GEP Preparatory Program
-
Thought I ever read somewhere that exemption from gat is only for those who scored > 80% for the SA?
-
CayennePepper:
Because exams are standardised across all 9 GE centres for p4,5,6.nansk:
After reading various opinions on this matter, I side with the view that the non-requirement of GAT for GEPpers is unfair.
As I understand, mainstream students have to submit their P5, P6 results (and, for some schools, P4 results too). Analogous to that is that GEPpers have to maintain an average 80% achievement.
So both groups of students have to demonstrate a consistently high academic achievement. Then why do the secondary schools require the mainstream applicants to sit for the GAT and not the GEP applicants?
But mainstream exams in schools are not (except for p6 prelims in SHHK schools).
There is no apple to apple comparison.
We've all seen top school exam papers right? :rotflmao:Babylissa:
Hmm…let’s see… Given the varying standards across primary school exams while GEP exams are set by MOE and standardised across the 9 schools, does it mean that those GEP students who cannot maintain at least 80% MIGHT not be naturally gifted or were hot-housed into GEP? So these students got to take GAT again, together with the mainstream students to “double confirm” their giftedness/academic ability during P6 DSA?Every year there are thousands of pupils applying for DSA thru academic route, GAT or HAST is the quickest way to sieve through; otherwise the selection tests and paper marking would be too tedious and end up like taking another PSLE. Until another better test format being developed or the scrapping of DSA, aptitude test like GAT and HAST is still the most productive way.
By the way, for the late bloomers that missed the P3 GEP test, DSA's GAT/HAST is another opportunity.
Those who were able to maintain 80% are assumed to be able to do well enough for PSLE (since both PSLE and GEP exams from P4 - P6 are standardised and set by MOE). Well, perhaps some who scored lower than expected in PSLE might have immense interests in Maths and Science and very strong in these subjects, but not in the languages, so chose to go NUS High via DSA?
And it does make sense that late bloomers who are academically inclined are given a second chance to have a shot at GAT in P6 during academic DSA. -
sunflower:
Not all ip schools have this exemption and I believe those with such exemption were originally sec school with the sbgp, which is actually an extension of the gep into sec school.l
Hmm…let’s see… Given the varying standards across primary school exams while GEP exams are set by MOE and standardised across the 9 schools, does it mean that those GEP students who cannot maintain at least 80% MIGHT not be naturally gifted or were hot-housed into GEP? So these students got to take GAT again, together with the mainstream students to “double confirm” their giftedness/academic ability during P6 DSA?
Those who were able to maintain 80% are assumed to be able to do well enough for PSLE (since both PSLE and GEP exams from P4 - P6 are standardised and set by MOE). Well, perhaps some who scored lower than expected in PSLE might have immense interests in Maths and Science and very strong in these subjects, but not in the languages, so chose to go NUS High via DSA?
And it does make sense that late bloomers who are academically inclined are given a second chance to have a shot at GAT in P6 during academic DSA. -
Nebbermind:
Actually the process varies from school to school. I recall sji dont need gat test, be it gep or mainstream. I suspect gat serves as a useful first round cut for the schools as some schools receives a large number of applicants.....
Not all ip schools have this exemption and I believe those with such exemption were originally sec school with the sbgp, which is actually an extension of the gep into sec school.sunflower:
l
Hmm…let’s see… Given the varying standards across primary school exams while GEP exams are set by MOE and standardised across the 9 schools, does it mean that those GEP students who cannot maintain at least 80% MIGHT not be naturally gifted or were hot-housed into GEP? So these students got to take GAT again, together with the mainstream students to “double confirm” their giftedness/academic ability during P6 DSA?
Those who were able to maintain 80% are assumed to be able to do well enough for PSLE (since both PSLE and GEP exams from P4 - P6 are standardised and set by MOE). Well, perhaps some who scored lower than expected in PSLE might have immense interests in Maths and Science and very strong in these subjects, but not in the languages, so chose to go NUS High via DSA?
And it does make sense that late bloomers who are academically inclined are given a second chance to have a shot at GAT in P6 during academic DSA. -
Dreamgear:
Actually the process varies from school to school. I recall sji dont need gat test, be it gep or mainstream. I suspect gat serves as a useful first round cut for the schools as some schools receives a large number of applicants.....[/quote]OIC, thanks for clarifying. But I guess the \"fuss\" was with the 4 top schools...
Not all ip schools have this exemption and I believe those with such exemption were originally sec school with the sbgp, which is actually an extension of the gep into sec school.Nebbermind:
[quote=\"sunflower\"]
Hmm…let’s see… Given the varying standards across primary school exams while GEP exams are set by MOE and standardised across the 9 schools, does it mean that those GEP students who cannot maintain at least 80% MIGHT not be naturally gifted or were hot-housed into GEP? So these students got to take GAT again, together with the mainstream students to “double confirm” their giftedness/academic ability during P6 DSA?
