is another mystery....
..


Er, just add the 3 subject together for the t-score lah. Not difficult.

But that would make the T-score of those exempted from MT much lower than th MTose taking 4 subjects. When it comes to posting using T-scores, then how?

How so ? Eg. Adjusted tscores for 3 subjects is 90 each , then the PSLE aggregate would be 270 . If the child is not exempt from his supposedly poorer subject and get. 70 adjusted t score for MT , then adding top the 3 other subject's adjusted tscores of 90 each. , his PSLE aggregate will be 255 instead.

Sorry can't really follow.... :scratchhead:

That means the T-score of each subject will change depending on how many subjects are taken? in ur eg, if MT is exempted and adjusted T-score of 3 subjects is 90 each, so total T-score is 270. This i got it
But if MT is exempted and the raw scores for the other 3 subjects remain the same, how to get 255? :?

Appreciate it if you could share, thanks![/quote]maybe i can help.

eng=90, math=90, sci=90, chi=50
agreg is (90+90+90+50)x3/4=240

but if drop chi, with the same results for all other 3 subject,
agreg is (90+90+90) = 270

hope it helps.

[Gxmas]

Hi, I'm afraid that is not how agg T-score is calculated. There is a thread in this forum that discussed it and schools have published this info. The agg T-score of 4 subjects is the total individual T-score of each subject, and not 75% of each subject as illustrated above.


However no info is given for the agg T-score of only 3 subjects if exempted from MT. That's the so-called mystery....... :scratchhead:

It can't be just adding up the T-scores of 3 subjects when students taking 4 subjects have their 4 individual T-scores added up..... :?

[Thinker]

I personally think it’s the intent of the parent in seeking for exemption.


There are genuine cases where the kids simply cannot comprehend chinese characters. There are also cases where parents put their kids thru psycharist’s assessment just to get exemption so that the poorer mtl grade will not affect the overall grade.

My ds is also struggling with mtl ave 60-70, although all his other subjects are averaging 90s. I urge him to just put in his best and not give up. I believe it will be an advantage if he is bilingual in future. I am also realistic with his tscore. But knowing there’s no other option and if he wants to get to the sch of his choice, he pesevered and did well for his P6 prelim.

In deciding for the kid so early, are we not depriving him a chance to learn?

[Gxmas]

Thinker:

I personally think it's the intent of the parent in seeking for exemption.


There are genuine cases where the kids simply cannot comprehend chinese characters. There are also cases where parents put their kids thru psycharist's assessment just to get exemption so that the poorer mtl grade will not affect the overall grade.

My ds is also struggling with mtl ave 60-70, although all his other subjects are averaging 90s. I urge him to just put in his best and not give up. I believe it will be an advantage if he is bilingual in future. I am also realistic with his tscore. But knowing there's no other option and if he wants to get to the sch of his choice, he pesevered and did well for his P6 prelim.

In deciding for the kid so early, are we not depriving him a chance to learn?

I very much would like him to learn the language, but not necessarily taking the national exam for it. My intent is to let him continue learning, but less the pressure of doing well in this subject in PSLE. He uses only memory to deal with it now, honestly doubt that can take him till PSLE. Getting a dyslexic child to take MT in PSLE can be very challenging and somehow it does not seem right to me.... I can push him for other subjects, but for MT, he has a pre-condition, nothing drastic can happen.... As such, it is already challenging for him to handle the English language which I have no choice but to urge him to try harder. So was hoping no need to do the same for MT.....

I don't understand what you mean by \"There are also cases where parents put their kids thru psycharist's assessment just to get exemption so that the poorer mtl grade will not affect the overall grade.\" If the kid does not have any condition, even putting him/her thru assessment also won't get any exemption because the report would not show any conditions right? My DS1's case was discovered by chance....was very surprised then as we could not tell....were told that his excellent memory has helped him a lot... so in young age, does not really show but his \"internal method\" will break down when higher order of understanding is required at higher levels....

[Coolkidsrock2]

[quote="Gxmas"][quote="Thinker"]I very much would like him to learn the language, but not necessarily taking the national exam for it. My intent is to let him continue learning, but less the pressure of doing well in this subject in PSLE. He uses only memory to deal with it now, honestly doubt that can take him till PSLE. Getting a dyslexic child to take MT in PSLE can be very challenging and somehow it does not seem right to me… I can push him for other subjects, but for MT, he has a pre-condition, nothing drastic can happen… As such, it is already challenging for him to handle the English language which I have no choice but to urge him to try harder. So was hoping no need to do the same for MT…


Hi Gxmas, don’t give up yet. My child has visual processing difficulty and experience difficulties in writing Chinese words. I make him practise Chinese writing daily to commit the words to memory. He also experiences transposition difficulties in other subjects as well but we will try other ways for him to learn (in a different way). He will not be the top scorer but he is managing at the 80-90 range and I am happy with these scores given the pre-condition. I even press on with piano lessons for him even though progress is very slow. We are also doing therapy to hopefully improve the condition. Hope you will not seek the exemption yet.

[coolbaby]

Thanks for this thread. Just want to share what we are facing…

Last year we found out that ds1 is dyslexia. It was suggested to exempt him from taking Chinese. Dh against the idea, just like all mummies here said, it’s an important language, esp since we are Chinese and also considering that China is opening up their market… etc. There are soooo reasons why we should not give up Chinese.
BUT in the end he agreed and we submitted the application to MOE. It was only last week that I received the phone call from school that MOE has approved the exemption. We are kinda glad to receive this ‘good’ news.
In fact, before receiving the report that ds1 is dyslexia, his P3 form teacher already suggested to us this option but at that time I was also against the idea. As his form teacher wanted him to concentrate on improving his English which he also did badly. English far more important becos he needs it for his Maths and Science and also for other subjects. He doesn’t need Chinese to enter to University.
ds1 can memorise well 三字经 (until 一而百， 百而千…) for his K2 solo performance, i think within 2 weeks.
In P1 he scored Band 1 for Chinese. Thereafter, P2-P4, he always failed in SA1 but somehow he managed to pull himself up for SA2. Now P4, he has totally given up his Chinese in SA1. He refused to study/revised and also refused to do Chinese homework. He said Chinese is getting too difficult for him. Despite scolding, punishment, rewards system, none of them works. Many times, he ends up crying (due to scolding/ punishment) and wasting 2-3 hrs of not doing anything. Since he didn’t do/read his Chinese, he can’t play (reward). There are times, I wish to tell him, instead of sitting on the floor not doing anything at least he should revise for his other subjects which he’s happy to do. But if I do that, I would be encouraging him that "it’s ok not to do Chinese". Somehow Chinese has affected our relationship with him and thus, after many months of consideration and discussion with dh, we decided to submit the application to MOE.

Gxmas, not that i’m encouraging you to exempt him from taking Chinese… I just want to share my experiences with you. Maybe your ds can do a lot better than mine. One of the main reasons that my ds1 has to give up Chinese is because his English is quite bad too. We wants him to fully concentrate on one language.

Wishing you all the best in making the best decision for him.

Sorry for the long story.

[phankao]

coolbaby:

Last year we found out that ds1 is dyslexia. It was suggested to exempt him from taking Chinese. Dh against the idea, just like all mummies here said, it's an important language, esp since we are Chinese and also considering that China is opening up their market... etc. There are soooo reasons why we should not give up Chinese. .

If you want the child to still learn chinese, he/she can still attend, just that they don't need to take exams.