All About GEP

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Hi


I was one those students who excel in sports & oratorical competition when I was in primary school. I remembered that I feel good about winning. But reality comes quickly when I was pushed to compete between schools. At a young age, I realized that there are others better than me. At that time, I was not sad for not being able to do as well. The experience humbles me & makes me fine tune what I am lacking.

Back to the subject of GEP, I think it is good for the kids to take especially for those who are bright. We as parents should be there to provide guidance and support when our kids fall.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Hi


A side track here a bit. I’m not sure how many parents born on year 71 or 72 were requested to sit for Math & English paper when they were P3. I remember at that time the teacher assured us that it was not an exam nor was it a test paper. We were informed that the papers were to select students who are good to compete in competition. Funny thing though, I accidentally chance upon my primary school report book yesterday. I saw in the "personal particular" section on my report book a note written on the page stating 78/79/GEP followed by a series of numbers just below it.

GEP was not implemented then. But I am curious how many parents born in the year of 71 or 72 have to sit for such papers when they were P3 & how many has similar reference stated in their primary school report book.

[NJmom]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi, I am a newbie here. My daughter has been selected to take the Screening Test for GEP. We would like to find out from other experienced parents how their children cope with GEP before deciding if she should take the test. Many thanks.

[gifted]

Hi NJmom,


Let your girl goes through the 2nd round first, you can make your decision after she is being selected for the GEP.

[Fairy]

NJmom:

Hi, I am a newbie here. My daughter has been selected to take the Screening Test for GEP. We would like to find out from other experienced parents how their children cope with GEP before deciding if she should take the test. Many thanks.

Anyone at P3 can take the screening test for GEP. The top 6% (previously 3000, this year 4000) will be invited to take the selection test. Among them, only the top 1% (around 500 plus) will qualify for the GEP programme.

I have one child who successfully cleared both rounds and one who was among the top 3000 but not the top 500. Both of them did not receive any preparation at all. Both took the tests without any expectation or pressure. I do not believe in preparing the child for it. If one is gifted, he will be challenged and happy in the programme. If you get in through rigorous preparation courses (i heard available nowadays), you will suffer and be miserable throughout the 3 years. What's more, the curriculum is so intense you may find difficulty coping and may not do well in P6 when you join the mainstream in taking the PSLE. Believe me, unlike what most parents thought, the GEP curriculum is NOT STUDYING IN ADVANCE. It's about breadth & depth. Most of what you learn is not to prepare for PSLE. That is why a GEP student may not necessarily do as well as the mainstream in PSLE. They are so occupied with projects and assignments (not related to PSLE preparation) that they have very much lesser time for their PSLE. I believe the 'assumption' supporting the programme is \"if you are really a gifted learner, you will still be able to cope and do well\".

Therefore, I am strongly against 'preparing' a child for the GEP selection test. Why not let nature takes its course? A child's learning journey is a long one that stretches 12 to 18 years. Why take the chance that he may be burnt out at the initial stretch of the journey?

The above is just my opinion.

[mumwgals]

Hi NJmom,


Congratulations to your child being selected for the selection test! Which means your dd is among the top 4000 P3 student in Singapore. That's some recognition!

So far from what I have found out, the GEP programme are a course designed to cater for a different group of students, for those intellectually gifted kids. Thus, the learning concepts and assumptions are completely different from our main stream. There will be alot of research work and like what fairy has mentioned in her post, there's more breadth & depth. They have more opportunity for presentation work too. It is also true that they only prepared the kids in P6 for the PSLE. That's the reason why not all GEP kids are high scorer for PSLE. I have read some very good review from parents who have kids in the programme, and most of their kids are enjoying the course. One of the story I have read, this kid was so happy that she need not 'fight' to stay at high position in order to get into the TOP class for the following years till P6. There's no position grading in GEP classes.

I would suggest you to let your dd sit for the selection test. Once she is selected (the result will be out on early Nov), there will be a briefing session on 6th of Nov (as stated in the GEP webpage), there and then you can clear more of your doubts on GEP programme and make a decision together with your dd if she is willing to take up the challenge.

Good luck!

[NJmom]

H,


Thanks so much for the inputs.

Things would have been simpler if we were in Singapore. Problem is we have to take a 13 hour flight back home if we decide to let her sit for it… Sigh…

[David Koriadi]

Hi NJmom,


If you decide to let your daughter to sit for it, pls remember the schedule for this year's GEP selection test.

16-Oct-2008 ( Thursday )
09.00 AM - 10.10 AM ( 1 h 10 min ) - English Language
10.55 AM - 12.15 PM ( 1 h 20 min ) - General Ability I

17-Oct-2008 ( Friday )
09.00 AM - 10.35 AM ( 1 h 35 min ) - Mathematics
11.20 AM - 12.15 PM ( 55 min ) - General Ability II

Best wishes & pls do not sigh.

[NJmom]

Thank everyone for the support and information.

Cheers!

[Vanilla Cake]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi All,

Thank you for your time in reading this thread and your helpful replies.

I have a younger sister (P3) who took the GEP selection test 2008 on 16-Oct-08 & 17-Oct-08.

On 16-Oct-08, it was the English language paper which lasted 1 h 10 min.This was followed by the general ability I paper which lasted 1 h 20 min.For the general ability I paper, there were 55 MCQ with 5 answer options to choose from.1 mark for each MCQ.Total marks was 55.

On 17-Oct-08, the Maths paper lasted 1 h 35 min.This Maths paper came in 2 booklets (A & B).For booklet A, 20 MCQ & 20 SAQ.For booklet B, 4 MCQ & 4 SAQ.1 mark each for MCQ and 1 mark each for SAQ.Total marks was 48.

Questions from Maths paper (not in exact words):

Booklet A, Q37
1 cat can catch 2 mice in 3 days.How many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 30 days ?

Booklet B, Q7
A and B started at the same point and walked in opposite directions.For every 20 metres A walked, B walked 12 metres. If A walked 1 km, what was the total distance between them ?

Booklet B, Q8
This question came with a diagram.It was a square with 2 diagonals crossed at the centre of the square.The length of each diagonal of the square was 8 cm.Find the area of the square.

My younger sister told me that her neighbourhood primary school's Maths teacher didn't teach her how to solve this kind of question - Booklet B, Q8 at P3 level as this was not in her school's P3 syllabus.Not fair and as expected, she got this wrong due to ignorance. She cried after the Maths paper and I had to buy her favourite snack - Pandan cake to console her.

After today's Maths paper, there was a short 45 min break.This was followed by general ability II paper which lasted 55 min. The GA-II paper came with 2 booklets - A & B.Booklet A was 24 MCQ with 5 answer options and booklet B was 10 MCQ with 5 answer options.Total marks was 34.

For students or parents of these students that had taken GEP selection test 2008, pls kindly share your comments and thoughts in this subject.

Warmest regards.