Kev0055\" post_id=\"1992588\" time=\"1598355820\" user_id=\"161334:

No wonder they keep saying Singapore needs foreign talents with the school system churning out people who can memorize but can't think.

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1992532\" time=\"1598323930\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1992532 time=1598323930 user_id=53606]
Thanks for your comments. Yes I’m just venting while I’m in the midst of exam season now. DS gets a lot of free time during non-exam months to explore his own interests. I was just frustrated that the system is still mainly rewarding good exam-takers.[/quote]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1992532\" time=\"1598323930\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1992532 time=1598323930 user_id=53606]
Thanks for your comments. Yes I’m just venting while I’m in the midst of exam season now. DS gets a lot of free time during non-exam months to explore his own interests. I was just frustrated that the system is still mainly rewarding good exam-takers.

Maths, yes I’m aware that candidates can use any method during PSLE. At this point in time, DS’ Math teacher insists they use the current method that she’s teaching, just to make sure all her students can dutifully use it correctly I suppose. My issue with my son is that he skips showing certain steps cos he does it mentally in his brain. Hence losing marks here & there...

Science...to give an example that another parent posted in FB...

Qn: What is the definition of “temperature”?
Kid’s Ans: Temperature is how hot or cold something is. (Teacher gave 0 out of 2 marks)
Template Ans: Temperature is a measurement of how hot or cold something is.

While I can understand the official answer is more precise...in layman terms, there’s nothing seriously wrong with the child’s answer.[/quote]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1992532\" time=\"1598323930\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1992532 time=1598323930 user_id=53606]
Thanks for your comments. Yes I’m just venting while I’m in the midst of exam season now. DS gets a lot of free time during non-exam months to explore his own interests. I was just frustrated that the system is still mainly rewarding good exam-takers.

Maths, yes I’m aware that candidates can use any method during PSLE. At this point in time, DS’ Math teacher insists they use the current method that she’s teaching, just to make sure all her students can dutifully use it correctly I suppose. My issue with my son is that he skips showing certain steps cos he does it mentally in his brain. Hence losing marks here & there...

Science...to give an example that another parent posted in FB...

Qn: What is the definition of “temperature”?
Kid’s Ans: Temperature is how hot or cold something is. (Teacher gave 0 out of 2 marks)
Template Ans: Temperature is a measurement of how hot or cold something is.

While I can understand the official answer is more precise...in layman terms, there’s nothing seriously wrong with the child’s answer.[/quote]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1992490\" time=\"1598275997\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1992490 time=1598275997 user_id=53606]
Just parking this post under this “old” topic, although my beef is not with the mini test system.

I just wanted to rant that the mark allocation system in primary school is just excessively rigid and pedantic. Especially for Science & Math. I find myself having to spend inordinate amounts of time just hounding & hounding my P4 kid to phrase his answer using the exact template during practice runs. Hasn’t it occurred to MOE that something must be wrong somewhere when they reward kids for regurgitating a pat answer like a robot?? How can this kind of system even encourage scientists to think out of the box? No wonder Singapore can’t produce good inventors.

Does the mark allocation system get relaxed a bit in secondary school?? Or do they still penalize the kids for not using the “correct” keywords?[/quote]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1992490\" time=\"1598275997\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1992490 time=1598275997 user_id=53606]
Just parking this post under this “old” topic, although my beef is not with the mini test system.

I just wanted to rant that the mark allocation system in primary school is just excessively rigid and pedantic. Especially for Science & Math. I find myself having to spend inordinate amounts of time just hounding & hounding my P4 kid to phrase his answer using the exact template during practice runs. Hasn’t it occurred to MOE that something must be wrong somewhere when they reward kids for regurgitating a pat answer like a robot?? How can this kind of system even encourage scientists to think out of the box? No wonder Singapore can’t produce good inventors.

Does the mark allocation system get relaxed a bit in secondary school?? Or do they still penalize the kids for not using the “correct” keywords?[/quote]

Snow Crystal:

mfalcon:

my ds is in p1 this year. there are no exams, just mastery tests. i have no idea when the tests are, or if they have been conducted as my son doesn't bring back any of the work done for english/maths. i have only seen the chinese tests so far.
i prefer this no exam system, as it's a good way to assess if your child is able to follow the lessons and we can find out areas where they need to work on. my only grouse - how to know where they are falling behind if nothing is brought back, and i stress, literally nothing. nevertheless, i am definitely enjoying this stress-less p1 year and hopefully i will not get a rude shock come next year when there is a final exam at the end of p2 for streaming into p3.

