All About Preparing For PSLE

[JohnYeo]

ksfaith:

Any good science tutor to recommend for P6?

Hi ksfaith, I think the discussion in this thread will be helpful for you.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=28288&start=140

John

[MMM]

My eldest child is sitting for PSLE this year...while no. 2 is next year.


She didn't do well for her CA1. All high 60's range except for Cl which she did exceptionally well. Rather disappointed with the performance as her P5 maths and science is consistently in the 80's range and these are her 2 best subjects and she is proud of that. She is below her class average despite that she was top 10 in class last year. Due to CNY hols, and no CA for her siblings, etc... got distracted and she hardly do any exams papers (like we usually get them to do). She knows we are disappointed. She is disappointed as well as her peers did much better than her. I am :xedfingers: that this is a wake up call for her.

We are currently preparing for SA1 which is actually critical as she is positioning for DSA. Alot more effort are put in. I told her that she is only putting in 80% but she has not put in 100%. The resources are there. She need not wait for me to tell her what to do. In fact, she should have the initiative/ desire to practise more on her own.

Yesterday, we saw hope. She was speaking of desire to do well and after completing her homework, she was deciding if she should revise her science or maths. Finally... signs of desire from within. She knows why she didn't do well during CA1 and hopefully she overcome that this time round. Well.... :xedfingers: it is sustainable. Actually, my eldest is the most focus & independent among the 3 kids.

At our end, I realise that P6 is a resource intensive year.... EL is her worst subject. Always in 60's range and cannot breakthrough. Got a tutor contact from her classmate (who was in the same situation and her mum switch her to this tutor). Her classmate's EL results improved in CA1. She just started and it's really expensive and it's not even 1 to 1. But frankly... if we can see results... it's still worth it. From the school end, her EL teacher shared with us her weaknesses and good that she will be doing extra learning during recess with the EL teacher. dd seems positive about it and was keen to write a compo everyday and let her EL teacher mark. So yes.... hopefully this is sustainable and she will benefit from it eventually.

For june hols... already signed up for science P3 - P6 revision class with the existing enrichment centre. 2 weeks of daily weekday classes. Again not cheap given the intensity. EL tutor is also asking if we want her to go for extra lessons since she only started with her. I wonder if it is normal for parents to do all that additional \"investment\" for PSLE....

Personally, I felt that rather than let her idle around at home while we are at work, I rather send her for such lessons. Fortunately she is receptive and ask for it.

Can't believe I have to face it again next year but this time round probably with more challenges as my ds though is ok but academically, he is not as strong as his sister.

At this moment... eagerly waiting for the targetted schools to publish DSA information. Also praying that she will do well for her SA1 so that she can qualify to apply.

[mummy so kiasu]

It is not easy to be qualified for DSA, especially for top schools. Top schools such as HCI, RI, Victoria & Dunman High invited my friend’s son, who was ranked 4th in national track & field, to apply for DSA last year.


But he has not been accepted by any of these schools, due to poor academic results (mixture of A, B & C) Your child needs to get at least 4As if you are applying for sports DSA of top schools.

[ngl2010]

Signs of stress appearing on my son.


Yesterday came back with tears on his eyes as he thinks he didn’t do well in CL Oral for SA1.

Only 4 months to go to Oral and 5 months to PSLE. He is stressful and I am stressful too. I don’t know how to help him improve. English compo and Chinese compo and oral are his weakest areas. Compo homeworks are returned back by teachers only 1 month later. Not fast enough. Do you know any intensive workshops for compo writing? Thank you.

[MMM]

mummy so kiasu:

It is not easy to be qualified for DSA. Top schools such as HCI, RI, Victoria & Dunman High invited my friend's son, who was ranked no. 4th in national track & field, to apply for DSA last year.


But he has not been accepted by any of these schools, due to poor academic results (mixture of A, B & C) Your child needs to get at least 4As if you are applying for sports DSA of top schools.

