GEP Preparatory Program

[metz]

CayennePepper:

metz:

[quote=\"CayennePepper\"]What I've learnt is that MOE is quite smart and tweaks the testing

In the past, the selection tests were all MCQs. Then some parents discovered how to train. Service providers happily catch up. Moneyed parents happily throw $$$ to train. MOE also catches up. There are now open-ended questions in the selection tests. Cannot tikam for those.

Not only that, there is more than one set of test papers in the selection tests. At least, that's what we observed.

True.. I thought it was quite tiring to do 4 papers in 2 days.
So parents should train their kids' test-taking stamina [/quote]It's like a marathon. Mine was so tired that he didn't want to talk about them.

But what I meant is there is more than one set of English papers in the selection test. We realised the kids were given different passages.

[CayennePepper]

metz:

It's like a marathon. Mine was so tired that he didn't want to talk about them.

But what I meant is there is more than one set of English papers in the selection test. We realised the kids were given different passages.

Oh oh I was told that! Math appears to be the same though.

[nansk]

metz:

By 'coached' and 'prepred', do you mean attending just the GEP preparatory classes or does it include enrichment/tuition classes?

It appears that both is needed, prep classes on IQ-type questions and enrichment/tuition for Maths and English.

metz:

But if you don't mind, I can share his general comments on the papers.

Yes, please do share. I find this subject very interesting. Thanks!

[Trapwithin]

Nebbermind:

Coz to me it's the same. If you have the capacity to take in the knowledge, and you actively seek the knowledge, or you are consciously expose to the knowledge by another party, plus a bit of luck...etc....surely you will have an edge over some.

Same for Math Olympiad...if u are good, and have th proper training, that will set you apart from others

I agree with you.

The issue is always whether the kids has the capacity to take in the knowledge.
So it is not about whether how much we can teach/coach/enrich ... but more on whether is the kid has ability to understand and mentally prepared for such knowledge.

[metz]

nansk:

Yes, please do share. I find this subject very interesting. Thanks!

His comments are as follows : -

Screening Tests - the level of difficulty is similar to the school test papers for both papers. For maths paper, models are enough to help solve some of the problems.

Note - Did you get a glimpse of the English MCQ questions (they were removed subsequently) posted by a forumer earlier on? They looked pretty reasonable to me. But based on what another parent gathered about comprehension, I inferred that the passage and questions were not so straight forward. The child must have a good grasp of English for this section.


Selection Tests -

English Paper - more difficult than the Screening Test but most of the answers can be deciphered or inferred from the questions or passages.
Note - He found some words familiar as he has seen them before in storybooks.

Maths Paper - more challenging than the Screening Test but he enjoyed it.
Pros - No workings required. Kids were allowed to use any methods to solve the problems. He was excited to solve one question using factorial (not sure whether he got that right).
Cons - No working marks awarded if the child was careless.

English & Maths General Ability Papers - more challenging than the English & Maths Papers. Examples are shown before the questions. Based on the examples given, he could, more or less, work out the answers.

That's all that I could manage to 'dig' out from him.

[Trapwithin]

CayennePepper:

metz:

It's like a marathon. Mine was so tired that he didn't want to talk about them.

But what I meant is there is more than one set of English papers in the selection test. We realised the kids were given different passages.

Oh oh I was told that! Math appears to be the same though.

No, the questions are jumble up too. In fact, the total number of questions can be different as well.

[metz]

Trapwithin:

CayennePepper:

[quote=\"metz\"]
It's like a marathon. Mine was so tired that he didn't want to talk about them.

But what I meant is there is more than one set of English papers in the selection test. We realised the kids were given different passages.

Oh oh I was told that! Math appears to be the same though.

No, the questions are jumble up too. In fact, the total number of questions can be different as well.[/quote]Yes, that's what I understand from other parents too. No one knows what's the criteria. Only selected questions taken into account? Equal or unequal weightage on the papers?

[Trapwithin]

metz:

Yes, that's what I understand from other parents too. No one knows what's the criteria. Only selected questions taken into account? Equal or unequal weightage on the papers?

I'm not sure too.

[metz]

nansk:

metz:

By 'coached' and 'prepred', do you mean attending just the GEP preparatory classes or does it include enrichment/tuition classes?

It appears that both is needed, prep classes on IQ-type questions and enrichment/tuition for Maths and English.

metz:

But if you don't mind, I can share his general comments on the papers.

Yes, please do share. I find this subject very interesting. Thanks!

I supposed those brain training classes should be included too?

Without statistics, it's really difficult to conclude if these programs actually contributed to acceptance into GEP. The fact remains there are those who attended prep & enrichment classes/brain training classes/parental coaching but did not make it.

One thing I observed (based on small samples), those that attended prep classes/enrichment classes/heavy parental coaching before GEP will tend to continue with them throughout the schooling years. I heard of a case whereby this GEP kid accused the parent of not preparing her well, hence, causing her to underperform.

[nansk]

metz:

His comments are as follows : -

...
That's all that I could manage to 'dig' out from him.

Thanks again. This gives us a pretty good idea of the tests. It is great that he could recall and describe the tests in such detail.