Have exam preparation questions for the PSLE?
In one of our KiasuParents Huddle webinars, our panellists gave tips on managing time (as well as stress levels) during these final preparation weeks, and you can watch a partial session here:
Due to limited time, there were parent questions that couldn't be addressed during the above session. To support PSLE parents, we've tried to answer a few of these questions in this post.
01Is it better to practise past-year PSLE papers over and over again, or try different prelim papers?
With weeks left for preparation, use practice papers strategically.
If your child has worked on a number of papers, but has made a lot of mistakes, focus on retesting. The way to do this: ask your child to retry any questions that they previously got wrong, on a freshly printed question sheet.
Retesting gives your child a second chance to apply what they've learned and reinforce concepts.
If you want to introduce prelim papers from different schools at this point, be mindful of affecting your child's morale. You may think that asking your child to try challenging papers from brand name schools gives them good exposure. But more isn't always better when it comes to difficulty.
Remember: a practice paper should stretch your child, but not overwhelm them. If the paper is too difficult, your child may lose steam and give up.
How will you know if a paper is too difficult for your child? Look out for these red flags:
- Your child struggles with basic comprehension (they don't understand certain words, or don't understand what the question needs them to do).
- They can't identify why their answers are wrong, even after reviewing model answers.
- They get stuck on heuristics or word problems. (Heuristics are the problem-solving strategies commonly taught in schools, like drawing models or looking for patterns.)
- They leave more than half the paper blank.
- They're confused by how questions are phrased, especially in open-ended sections.
- Their wrong answers are based on misconceptions, not careless mistakes.
- They're struggling with basic vocabulary.
- They can't understand what's being asked, even with guidance.
If your child shows these signs, it's best to hold off on challenging papers. Instead, look for practice papers where your child can attempt at least 70 to 85 percent of the questions without help.
They don't need to get everything right, but they should be able to:
understand what's being asked
know how to start
work through most of the paper with some effort
Once they are consistently doing well at this level, you can start introducing the occasional tricky question to challenge them further.
02How can I help if my child faces challenges while answering maths or science questions during home revision? Which source do we refer to for the correct answer?
Ideally, the best source would be your child's schoolteachers, especially if you are concerned about accuracy or providing acceptable answers for exams.
Some teachers may invite their P6 students to text them whenever they need help. You can also contact your child's teachers to let them know that your child needs support.
Alternatively, try googling the question, to see if any tutor or enrichment centre has provided a worked example or explainer video.
Still unable to find an answer? Try your class WhatsApp group. Many parents either hire tutors or attempt questions themselves, and they may be able to guide you. You can also look for Facebook groups focusing on PSLE problems.
03What is the best way to revise Science concepts?
It's best to use practice papers for revision.
Although completing practice papers can be tedious, it's a more effective revision strategy than re-reading notes or highlighting textbooks. The reason is that practice questions actively test your child's understanding and exam readiness.
Once your child has completed a paper, you will also have instant feedback on whether they have retained information and understood concepts.
Ideally, your child should spend more effort on tackling open-ended questions, which require more thinking compared to multiple-choice or True/False questions. But do note that for students who are academically weaker, scoring well on easier sections like multiple choice can help boost their score. If your child is struggling to master science concepts, focus on MCQ drilling instead.
For children who are not being tutored, parents may feel stressed about having to mark practice papers and assessment books.
Let us suggest this: instead of marking your child's work, you can get your child to read their answer aloud, followed by the recommended answer. Then ask your child, "Is there any difference between your answer and the model answer?" This removes the burden of knowledge from you, and places the responsibility on your child.
If your child has answered many questions inadequately, you can ask questions like, "How did you revise for this topic?" or "This fact is in your revision notes. Did you read this section?" This helps your child to assess if their earlier revision efforts were sufficient, and what the next steps might be.
04Any checklist to prepare my child for the last lap of the PSLE?
At this stage, it's better to avoid information overload.
Do stick with the materials provided by your child's school and/or tuition centre. Many teachers would have provided a checklist of topics to cover before the PSLE. If you don't have such a list, an assessment book organised by topic can serve as a ready-made checklist.
If you feel that a simple list could help your child stay on track, you can create a simple daily checklist. Keep it light, i.e. five or fewer to-dos per subject or subject component.
Here's an example:
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| Subject/Topic | What I Need to Know | What I Need to Do |
|---|---|---|
| English/Situational Writing | 1. Format for situational writing: date, salutation, purpose, content, call to action, sign off. 2. The types of writing tested: formal letter, informal e-mail, report. | 1. Memorise the format for situational writing. 2. Practise writing the different types of pieces: do this once for each format. |
05My son doesn't like me teaching him. He prefers to study on his own or seek help from his father or sister. Should I let go totally?
You don't have to "let go totally." Here's what you can do: Instead of assisting your child with their schoolwork, you can take on the role of a coach.
This means that you will focus on helping your child to:
prioritise the most important revision tasks
set up revision plans that serve a clear purpose, and are realistic
identify obstacles standing in the way of effective revision
By now, it's likely that your child has a revision plan, or perhaps one has been suggested by the school. But often, the biggest hurdle is the lack of follow-through.
To boost your child's chances of success, they need to be specific about their plan. If your child's revision plan seems unclear, these are some questions you can ask:
When would you like this revision session to take place? ("Saturday, from 9 to 11AM")
What would you like to achieve during this session? ("do five Maths retest questions, and five Science retest questions")
In order for this to happen, what do you need to do? Do you need my help? ("Select and reprint questions by Friday every week.")
Is there anything getting in the way of this plan happening? ("I feel sleepy and want to rest on Saturday mornings.")
How can this be fixed? ("Sleep earlier on Friday nights or choose a different timing for revision.")
To avoid disagreements over revision, do your best to remain calm. For instance, if your child does some work and gets most of the questions wrong, don't panic. If you need a break, alert your family members or parent network, and get someone else to pitch in and help with explanations.
More importantly, make the experience positive for your child, with small rewards such as heading out for ice cream after work is completed.
Want to chat with other parents about the PSLE? Post your questions or tips on the KiasuParents forum!