Yes, I heard about so little seats and so many applicants. My dd is trying for band. Definitely not with those super top sec schools. For one of the targetted schools, they have explicitly mentioned about min 70% overall score which she has made the mark so far for P5 and just scrapping through for CA1. So now depending on her SA1 which is more representative... That's why

She wants to go to a sec school with a good band and at the same time decent academic track record too. She already has something in mind. Personally, I felt that there is no harm trying. If she gets in, good for her. If not, work harder.

Personally, if the child does not meet the mark academically, I wouldn't encourage DSA especially for a top school as well. Getting in is one thing, sustaining is is the next major hurdle. So need to set realistic target. I heard about wushu kids getting in through DSA to a sec school in east but they struggled academically after that. So this is not the desirable thing to do.

[JohnYeo]

I know of a parent who was very happy and honored and proud that her son was already admitted into SST before last year’s PSLE. Now, she was so stressed out because the child had been enjoying school life and even locked her out of the Mac Book Pro (by changing the password) which the mom bought because school said is compulsory to get a Mac Book Pro.

[janet88]

MMM:

[Personally, if the child does not meet the mark academically, I wouldn't encourage DSA especially for a top school as well. Getting in is one thing, sustaining is is the next major hurdle. So need to set realistic target. I heard about wushu kids getting in through DSA to a sec school in east but they struggled academically after that. So this is not the desirable thing to do.

Using DSA is not easy to get into one of those top schools...students' academic results should be above average too. Or else it is not easy to stay in the school. A teacher friend told me her student from neighbourhood primary school got into RV using sports but academically, the student is weak.

[VALyap]

many parents think that DSA is a good option to IP schs...It may not be a good idea. To be able to handle the academic pressure from IP schs, the child needs to have at least T-score in top 10% range... or rather P4 to P5, consistently abv 85%. :rahrah:


Like some here had shared, there are kids (below 85% overall ) that got into IP in East or Bkt Timah or ACSI thru DSA, they are really facing the pressure. In the end, instead of helping them, they are struggling to catch up and ultimately their self-esteem lowered! Hence, it's a dis-service to the kids and some poor kids really demoralised. :imdrowning:

Many had pointed out IP is not for everyone and definitely the sch work load is not a walk-in-the park! :?: The teacher really teach less and expecting kids to learn more! The subject can be ahead of the curve sec 3/4 topics taught in sec 1/2. It is more of self-learning and reading ahead............. :imcool:

[TheAnswer]

janet_lee88:

MMM:

[Personally, if the child does not meet the mark academically, I wouldn't encourage DSA especially for a top school as well. Getting in is one thing, sustaining is is the next major hurdle. So need to set realistic target. I heard about wushu kids getting in through DSA to a sec school in east but they struggled academically after that. So this is not the desirable thing to do.

Using DSA is not easy to get into one of those top schools...students' academic results should be above average too. Or else it is not easy to stay in the school. A teacher friend told me her student from neighbourhood primary school got into RV using sports but academically, the student is weak.

My cousin dropped out of RVHS. She went in with a score of 262. She started having academic problems in sec 3. I offered to tutor her for free but she declined. Anyway she is the youngest among all my cousins and she used to look down on us. Too much pride gets you nowhere.

[TheAnswer]

VALyap:

many parents think that DSA is a good option to IP schs...It may not be a good idea. To be able to handle the academic pressure from IP schs, the child needs to have at least T-score in top 10% range... or rather P4 to P5, consistently abv 85%. :rahrah:


Like some here had shared, there are kids (below 85% overall ) that got into IP in East or Bkt Timah or ACSI thru DSA, they are really facing the pressure. In the end, instead of helping them, they are struggling to catch up and ultimately their self-esteem lowered! Hence, it's a dis-service to the kids and some poor kids really demoralised. :imdrowning:

Many had pointed out IP is not for everyone and definitely the sch work load is not a walk-in-the park! :?: The teacher really teach less and expecting kids to learn more! The subject can be ahead of the curve sec 3/4 topics taught in sec 1/2. It is more of self-learning and reading ahead............. :imcool:

I won't allow my son to DSA to any school. He has to go in because he is qualified. Not by any backdoors. Currently, I am teaching a few IP students who got in through DSA. Mad struggle for them now.