<![CDATA[Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions]]>From the NJC thread, I see a few parents discussing about this issue. Actually, my dd also facing the same problem since P6. At that time, it was not so obvious but recently in Sec 2, we realised its becoming more serious. At first was only Maths, then extend to Science and Geo. Those simple and easy questions, she would get them wrong. Those difficult questions, that require more writing, she can get most correct.


Anyone can advise, where is the problem? :? TIA

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/9694/wrong-on-simple-questions-correct-on-difficult-questionsRSS for NodeFri, 08 May 2026 14:18:00 GMTWed, 24 Mar 2010 01:24:32 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:41:12 GMT]]>

dunnoleh:
Jennifer:

... That's why I insist ample rest for my children, esp for my elder boy who gets dizzy spells at least once a mth.

har! got let him \"jiak por\" or not? go ask \"ah gong ah ma\" for some herbal soup recipes, quick! 😄


Been seeing a Chinese physician since Feb. Slight improvement already. From every 21 days becomes 30 days.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147282https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147282Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:41:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:19:54 GMT]]>

Jennifer:
... That's why I insist ample rest for my children, esp for my elder boy who gets dizzy spells at least once a mth.
har! got let him \"jiak por\" or not? go ask \"ah gong ah ma\" for some herbal soup recipes, quick! 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147265https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147265Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:19:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:33:34 GMT]]>

dunnoleh:
Jennifer:

... Would burnout also cause carelessness?

i think so. burnout > tired > loss of focus > careless > mistakes


I think that's what happened to me during the uni days. That's why I insist ample rest for my children, esp for my elder boy who gets dizzy spells at least once a mth.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147235https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147235Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:33:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:06:59 GMT]]>

Jennifer:
... it is like the dog and bell issue - conditioned to jump at the 1st instance...
I think so too. If not corrected, this habit continue into adult life - look around the workplace and you will find no shortage of people jumping to conclusions, consistently.

Jennifer:
... This month Reader's Digest has an article about multi-tasking. Some experts argue that we lose our ability to focus attention on one issue as we are so used to do many things at the same time....
humans and computers are both capable of multi-tasking. but we are better at it in some ways. For computers, unless specifically programed, one task cannot recognise and act upon processes happening in another task. The human brain can do that quite easily. What is hard for us is staying focused within each task, while computers have no problem with that. It gets harder for us with more concurrent tasks.
Jennifer:
... Would burnout also cause carelessness?
i think so. burnout > tired > loss of focus > careless > mistakes

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147169https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/147169Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:06:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:05:42 GMT]]>Initally after my P3 boy started morning session, he did not nap in the afternoon. We saw more careless mistakes in his Maths work. I also had a harder time coaching him.


Now that he begins taking 1 hr to 1.5 hr nap after his bath, his concentration and ability to understand has greatly improved.

The recent Maths test my sec 1 boy took also had a major careless mistake. His explanation was the class had been practising the addition and subtraction method of that particular prob. Then the exact test qn was x - y / z. He forgot the law of operation and zoom into the subtraction, followed by division. It was a 5 marks qn. We think it is like the dog and bell issue - conditioned to jump at the 1st instance.

This month Reader’s Digest has an article about multi-tasking. Some experts argue that we lose our ability to focus attention on one issue as we are so used to do many things at the same time.

Would burnout also cause carelessness?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146784https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146784Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:05:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:51:45 GMT]]>[quote]Another reason is spending less time on the easy questions as they are confident that it's not a threat to them. In other words, they put their guard down and rush through the question and answer. For difficult questions, they have no choice but to be more thorough. They may not have made less careless mistakes as they mature but seem to be so cos they have learnt to check their work. Of course, some children will be more steady in their work and thus make less mistakes. [/quote]
A definite yes especially for math. But not sure if the child will grow out of it as they mature.

But daisyt issue goes beyond math as it is impacting other subjects too. Mine has not shown on other subjects and I hope it will not over flow soon.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146243https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146243Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:51:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:45:38 GMT]]>From my observation, children will outgrow this trend and make less careless mistakes as they grow older. This is cos when they are younger they don't know how to check their work. Sometimes, careless mistakes are made when the brain works faster than the fingers, you know, when your brain has moved onto the 2nd sentence/word/step but you write too slowly to put down the facts. This happens to DS3 during his Maths prelim exams (putting 5.59 instead of 2.59 when converting fraction to decimal and I was :x :stupid: cos this mistake is one which cause him to lose the Top in Maths award 😢 ). Another reason is spending less time on the easy questions as they are confident that it's not a threat to them. In other words, they put their guard down and rush through the question and answer. For difficult questions, they have no choice but to be more thorough. They may not have made less careless mistakes as they mature but seem to be so cos they have learnt to check their work. Of course, some children will be more steady in their work and thus make less mistakes. 🙏

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146233https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146233Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:45:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:01:35 GMT]]>

Blobbi:

Orchid, can you elaborate further on blind spot?
In layman's terms - you have a blind spot when you fail to see something that is clearly perceived by others. For more info. you may refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_spot_%28vision%29.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146148https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146148Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:01:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:18:53 GMT]]>If can do difficult question, then not a problem lah … that means they understand lah … that is the most important.