Good to have stress-less p1.. In your case for p1 is there a total mark ie out of 100 for each subject that will be reflected in report book?
Looks like there's such a big variation of how the schools are carrying out this 'no exams'. I had thought no exams means no marks reflected in report book, just some form of progress report with general comments for P1 at least. Most schools soft stream by end of P2 for P3 so they need a ranking exercise for P2. How to have no exams for these schools, so they rename them mini tests/assessments and spread the :nailbite: over a longer period :slapshead:

alng:

Actually, the idea of having many mini tests is really to relieve stress. The whole issue is parents and students are too stressed up with tests and exams no matter how low the weightage is. Mini-tests round the year are just assessments given so that the teachers, parents and students know the progress of the students' learning regularly. The idea of learning is to learn regularly and not just to study for tests and exam. So long the students understand what is taught in school, revise their work regularly and complete their school and homework on time, there is no need to do extra study and revision for these mini-tests. Just treat these tests as the homework they have and see how well/badly they fare. Then based on the test outcome, reinforce what the students already know and work on what they do not know. The stress level is not from these mini-tests, it is from the parents' and students' attitudes towards these tests.


The teachers are not having any fun giving these mini-tests. It means more work for the teachers, no matter how mini these tests are.

janet_lee88:

Tresille:

Some kids can perform very well under the old system, taking CAs and SAs. Whereas the rest cannot take the exam pressure but they can score in mini tests, show and tell...etc. A balance of both will be ideal. The only way to be \"stress free\" is not to have grading and streaming....... :siam:

Yes, bring them on..the show & tell, oral, tests etc etc...but don't grade.
This way, it will take the pressure off and yet the child learns. Isn't that the objective ? To Learn. If those stuff are graded, the pressure is to perform.

vlim:

But not all kids are self learner and can grasp concept fast... So definitely as parents we need to prepare them For tests... Otherwise at end of the yr fail how :skeptical:

All exams are 'non stressful'..... But not able to pass with good grade so as to go to good school or class or etc etc is stressful .... Unless the marks are not accountable for anything .... :skeptical:

sleepy:

Busymom:

[quote=\"sleepy\"]My p1 dd has many mini tests throughout the year. 60% weightage.


Tests every alternate week :faint:

Then what happens to the last 40%? For T4 tests?

alng:

Actually, the idea of having many mini tests is really to relieve stress. The whole issue is parents and students are too stressed up with tests and exams no matter how low the weightage is. Mini-tests round the year are just assessments given so that the teachers, parents and students know the progress of the students' learning regularly. The idea of learning is to learn regularly and not just to study for tests and exam. So long the students understand what is taught in school, revise their work regularly and complete their school and homework on time, there is no need to do extra study and revision for these mini-tests. Just treat these tests as the homework they have and see how well/badly they fare. Then based on the test outcome, reinforce what the students already know and work on what they do not know. The stress level is not from these mini-tests, it is from the parents' and students' attitudes towards these tests.


The teachers are not having any fun giving these mini-tests. It means more work for the teachers, no matter how mini these tests are.

Busymom:

sleepy:

My p1 dd has many mini tests throughout the year. 60% weightage.


Tests every alternate week :faint:

Then what happens to the last 40%? For T4 tests?

sleepy:

My p1 dd has many mini tests throughout the year. 60% weightage.


Tests every alternate week :faint:

janet_lee88:

Tresille:

Some kids can perform very well under the old system, taking CAs and SAs. Whereas the rest cannot take the exam pressure but they can score in mini tests, show and tell...etc. A balance of both will be ideal. The only way to be \"stress free\" is not to have grading and streaming....... :siam:

Yes, bring them on..the show & tell, oral, tests etc etc...but don't grade.
This way, it will take the pressure off and yet the child learns. Isn't that the objective ? To Learn. If those stuff are graded, the pressure is to perform.

Tresille:

Some kids can perform very well under the old system, taking CAs and SAs. Whereas the rest cannot take the exam pressure but they can score in mini tests, show and tell...etc. A balance of both will be ideal. The only way to be \"stress free\" is not to have grading and streaming....... :siam: