All About GEP Schools

[LeeTaiTai]

Although I come from GEP school , I still don understand what this thing is about ? Does it mean we can choose to be in a GEP class by doing a onetime test during p3 ? is this test compulsory ? Why do they have this program and what is the impact to the kid after being placed in a GEP class ? Can she opt out later ?

[jtoh]

You can read this thread on All About GEP for more information: http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=30


To answer your questions briefly, there are GEP screening and selection tests which kids can choose to take at P3. The top 500+ students out of the entire P3 cohort will be selected for GEP. The kid and parents can choose to enter GEP or not.

The tests are available to ALL P3 students, regardless of which school they're from. So there's no advantage to whether you're currently in a GEP school or not.

[titank]

So there will be 1-3 classes which are GEP in a GEP school? How does a GEP program like? From what if a student get No.1 in the class may not be able to get No.1 in a GEP class as all of them are the elites from GEP.


Let’s say your child being given a place in GEP (Meaning to transfer to another school after the P3 GEP Selection), would you take the choice to join?
By the way, MOE assign the GEP school or do we have a choice of selection? Eg Henry Park is just a stone throw instead of going to Tan Nan from my place?

[jtoh]

titank:

So there will be 1-3 classes which are GEP in a GEP school? How does a GEP program like? From what if a student get No.1 in the class may not be able to get No.1 in a GEP class as all of them are the elites from GEP.


Let's say your child being given a place in GEP (Meaning to transfer to another school after the P3 GEP Selection), would you take the choice to join?
By the way, MOE assign the GEP school or do we have a choice of selection? Eg Henry Park is just a stone throw instead of going to Tan Nan from my place?

There are 9 GEP centres in Singapore, meaning 9 schools which have GEP classes. Obviously not everyone can be #1 in a GEP class.

IF you pass the screening test, followed by the selection test and are offered a place in GEP, you get to select your choices of the GEP school you wish to attend. Whether you get it or not depends on whether there are enough vacancies.

[TwaTau]

titank:

So there will be 1-3 classes which are GEP in a GEP school? How does a GEP program like? From what if a student get No.1 in the class may not be able to get No.1 in a GEP class as all of them are the elites from GEP.


Let's say your child being given a place in GEP (Meaning to transfer to another school after the P3 GEP Selection), would you take the choice to join?
By the way, MOE assign the GEP school or do we have a choice of selection? Eg Henry Park is just a stone throw instead of going to Tan Nan from my place?

Most of the GEP schools have 2-3 classes, accept Nanyang, which has 4. The programme is about providing an in depth scope for each of the mainstream subject, and additional emphasis on the social study subject, which is also examinable. Alot of self discovery about theorem and philosophy. Project work is another unique aspect of the programme. Students are taught on design of experiments, structure report writing.

There is no ranking within the GEP cohort, and therefore not much of comparison with each other, of course the children do know who are the stronger and weaker one among themselves.

The children have to make the choice to accept to join the programme themselves, that include an acknowledgement that they themselves have to sign. We parent can only encourage if we feel that the programme will benefit them.

The choice of school is by the children/parents, most of the time you get the choice you want, unless you request for some school further then one that is already nearby or one that is very popular. MOE do give a lot of leeway for appeal and such.

[phtthp]

for P4 to P6, are the exam qns standardized for all the 9 GEP centres ?


- do students take the same common exam qns set by MOE GEP HQ department,

OR

- different GEP school allowed to set their own exam qns, hence all are different ?

[phtthp]

besides exam qns, what about the weekly Science practical assignments done by GEP students?


are the Science Practical assignments all the same, throughout all 9 GEP centres ?

my friend’s son P4, Henry Park. She said everything about GEP is … hush hush, like top secret. She asked her son’s Science teacher - why dun return my son’s Science worksheets ? She told the teacher she need to see the worksheets, understand what her son is learning in school for Science. The teacher replied ‘Sorry, everything is done inside the classroom. pupils not allowed to bring home any Science worksheets.’

means what … the Science assignments are being re-cycled for next batch of students ?

[TwaTau]

phtthp:

for P4 to P6, are the exam qns standardized for all the 9 GEP centres ?


- do students take the same common exam qns set by MOE GEP HQ department,

OR

- different GEP school allowed to set their own exam qns, hence all are different ?

The students take the same common exam questions set by MOE GEP HQ, with the same exam timetable. Each school do have some flexibility to put in additional assessment to their own GEP classes.

[jtoh]

phtthp:

for P4 to P6, are the exam qns standardized for all the 9 GEP centres ?


- do students take the same common exam qns set by MOE GEP HQ department,

OR

- different GEP school allowed to set their own exam qns, hence all are different ?

The 9 GEP centres sit for common GEP exams at the same time. The syllabus taught in all 9 centres is similar with similar assignments although some schools may choose to add their own assignments. Deadlines for assignments may also vary across schools.

[jtoh]

phtthp:

besides exam qns, what about the weekly Science practical assignments done by GEP students?


are the Science Practical assignments all the same, throughout all 9 GEP centres ?

my friend's son P4, Henry Park. She said everything about GEP is ... hush hush, like top secret. She asked her son's Science teacher - why dun return my son's Science worksheets ? She told the teacher she need to see the worksheets, understand what her son is learning in school for Science. The teacher replied 'Sorry, everything is done inside the classroom. pupils not allowed to bring home any Science worksheets.'

means what ... the Science assignments are being re-cycled for next batch of students ?

Not true. I used to see my dd's exam papers and worksheets.