[quote]i heard from the briefing that P4 is like 'adjustment' time..

the real show starts at P5 and P6...[/quote]Yes that's true - P5 is definitely a project-crazy year and teachers will usually be less lenient with deadlines with the 'honeymoon year' over.

P5 is also the year that students have to write portfolios (a bit like an essay). I know some schools have word limits but for me mine ended up 15 pages long.

If you're concerned about the time spent on projects, most students can complete it with enough time in the evenings to spend with family, even though weekends + first 2-3 weeks of holidays will be busy.

Hi to all the kiasuparents (and students)!

It's been 4 years since I was faced with the same dilemma as most of you and I thought I would share some of my firsthand experiences and thoughts with you to aid you in your decision.

First and foremost, a big Con :congrats: to your DC if he/she has been accepted into the GEP! As a senior who has graduated from the programme, I would wholeheartedly urge you to take up the offer. The three years I spent in the programme were fulfilling, enriching, and definitely created one of the best memories of my primary school journey. While the programme did at times resemble a challenging juggling circus act, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

If your DC has always felt like a slight oddball in his current school, don't fret! - We were a hodgepodge of quirky kids who thrived in the environment that the GEP provided us with - pre-teen poets and programmers who held competitions for who could memorise the most digits of pi.

The GEP isn't a one-way ticket to PSLE success. Rather, it's a dedicated board of car designers who equiped us with the skills to travel where we desired to. From portfolio essays, biographies and court debates, we learnt how to formulate arguments and to write professionally - vital skills that served us well. From playing with math theorems and breaking codes we saw the importance of an analytical and sharp mind which we strove to develop.

It wasn't always a walk in the park though - Many classmates were dismayed by their less than stellar grades (70s and 80s were the norm). After all, your DC will be against peers who are on par with him if not more advanced. Students who aren't prepared for the heavy project workload often fall behind and struggle with the tight deadlines. The GEP is (perhaps notoriously so) infamous for dishing out project after project which require nothing less than blood, sweat, and good typing skills. Just a headsup: Never print things when you are in a rush - those machines smell fear. :evil:

I was fortunate to have many passionate and brilliant teachers who made my time in the GEP even more fulfilling. They cracked witty jokes, treated us as equals and were as liberal with criticism as they were with praise for a point well argued in class.

To sum up my rambling, do feel free to ask me anything if you wish to seek further clarification and I'll do my best to answer Once again, do give this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a try and I wish you all the best in the coming year!

Hi Parents! (and other kiasu students like me )


It's been a year since I went through the DSA process and haunted this website for tips, hence I thought I would return the favour to all the juniors out there!

1. Read up on current affairs! This is extremely important, especially for those who make it to the interview stage. Some of the common questions asked are \"what are your views on ...\" and \"Discuss something that you read about in May/April\" Keep a journal on newspaper clippings and make sure you have opinions to offer on the topic.

2. Find out all you can about your dream school - prospective ccas, special programs, leadership opportunities etc. Being prepared and knowing what you want shows the interviewers that you are a prepared and responsible candidate.

3. Keep your cool when facing 'controversial' questions. :scared: One of the killer questions that students flounder at is \"Have you applied to any other schools? Why apply to both schools/ Which school would you pick?\" Most students reply with \"Oh the second school is just a back-up plan\" or \"My parents want me to apply to ...\" Acknowledge the fact that you have applied to other school(s), and explain that both schools are excellent in their own ways/ choosing between both are akin to splitting hairs. However explain that you would choose their school because it offers ----opportunities / you deeply admire the spirit of the students you experienced at open house which you felt differed from another school etc.

4. Be prepared. I cannot stress how important these two words are. Little things such as stammers or too long pauses between questions/ immediately rattling off memorised answers will set off warning bells in the interviewers' heads. For ladies, sit properly and look presentable - some schools allow students to return home earlier if their interview is at 1-2 so they can wash up/ change uniform. Don't fidget!!

5. Be sincere. If you truly want to be in that school, express that desire to the interviewers - you should have no problem with that! Remember, respect is key, not just to the adults but to your fellow interviewees.

6. Have fun! The interview isn't an interrogation, but a session to let staff gauge their prospective future students. It may be nerve-wracking, but always keep calm and radiate positive energy. It'll make you feel better, and the interviewers will be glad to see that you can handle things.

7. Always remember DSA isn't a do-or-die process. If things don't work out to your satisfaction, don't lose hope! Treat it as a valuable experience to learn from, and strive just as hard if not harder for your ultimate goal! :snuggles:

:rahrah: Jiayou kiddos! You can do it! :rahrah:

Hi Parents (and all those kiasu students out there like me haha)


It's been a year since I started haunting this site for tips for PSLE and I thought I would return the favour to all my juniors out there!

1. It's very important not to start mugging papers right now! Chances are that you'll peter out just before the critical period. Start on bite-sized chunks and work your way up such that by July you are going full steam ahead. The week before the exam should be filled with revision for important points and psyching yourself up for the exam.

