Will unabridged (complete) PSLE past years' papers help?
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I have been thinking about this for a while. Many students are spending a lot of their time on past years' school exams papers, assessment books and worksheets from tuition/ enrichment. Even some schools are dishing out these exams questions and assessments (e.g., OnSponge, A*) to their students. Many students (or their parents) get panicked when they encounter too many “challenging” questions, “bombastic” words/phrases, … they thought “ this is the expected standard”. I have also heard that some (or many?) schools have the habit of setting VERY difficult P6 CA1/ SA1 so that their students (after getting dismayed results) get worried and worked doubly hard for PSLE preparation. Supplementary classes (2 or 3 times a week, even during school holidays or weekends) are “compulsory” or “strongly encouraged”.
I also read that some top PSLE scorers did 50 (or was it 100) assessment books. Some spent 6 to 7 hours daily AFTER school to study. I am not surprised if some parents/ teachers who read such news from the media will tell our kids “See, that’s how you excel at PSLE, even top scorers have to work so hard … you need to work hard like them”.
It is NOT a healthy sign.
Do I have a suggestion? Yes, I do.
Publish the EXACT PSLE papers for the last 10 years.
How will this help? Will it work?
SEAB has always maintained that the level of difficulty of PSLE has not increased over the years. Many educators seem to suggest that “higher ability” questions constitute only a handful of questions.
To me, past years’ school exams papers will be quite meaningless if I have the EXACT PSLE papers. Yes, they might still be useful in some circumstances but certainly not to the extent that they are being used today. Likewise for assessments.
Most importantly, we have an ACTUAL feel of the real PSLE standard not determined by schools/ enrichment centres trying to outdo each other (vicious circle, http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35402)
We will also know the average % of the “higher ability” questions.
If it’s 10% or less, will parents and students still rely heavily on enrichment/ tuition? Will they still study many hours daily while neglecting the other aspects of life (sleep, exercise, games, fun, family bonding, social work, see the sky, smell the roses, …)? Will they still feel so stressed about school exams? PSLE?
Will this bring back precious childhood to our primary school kids so that they enjoy their learning journey with a balanced life?
Please vote.
Maybe MOE will work on it if there are enough voices. It takes little efforts since they already publish abridged PSLE past years’ papers.
I appreciate feedback, whether you are for or against this suggestion.
If you think it is not useful at all to have the past years’ PSLE papers, please kindly share your thoughts too.
I sincerely feel that it will work for some parents and kids. I know I could be wrong. I have lots to learn about our current education system from experienced parents like you.
把童年还给孩子 (from Zaobao May 6) - Return childhood to our kids
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35406 -
:rahrah:
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Hi, my 2 cent, psle is a national exam, it is a competitive exam (t-score) thus even if parents had the 10 yrs of qns, they will simply make the kids work on them n more .... Remember, there is 10 yrs series for the 'o' level subjects but do our teens work less, do tuition end, the school exam easier to ace ....
My suggestion is to put an end to the psle exam n offer throu train to 'o' level n for those identify gifted children throu train to a or even univ .... Assessment should be use just as guage of their understanding and progress n not a tool to measure how smart our kids are against their peer. Develop ways to identify the kid talent n help them to blossom along their learning journey .....
:please: -
notfreemom:
:rahrah:
Hi notfreemom, thanks for your encouragement
Let's hope more parents will vote (whether for or against) so that we know how they feel about this suggestion. -
Suz855:
Hi Suz855, I like this suggestion too
My suggestion is to put an end to the psle exam n offer throu train to 'o' level n for those identify gifted children throu train to a or even univ .... Assessment should be use just as guage of their understanding and progress n not a tool to measure how smart our kids are against their peer. Develop ways to identify the kid talent n help them to blossom along their learning journey .....
:please:
If I remember correctly, I think this has been brought up before and my understanding is that MOE has responded to that suggestion (something like it brings the stress forward to P1 instead of P6?).
I am happy that someone has suggested band-based system to replace T-scores.
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120504-0000062/Lets-rethink-the-scoring-system
Again, if I remember correctly, I believe our Education Minister has said that our current system is fine (world-class) and just need minor changes. So while I await eagerly for MOE's reply (if any) to the band-based admission system, I am mentally prepared that it will not be implemented. Okay, I shall not be negativve ... let's wait -
Suz855:
Is tuition as prevalent in Secondary and beyond?Hi, my 2 cent, psle is a national exam, it is a competitive exam (t-score) thus even if parents had the 10 yrs of qns, they will simply make the kids work on them n more .... Remember, there is 10 yrs series for the 'o' level subjects but do our teens work less, do tuition end, the school exam easier to ace ....
What I know from many parents are they are pretty much hands-off (as in they no longer teach or hands-hold) their kids' school work though I do not know if they are the majority or minority. But it does seem to me that most students are quite independent after PSLE and they also devote a lot of time beyond academic? -
My 2 nieces had tuition, English, physics & chem, A & E Maths ... I heard of Orchard belt had quite a number of premium tuition cater for secondary students .... So I would suppose tuition goes beyond Pri ....
Like yourself, am also adopting a wait n see ... But mentally prepare that nothing going to happen in the near future... My girl alri in p5 now .....
Maybe my grandchildren can have an easy time by then. :oops: -
I have kids telling me they are so stressed that they don’t to have babies…
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Suz855:
Thanks for sharing.My 2 nieces had tuition, English, physics & chem, A & E Maths ... I heard of Orchard belt had quite a number of premium tuition cater for secondary students .... So I would suppose tuition goes beyond Pri ....
Like yourself, am also adopting a wait n see ... But mentally prepare that nothing going to happen in the near future... My girl alri in p5 now .....
Maybe my grandchildren can have an easy time by then. :oops:
I remembered textbooks and schools' teachings were sufficient for O and A levels. I certainly did not have to buy assessment books, everything was provided by school.
Sad if tuition is as prevalent beyond PSLE ... especially when they have to cope with many more subjects and heavier CCA committments. -
Suz855:
We can only hope for the best only but i guess is just going to get tougher since our voices as parents are never heard.My 2 nieces had tuition, English, physics & chem, A & E Maths ... I heard of Orchard belt had quite a number of premium tuition cater for secondary students .... So I would suppose tuition goes beyond Pri ....
Like yourself, am also adopting a wait n see ... But mentally prepare that nothing going to happen in the near future... My girl alri in p5 now .....
Maybe my grandchildren can have an easy time by then. :oops: