T-Score of 200 - 210: Pupils can only go to Express?

[tutor_ng]

janet_lee88:

tutor_ng:

Don't worry - my ex-students who are going to be Sec 2 next year told me that they actually find Sec 1 syllabus easier as compared to Primary 6. Some even managed to cross over from NA to Express. Maybe they have truly matured. I am sure your son will too!

Really? I am a little relieved to hear that. Thanks.
All boils down to maturity now and the NEED to do well.
Strange, primary 6 tougher than sec 1 :?

They were telling me that P6 Maths was more challenging as a lot of questions especially the problem sums are not straightforward and really test their understanding of a certain concept while Maths in Sec 1 requires a lot of memory work - as long as they can memorise certain formulas and know how to apply them, they are able to do well in the test.

[bleeze]

I spoke to one of the sec teachers and was told that they will not allow students to select N (A) if result slip is Express. She said that every year there are parents requesting to be in N(A) even they are Express. This is because they are unable to get into their Express COP and hoping to get into their school via N(A). She said MOE will not permit school to do that. Students can only select N(A) if they have a choice of Express/NA.


Another sec sch teacher strongly discouraged parents to transfer Express to N(A). This is because the syllabus is totally different. She said that as long as students who’s able to get into Express are already considered very good. The teacher suggested students to work hard in Sec one and later transfer out if you really want to go to your dream sch.

[janet88]

Hi tutor_ng,

Thanks for your advice…I certainly hope son will do well for math if it involves formula rather than concepts.

[mummy so kiasu]

tutor_ng:

Thanks, Janet. The problem now is more about selecting the secondary schools as with the score of 200 - 210, it is neither here nor there - they are happy they can get into Express stream but they have very limited schools to choose from. Hence they are wondering if they can widen their selection range by opting to go for Normal Academic instead but not sure if MOE will allow that since the stream indicated on their result slip is Express only (don't have the choice of Express/NA).

Only those who can between 188-199 can opt for either express or normal. Those who are 200 & above shouldbe able to cope with express syllabus. Why waste aanother year?

They should look forward to sec school, start fresh & study hard. Not all O level top scorers are PSLE top scorers. Janet & fifyeo, continue to guide & encourage your kids & they will do better in their O level.

[janet88]

bleeze:

I spoke to one of the sec teachers and was told that they will not allow students to select N (A) if result slip is Express. She said that every year there are parents requesting to be in N(A) even they are Express. This is because they are unable to get into their Express COP and hoping to get into their school via N(A). She said MOE will not permit school to do that. Students can only select N(A) if they have a choice of Express/NA.


Another sec sch teacher strongly discouraged parents to transfer Express to N(A). This is because the syllabus is totally different. She said that as long as students who's able to get into Express are already considered very good. The teacher suggested students to work hard in Sec one and later transfer out if you really want to go to your dream sch.

The sec school teacher is very encouraging. I told my son to work very hard and try to transfer...but he must really perform well at sec 1. My focus is on daughter next year...p3, badly neglected.

[tutor_ng]

bleeze:

I spoke to one of the sec teachers and was told that they will not allow students to select N (A) if result slip is Express. She said that every year there are parents requesting to be in N(A) even they are Express. This is because they are unable to get into their Express COP and hoping to get into their school via N(A). She said MOE will not permit school to do that. Students can only select N(A) if they have a choice of Express/NA.


Another sec sch teacher strongly discouraged parents to transfer Express to N(A). This is because the syllabus is totally different. She said that as long as students who's able to get into Express are already considered very good. The teacher suggested students to work hard in Sec one and later transfer out if you really want to go to your dream sch.

Thanks for the clarification I also understand only those who are given the option Express/NA (those with T-Score 188 - 199) can choose to go NA but just want to confirm. Yes some of my pupils have a 'dream school' and they are quite saddened that they are unable to get in as the COP is quite high for the school's Express stream.

I also told those with Express/NA to go for Express since they have the opportunity to do so. Whether they can get into their dream school or not in the end, it will all depend on their determination and willingness to work hard from now onwards.

[phtthp]

Janet,


pls let your son go Express - since he already qualified. Don't go Normal stream. My niece no choice can only go Normal.

at end of Sec 4, review again. After Sec 4, if you and yr husb thinkis better route for him to go poly, then let him go poly. From poly, can go NTU later on. But Sec 1 to 4 - pls stick to Express !

[weatherbee]

janet_lee88:

Hi tutor_ng,

Thanks for your advice...I certainly hope son will do well for math if it involves formula rather than concepts.

I also find secondary school Math easier than primary school as they are more straight forward. Don't know why those heuristics questions are so difficult in primary school.

[julialai]

janet_lee88:

tutor_ng:

Don't worry - my ex-students who are going to be Sec 2 next year told me that they actually find Sec 1 syllabus easier as compared to Primary 6. Some even managed to cross over from NA to Express. Maybe they have truly matured. I am sure your son will too!

Really? I am a little relieved to hear that. Thanks.
All boils down to maturity now and the NEED to do well.
Strange, primary 6 tougher than sec 1 :?

Really seems like it. Today I just looked through my friend's DD's Sec 1 end-of-year Math exam paper and was surprised to find that the questions are easier than P6 Math, especially the problem sums! In P6 this girl scored 'B' for PSLE Math, now at Sec one, she scored 87%! Very encouraging, isn't it!

[The Little Cheng Mommy]

Hi there, need not worry that your kids will not cope with express stream syllabus. I scored 210 for my psle and ended up in a neighbourhood sch. It was kind of a wake up call for me and i started studying a little harder and my o’s turned out ok. I felt that express stream students are more serious about studies. It will be a better learning environment than normal academic stream where kids generally feel more relax due to one extra academic year and thus less serious about studies.