Those who were able to maintain 80% are assumed to be able to do well enough for PSLE (since both PSLE and GEP exams from P4 - P6 are standardised and set by MOE). Well, perhaps some who scored lower than expected in PSLE might have immense interests in Maths and Science and very strong in these subjects, but not in the languages, so chose to go NUS High via DSA?
And it does make sense that late bloomers who are academically inclined are given a second chance to have a shot at GAT in P6 during academic DSA.
-
sunflower:
...Given the varying standards across primary school exams while GEP exams are set by MOE and standardised across the 9 schools, does it mean that those GEP students who cannot maintain at least 80% MIGHT not be naturally gifted or were hot-housed into GEP?
The kids enter the programme with varying standards and strengths. So while there are kids who achieve >80% across all subjects with apparent ease, there are also numerous kids who just meet the baseline year after year. I've met boys who are overwhelmingly good in math but much less so with languages. -
nansk:
I don't think a test at P3 level is the same as a test at P6 level. See, is this not the very thing mainstream parents are complaining about? That one test at P3 determines a child's whole schooling path?
And yet, if I were a GEP parent, I guess I would say the same thing in defence of my child's advantages.
Schooling path? Do you mean GEP kids can DSA easily into the top IP schools?
Seeing how friends' GEP kids turned out, I am not so sure that it holds true for all GEP kids. Of the five (of different age groups) I know, only one was accepted by HCI through DSA. Another (strong in Science) was unsuccessul with both RI and HCI but accepted by NUSH through DSA. The rest had to depend on their PSLE T-scores.
From these kids' experience, getting into GEP doesn't seem to guarantee a smooth schooling path.nansk:
Do you mean this post?BTW did you get a chance to read my earlier, on-topic post about GEP Prep? Any comments?
nansk:
[quote]The Ministry advises parents (the emphasis is mine (the writer)):Back to the topic of GEP Prep program, I read http://giftedphoenix.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/gifted-education-in-singapore-part-2/ yesterday about the GEP.
Quoting from the article:[quote]The testing process is designed to identify pupils with what the Ministry calls ‘high intellectual ability and potential’, as opposed to high attainment.
‘not to prepare their children for the Screening and the Selection Tests. No test/assessment books have been prepared by the MOE for such a purpose. The GEP Screening Test and Selection Test are based on what all pupils should have been taught by Primary 3 in our schools…
We have no evidence that schools are preparing their pupils for the GEP Screening and Selection Tests....’
This rather defensive statement appears directly to contradict the earlier statement that the tests are designed to locate high ability and potential rather than existing high attainment. If the tests are based on what pupils have been taught, they must relate to a defined range of knowledge, understanding and skills. As such, they must be coachable.
On the other hand, it is hard to understand how a test of ‘abstract reasoning ability’ can be ‘based on what all pupils should have been taught…’ There is a fundamental contradiction here..[/quote][quote]Mr Morris Allen, who teaches a two-week GEP prep class every June, exposes the kids to all sorts of IQ puzzles – words, pictures, numbers – to prepare them for the General Ability paper, which tests their problem-solving aptitude.
He also teaches them about time management, so that they do not panic and stumble or waste too much time on questions they cannot answer.
...
‘It’s just familiarising them with the unfamiliar,’ said Mr Allen, who sources cognitive ability tests from other countries for his pupils to practise on.’[/quote]So, purely on the basis of this info, I concluded:
1. The Maths and English papers are supposed to test what any P3 student has been taught.
2. The General Ability paper tests IQ questions, which a student can at least be made familiar with.[/quote] -
metz:
Yes, I meant that post. It is more on-topic and I would be happy to hear your thoughts (and those of other GEP parents and lurkers in this thread).
Do you mean this post?nansk:
BTW did you get a chance to read my earlier, on-topic post about GEP Prep? Any comments?nansk:
Back to the topic of GEP Prep program, I read http://giftedphoenix.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/gifted-education-in-singapore-part-2/ yesterday about the GEP.
Quoting from the article... -
Of course coachable!
Just like psle, if a good student work hard , he’ll prob get pretty good result.
but that being said, ere will always be many in the mid band who no matter how much effort putin in, will still remain midband. -
Nebbermind:
Right. Except that parents of the mid band will never question the selection criteria.Of course coachable!
Just like psle, if a good student work hard , he'll prob get pretty good result.
but that being said, ere will always be many in the mid band who no matter how much effort putin in, will still remain midband.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login