At what age should you start to prepare for PSLE

[Rational_Parent]

I am not too sure but I guess it depends on your DC.


For my DS, its always 1 week before any exams, PSLE included, will he start his \"motor\" doing assessments and other schools' past year papers as prep for the exams. And yet he is on the computer for hours everyday!

Fortunately for us his KSPs, he is an above-average pupil since P1 who results and humble awards in P4, P5 and P6 got him a DSA CO to DHS. So we were lucky.

My take is that students are being pushed too hard in school in P6 these days that I felt should be sufficient. But many parents I know said the best time to start is immediately after P5 final year where, depending on DC result, ascertain how much effort is needed for your DC to perform at his highest level during prelim as well as PSLE. At the end of the day, it is how KS you are and how your DC is performing each year that will determine when best to start.

[mummy so kiasu]

Deleted

[1girl1boy]

My experience: you should start as early as possible in P6. Especially the languages. Maths and Science depends on how much intensive effort you want to put in after you started. If you’re ok with practicing 4-5 papers a day, then 1-2 months ahead. If not June is a good time to start (for my case).

Hope that help:)
Gone are the days that you can start just one week ahead. Those belong only to our generation.

[janet88]

mummy so kiasu:

Preparation for PSLE usually start at P5. However, it is important to ensure that your child has build up a strong foundation in P3 & P4.

Kids should have their foundation built for languages before they start school...especially English. With 3 subjects using English, there is even more reason. When the child goes to P5 though, he/she is introduced to PSLE syllabus...most parents would agree it is a different ball game altogether. This is not frightening parents but true fact.

Personally, PSLE preparation starts in Nov after P5 SA2.

With schools having mini assessments from P1, gone are the days when preparation is done 1-2 weeks before the BIG exam. Consistency is key now.

[1girl1boy]

1girl1boy:

My experience: you should start as early as possible in P6. Especially the languages. Maths and Science depends on how much intensive effort you want to put in after you started. If you're ok with practicing 4-5 papers a day, then 1-2 months ahead. If not June is a good time to start (for my case).

Hope that help:)
Gone are the days that you can start just one week ahead. Those belong only to our generation.

I would like to clarify the earlier post. we started for the languages beginning of P6. But for Maths and Science, because of all the supplementary classes mounted by the school, we couldnt squeeze in the time early. So we started the preparation in June while relying on the school for those 2 subjects. That is for my case. The problem is very much how to get the time. Dont ever try to do the preparation 1 week before the big exams!

[weatherbee]

After Primary 5 SA2 exam. My son has been taking Math and Science tuition. So far so good. But as his PSLE is next year, am thinking of sending him for English and Chinese tuition as well.

[janet88]

weatherbee:

After Primary 5 SA2 exam. My son has been taking Math and Science tuition. So far so good. But as his PSLE is next year, am thinking of sending him for English and Chinese tuition as well.

Totally agree. At most give your child 3 days to play...but start preparing EARLY.

[Champion]

janet_lee88:

mummy so kiasu:

Preparation for PSLE usually start at P5. However, it is important to ensure that your child has build up a strong foundation in P3 & P4.

Kids should have their foundation built for languages before they start school...especially English. With 3 subjects using English, there is even more reason. When the child goes to P5 though, he/she is introduced to PSLE syllabus...most parents would agree it is a different ball game altogether. This is not frightening parents but true fact.
Personally, PSLE preparation starts in Nov after P5 SA2.

Agrees that foundation has to be laid strong in the lower primary and slowly build up at P3. Starting at P4, I can feel that (at least for my DD1's case) teacher moves at a very fast pace to cover a lot of components Especially so for English - I can see that EL T dished out compo every week and made the class to re-write and re-write if grammatically or content is incorrect

DD1's Maths Tuition centre academic year starts in Nov 2012 so officially she will be doing P5 Maths in about 3 weeks' time. Will be following the same Teacher and that T already \"PRE-WARN\" :evil: ,\" P5 is a v tough year and especially so for Maths. So, I need all of your co-operation. If I find anyone of you not doing homework and not attentive in class, I will talk to your parents as 1st warning. If things do not improve again after 3rd warning, then please leave my class - don't waste your time and mine too!\" :yikes: :scared: Sound serious yah

[janet88]

Hi Champion,

The teacher really sounded scary…but better late than never.
This is really not fanning the flames to frighten parents of would-be P5s or P6s, it is not laughing matter. The earlier the child is exposed to the syllabus, the lesser stress/pressure.

[Imami]

I don’t have school going children, so I am speaking from my personal experience and what I have picked up in the recent years. I agree with setting the foundation for language subjects early, in particular English. Math and science should be built on, year on year. I don’t think it is wise to wait till there is obvious fault lines then look for help.


I think in terms of preparation for PSLE- personally, I would think that preparation comes in two aspects – 1. exam techniques, exam format and requirements, 2. General areas (not sure how I should phrase this bit but I will expand on this later).

For 1. exam techniques, exam format and requirements – I think starting at in primary 6 itself is suitable, ideally by end of term 1. By the month in which the school prelim is scheduled, the kids should be familiar with the format, duration, requirements and should be able to finish the mock papers within the stipulated time frame. The last few weeks should be just to fine tune on the exam techniques and revising on weaker aspects of the subjects.

I see for myself that exam techniques is very important and crucial in gaining higher marks. As I coach my little child through his work, i would sometimes impart some techniques to him. And I realise, with those little tricks, he is doing better, faster and neater. As a parent, I think there is only this much I can share with my child in terms of techniques and tricks. Hence, it is very likely that I would send my kid to enrichment/tuition classes so that the tutors can impart the bits which I don’t know of.

I have heard of some folks saying things like “we are tertiary educated/have degree/MBA etc but we can’t teach primary school math”. While I believe the standard of education in singapore has generally risen over the past two decades (I happen to have a few k2 math workbooks published about ten years ago and a few published in the recent years. I see it for myself the difference in standard), I believe it is the requirement that is render us ‘educated parents’ helpless. The students are required to use certain models/show workings in a certain manner in order to score the marks. This bit is something most of us parents are out of touch. Those using the same models are probably too young to be parents.

For 2 – general areas – I group the following under this: mastery of language, writing skills, oral, general knowledge, reading and comprehension skills, arithmetic accuracy and speed.
I would think these should start as early as possible, even right before primary one. Much has been said about how reading would help in language and broadening our knowledge about things in general. Hence, cultivating a love for reading makes sense and should start young. If writing and speaking good English is no problem for the child, I think it puts the child in a good stead forward. Like janet said, 3 subjects conducted in English.

Arithmetic accuracy and speed is important for math. We often hear how kids lose much marks because of carelessness or because of poor time management. I believe if we can train arithmetic accuracy and speed from young, the child stand to lose lesser marks on carelessness.

Science is a subject which I have no idea yet how I should prepare/approach.

The above is my personal view and how I am/would be preparing my child. Given that he is still very young, the above plan remains fluid and probably has some flaws.