Experts share tips on preparing for PSLE at ST Smart Parenting forum

SINGAPORE - Children, especially introverted ones, should practise reading aloud to prepare for the English oral test in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Parents should observe their children's different learning styles and tailor the learning environment to suit them.

These were some of the tips given to parents attending The Straits Times Smart Parenting Forum on PSLE Preparation last Saturday (May 21). The forum was free for parents who are ST subscribers.

The Ministry of Education's (MOE) deputy director-general of education (curriculum) Sng Chern Wei got the ball rolling with an overview of the new PSLE scoring and Secondary 1 posting systems.

He said MOE's decision to change the scoring system was to shift the focus from academic results. "It's also meant to help students appreciate their performance is determined by their own achievement, independent of how other students perform."

Under the new achievement level (AL) scoring system introduced in 2021, each pupil is graded AL1 to AL8 for each subject, in place of grades like A* to E.

A pupil's total PSLE score is the sum of the AL score of the four subjects, with four being a perfect score.

Session 1 - Is PSLE maths really that hard?

Mathematics expert Yeap Ban Har focused on areas that will make a difference in the PSLE maths papers, such as strengthening the children's foundation in the subject.

Addressing parents' concerns about challenging questions, he said it is difficult to practise solving such questions as there are no previous examples. "But while the problem may seem unfamiliar, it is still within the syllabus and the concepts have been taught," he added.

Dr Yeap also advised parents to brush up their child's competency in basic skills such as addition and multiplication as this will help them get a good score.

Session 2 - Practice makes a difference in PSLE English

Ms Bozena Rupnik, a senior teacher from the British Council, shared strategies like engaging children on what is happening in the world as it would help them form their own opinions as they prepare for the English paper, including the oral exam.

She also encouraged children, especially those who are introverted, to practise reading aloud to prepare for the oral exam.

"When they read the story out loud, they will pay attention to stress, intonation, fluency and even creating different voices for different characters. They will become more familiar with what their voice sounds like," said Ms Rupnik.

Session 3 - Raising your child to be self-motivated and an independent learner

National Institute of Education senior education research scientist Ng Ee Lynn shared tips on motivating children and helping them to manage exam stress.

Noting the need for a supportive home environment, Dr Ng said parents should encourage their children even when they have not done well in the mid-year examinations.

"As parents, we need to realise our reactions to our children's exam results could impact how they would feel about themselves," she said.

Ms Fynn Sor, a former educator, said parents should take note of their children's different learning styles and adjust the learning environment to suit them.

Noting that some children are visual learners, she said: "They absorb new concepts when they can see something. If your child is a visual learner, maybe you can offer them a wall at home for them to paste their notes and diagrams."

Watch their full sessions here.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction