Page 1 of 27

Use of correction-tape allowed in PSLE?

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:58 pm
by pinky88
Hi, does anyone know if the use of correction-tape is allowed in the PSLE? I read in the instruction booklet that if the student write wrongly, they are supposed to cancel and rewrite. Does that mean the correction-tape is not allowed? So far it is allowed in sch exams.
Also, during the PSLE period, will there be any lessons or the kids will be dismissed after the exam? :? [/quote][/code]

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:09 pm
by kuzco
I asked my boy the same question a few days ago. He said his teacher says it is ok, so long as it is blanked out neatly. :|

I hope someone can confirm this too.

They will most likely be dismissed after the exams.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:14 pm
by daisyt
Maybe its a bit sidetrack, in my girl's sec school, correction tape is not allowed in school tests and exams.

After the PSLE exams, they are dismissed immediately.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:25 pm
by Artbeaucoup
Hi there,

when we mark PSLE scripts, there is a considerable number of students who still use correction tape to correct their mistakes.

Why we advise students not to use correction tape:
- quality of the correction tape has a crucial part to play. Some brands of correction tape are of inferior quality. The mistakes still show through despite applying 2 layers of the correction tape. This is not immediate. The ink only permeates through the tape after some time. So there will be a superimposition of answers. Teachers will mark the answer wrong when it becomes difficult to decipher what the child wrote.

- In the course of flipping the pages, some correction tape will peel off. It might be due to abrasion or again the poor quality of the tape. Needless to say, the corrected answers peel off as well. This can happen in the midst of the exam or when the teachers are doing the marking.

So it's best to cancel and write again. Of course, make sure they do it neatly. Nobody can make out illegible handwriting or incoherent answers that are scribbled all over the place.
:D Hope this helps...just sharing what I have observed when marking PSLE and school exam scripts

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:49 pm
by mummyjoyce
:? I didnt know that at all. I just went to buy 2 correction tapes (good brand) for my girl to use. KS - everything must be new - change battery in calculator, 2 new erasers, a few new blue pens, a new ruler, new lead for pencils.

I will let her know about the above. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:10 pm
by kuzco
My boy has atrocious handwriting and he tends to write very fast, sometimes making his handwriting difficult to read. Have told him many times to slow down and write neatly but he finds it difficult to do that. Oh dear, I hope he will do just that during the PSLE and not use the correction tape.

Yes, we will also be changing the batteries in his calculator and chinese e-dictionary.

Thanks, Artbeaucoup, for the tips.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:37 pm
by Jennifer
I wrote to SEAB abt the use of correction tapes- discouraged but allowed. I guess it is "use at your own risk".

As for e-dict and calculator, a pupil can bring > 1 e-dict/calculator as long as the gadget is in the allowed lists.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:25 pm
by mrswongtuition
This is what I advised all my students:
- If you write something wrong, cancel NEATLY with PENCIL.
- If what you've written is really messy, draw a box neatly around it and cross it out IN PENCIL.
- Do not use correction tape and write over it. If you really need to use correction tape, it should only be to cover up messes, not to write new answers over it.

Main reason for cancelling in pencil is in case they change their minds and want their original answers. They do not spend time rewriting, just need to erase their cancellation. Very useful for Maths :)

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:37 pm
by pinky88
Thanks Artbeacoup for sharing the details & Jennifer for yr confirmation w/ SEAB. Guess I will ask my boy not to bring any correction-tape or he will be tempted to use it. Kids nowadys depend too much on the correction-tape that they don't think carefully b4 they write. :wink:

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:03 am
by daisyt
I checked with my girl (had PSLE last year) and she said, correction tapes are not allowed in PSLE. This was what the teachers told them and they did not use it during PSLE.