2. Try not to eat out at least 1 week before prelims/PSLE in case of food poisoning (Don't eat bananas or curry too! :imconstipated: ) Take care of yourself by hydrating constantly etc. because if your child has a high fever on the day of the exam, he will still have to sit for the paper (even with vomiting etc., just held in a different room)

3. Work hard for prelims! In case you are unable to sit for PSLE, prelim marks will play a part!

4. Pep talks also help to destress your child - perhaps a fun outing every now and then will help to make things more bearable.

5. Schools may start piling papers and sometimes we students can't finish every single one (especially math) Towards the date, teachers may start allowing students to complete just part of the paper (The long questions are always the most important) instead of everything.

6. I'm not sure if this is still applicable, but a hint to those who flounder with the model method: Try using simultaneous equation instead!

:rahrah: Jiayou kiddos! The hectic period has just begun (It gets much, much, worse later on) You can do it!! :rahrah:

[quote]The road is indeed long ahead ...[/quote]
I won't deny that it will be a tough and stressful 3 years ahead, stretching you and you DC to unfathomable limits. However, I have never looked back since, and I wouldn't trade my GEP experience for anything! Remember, Just keep swimming! :snuggles:

[quote]Hi, Reversi! May I ask which GE centre you're from? We could be school mates! O.o[/quote]
Hi Nightmares. I would prefer to keep my particulars private, if you don't mind At any rate, we're from the same GEP batch of 2011!

It is quite worrying if your DC goes to bed at 11+, I remember being able to call it a day by about 9pm. It's definitely a culture shock being in a stressful new environment (like Sec 1 :sad: ) Here are some tips that might relieve stress:


1. Have a sense of urgency. Try to keep on task and if possible, start little bite-size bits of revision for CTs - They'll be rolling by in no time at all. Cramming for a CT is a very horrible experience, especially if you are not very strong in that subject. Mark out the CT dates on a calender and plan a revision schedule.

2. Don't be a perfectionist. This is a recurring problem among Geppers - being conscientious and careful is good, but nitpicking to a point where homework drags on and on is unhealthy. If you are unable to solve a question, don't waste time! Re-visit it after some time, or try reading up independently online. Alternatively, seek help from teachers the next day, who will gladly explain the concept.

3. For parents, if you see your kids looking frazzled/stressed out, give them little pep talks (especially once CTs start). Encourage them to talk to you about the stress/academic problems that they are facing - getting it out of their system takes away some stress.

4. Listen out for tips in class! If teachers say: 'Oh, this question is always tested', revise the concept because it may very well be part of a killer question (they always have them)

It's very important not to burn out at this early stage! P4 is only the tip of the iceberg - P6 is a killer year. Hectic periods don't always last throughout the year (in fact, this is not considered a stressful point!) Jiayou kiddos! :rahrah: You can do it!

[quote]Thanks for all your recommendations in your full post. My kids are interested in holocaust. Would like to hear your recommendations. Thanks :)[/quote]
I guess it depends on whether you mind your kids reading rather dark themes but I was particularly interested in the deeds of Josef Mengele for a point in time.

I read GIANTS the dwarfs of Aushwitz last year, by Yehuda Koren and Eilat Negev. It was a fascinating read about the Lilliput Troupe, a large family of performers who had present-day achondroplasia, which is to crudely put it, dwarfism. It was shocking yet inspiring to learn of how they as a family pulled through the horrific and twisted experiments performed by Mengele.

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen incorporates some form of time-travel, and is also a brilliant read. The Boy in Striped Pyjamas is one of the few rare books that depict the horrors of the holocaust from the POV of an innocent Nazi child. This is one that's not that dark :imanangel: I read it when I was 9. I loved it.

There are many other such books that can be found in the 'young adults' section in libraries.

[quote]DD has read both of these books. For the second book, how do you find book 4 and 5? Interesting?[/quote]
Do you mean Many waters and An acceptable time? I'm not sure if it's because I read it when I was younger but I found the later books slightly confusing. Or maybe it's just me . Both plots deal with time travel to ancient eras, and the main characters are sandy and dennis/polly(grandchild) respectively. To be honest, I found A Wrinkle in Time more engaging, but the two books are definitely good reads too.

[quote]Thanks for sharing! Would definitely borrow from NLB for my younger one.


Any good recommendation for Sec?[/quote]Hehe I'm afraid I can't really recommend many books since I myself just entered Sec 1 this year. Jostein Gaarder is an exceptionally talented writer - Sophie's World, The Christmas Mystery, The Solitaire Mystery. I found Sophie's World a bit of a demanding read, and I paused halfway, but The Christmas Mystery and The Solitaire Mystery are wonderful! (They include hints of philosophy, but Sophie's World is a book about philosophy.

Khaled Hosseini is another of my favourite authors - A thousand splendid suns, The kite runner and just recently, And the mountains echoed. For die-hard thrills, I love Dan Brown's books. I found The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons a brilliant mix of breathless action and wit, but Digital Fortress was a refreshing change, dealing more with computer intelligence.

Strings Attached by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky is an inspiring book too - definitely worth a read!

I love reading books on the holocaust, grim as it may sound, so if any of your DC express an interest in it, I'd be glad to share some of my favourite books!