But my boy whether easy or difficult, both also wrong !!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146077https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146077Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:18:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:15:40 GMT]]>

daisyt:


Blobbi, i think you got the point. Yes, generally she. So must start tackling from here first? How to balance up? I also feel that she is not the drilling type, sometime, she can get confuse.
Wish I knew, daisyt! It's the way her mind sees things, so I don't think anything can be done except more practice to get used to not over thinking. But this also leads to problems! I don't think she'll like it one bit, but for exams, maybe no choice.

I console myself that my son is fantastic for the big picture stuff and convoluted work. But getting him to not zone out while doing homework is a killer!! :x

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146075https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146075Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:15:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:49:40 GMT]]>

Blobbi:

DaisyT, do you think your dd generally overthinks? Whatever her style is outside of academic work may carry through schoolwork too, I think.
Blobbi, i think you got the point. Yes, generally she. So must start tackling from here first? How to balance up? I also feel that she is not the drilling type, sometime, she can get confuse.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146007https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/146007Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:49:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:52:18 GMT]]>

Blobbi:


DaisyT, do you think your dd generally overthinks? Whatever her style is outside of academic work may carry through schoolwork too, I think.
Wah, this discussion is a little beyond me. I really don't know how my son's brain works. I thought the \"past experience\" would be good enough for the boys to be reminded to be more focussed and extra careful instead of making silly careless mistakes.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145982https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145982Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:52:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:14:42 GMT]]>CoffeeCat, some kids are just not drillable, or they zone, like En's kid and mine, urghh. I really hate the zoning cos it drives me :frustrated: , so, no drilling. Any repetition and he becomes @_@.


Orchid, can you elaborate further on blind spot?

DaisyT, do you think your dd generally overthinks? Whatever her style is outside of academic work may carry through schoolwork too, I think.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145967https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145967Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:14:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:08:00 GMT]]>Happened to my dd too. I attribute this to blind spot and complex thinking, which I feel genes has a part to play.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145809https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145809Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:08:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:45:10 GMT]]>Maybe they just need more drilling in easy questions as well?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145785https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145785Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:45:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:26:40 GMT]]>

Blobbi:
My son too, and given that there are more easy questions, this can be a problem :(.


I'm not sure it's overconfidence. Maybe partly? But also, there's a lot of over thinking, *slap forehead*. He says \"can't be so easy what.\" Sounds like it's the same with your DD, Daisyt?

Would love to hear suggestions on how to help. I thought just long term, general exposure?
hi blobbi, no, she never said that before.
What worrying me more now, it is extending to more subjects. I asked her, whats wrong, she also :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145739https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145739Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:26:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:21:42 GMT]]>Aiyooo…DS is like that too. It’s very obvious for math since P1. I think the mind not engage & goes to semi trance mode (cause I’m like that). I realize it’s the same for piano too. Once it’s a new song, he’s enthusiastic to learn & capture it perfectly. Once that is done (it’s really super fast), then the playing for the mastered song, goes down the drain.


So, I don’t dare to cover any subject in advance. I was hoping that he finds school exciting with the subject taught by teachers in school. How?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145736https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145736Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:21:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:50:17 GMT]]>True. Cute lah. Eh, we OT liao. Let's :siam:!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145719https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145719Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:50:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:42:43 GMT]]>

lovekidsverymuch:
Blobbi:

*slap forehead*.


can use :slapshead: this now 😉

That one macam I can't stop hantamming myself like that. I only want to slap forehead once mah.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145712https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145712Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:42:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Wrong on simple questions, Correct on difficult questions on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:35:24 GMT]]>My son too, and given that there are more easy questions, this can be a problem :(.


I'm not sure it's overconfidence. Maybe partly? But also, there's a lot of over thinking, *slap forehead*. He says \"can't be so easy what.\" Sounds like it's the same with your DD, Daisyt?

Would love to hear suggestions on how to help. I thought just long term, general exposure?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145706https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/145706Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:35:24 GMT