KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Would like to check with mothers who have gone through the process - do you need a new report to apply for time extension during PSLE? I know that generally each report is valid for two years, so does this mean that I have to get a new set of reports in P5 and apply in P6? Or if I have reports that are still valid in P4, I go ahead and apply while they are "in effect"?

Thanks in advance!

ammonite wrote:Would like to check with mothers who have gone through the process - do you need a new report to apply for time extension during PSLE? I know that generally each report is valid for two years, so does this mean that I have to get a new set of reports in P5 and apply in P6? Or if I have reports that are still valid in P4, I go ahead and apply while they are "in effect"?

Thanks in advance!

I'm also curious to know if the application for extra time is for good...ie for all school/national exams up from the time it is granted till end of PSLE.
In my daughter's language report assessment to moe, one of the recommendations is to seek extra time. Thinking if I should

janet_lee88 wrote:

ammonite wrote:Would like to check with mothers who have gone through the process - do you need a new report to apply for time extension during PSLE? I know that generally each report is valid for two years, so does this mean that I have to get a new set of reports in P5 and apply in P6? Or if I have reports that are still valid in P4, I go ahead and apply while they are "in effect"?

Thanks in advance!

I'm also curious to know if the application for extra time is for good...ie for all school/national exams up from the time it is granted till end of PSLE.
In my daughter's language report assessment to moe, one of the recommendations is to seek extra time. Thinking if I should

I don't know the process as I have not done so yet. One of the things holding me back is that the papers are already fairly long, so extra time may not be that helpful if the child is tired. My daughter is in PreU 1 (not PSLE) so I've decided to let her try the mid-year exams under normal time conditions and see how she manages. If she needs extra time, I will probably apply for just 1 subject - Maths. Please update here if any of you start the process! I'd like to know.

janet_lee88 wrote:

ammonite wrote:Would like to check with mothers who have gone through the process - do you need a new report to apply for time extension during PSLE? I know that generally each report is valid for two years, so does this mean that I have to get a new set of reports in P5 and apply in P6? Or if I have reports that are still valid in P4, I go ahead and apply while they are "in effect"?

Thanks in advance!

I'm also curious to know if the application for extra time is for good...ie for all school/national exams up from the time it is granted till end of PSLE.
In my daughter's language report assessment to moe, one of the recommendations is to seek extra time. Thinking if I should

Ok, bottomline from discussions with various teachers (but not yet with SEAB itself) - special requests are submitted only early in the year of the exams. So make sure your reports are valid at that point. If they will expire, it will be prudent to arrange for new reports beforehand. For PSLE, consider getting new reports done in the P5 year for submission in P6.

My daughter had extra time for PSLE and O lvl. You need a letter from a certified EP or OT. I don't think SEAB accepts parents nor doctor's (GPs) letters. The letter must state the condition / issues (be it ASD, APD, Dyslexia, ADHD....) that your child has. It would support your cause if there's accompanying documents that certify that your child has been diagnosed with the said condition/ issue.

Because these letters have a validity period (SEAB has this 2-3 years validity period before national exam. Very troublesome), I feel that the best time to request for extra time is end of P5 or Sec 3 (maybe after SA2?), then, you know that the letter is definitely valid and in time for PSLE, O lvl. Not sure about for A lvl, hopefully the O lvl letter can be extended to the A lvl exam.

FT usually request for these documents in Jan, so make sure that you have everything ready by then. You don't want to go thru the stress of a mad scramble to get the paperwork done in Jan.

In that important letter where you request for extra time, make sure you discuss with your child, therapists (or whichever professional your child is seeing), teachers, tutors to see what else is needed to include in the content.

For example, in my daughter's case, we requested for:

- extra time
- permission to use erasable pen or pencil (we needed a writing tool that allowed her to erase wrong answers as we did not want to use the correction tape/fluid and cancellation method.)
- sit for exam in a separate room (and not in the main hall tog with the other neuro-typical students)

You can also request for the exam questions to be enlarged (for vision impaired students, for eg., some exam papers are printed on A3 sized papers or font is 20 point size). There are also cases where the exam questions are read out to the child. A lot of it is case-by-case (every child is unique), so there is no one standard letter that fits all.

Another thing you might want to think about is that there is an annotation in the results cert/slip. Some parents see that as a blemish to the child's records. I've thought hard about this but at the end of the day, my child needed the extra time to help her. And that really made a positive difference.

Again, I must reiterate that this letter to SEAB should include whatever reasonable requests you want for your child. This is because, for some of these EPs and OTs, they will charge to prepare the letter for you. So, every time you make a new request, it's additional charges since the EP/OT has to prepare a new letter. I learnt that the hard way when she sat for her PSLE.

That's why I mentioned earlier that it is important to talk to the relevant people to help you make a more informed decision. Based on what is needed, parents will be in a better position to inform the EP or OT, who is preparing the letter what to request in the content.

HTH

During my daughter's time at PSLE, the invigilators were very nice and kind. At one point during the exam paper, my daughter requested permission to stretch herself. The invigilator even stretched with her. That broke the ice and they both laughed. My girl felt very much at ease after that. Will never forget that act of kindness.

tabgha wrote:During my daughter's time at PSLE, the invigilators were very nice and kind. At one point during the exam paper, my daughter requested permission to stretch herself. The invigilator even stretched with her. That broke the ice and they both laughed. My girl felt very much at ease after that. Will never forget that act of kindness.

That's so kind! Did your daughter find that she was too tired to really make the most of the extra time? Is she preparing of A levels now? I see that most A level exams are about 3 hrs long already, so I'm not sure how much use extra time would be.

slmkhoo wrote:

tabgha wrote:During my daughter's time at PSLE, the invigilators were very nice and kind. At one point during the exam paper, my daughter requested permission to stretch herself. The invigilator even stretched with her. That broke the ice and they both laughed. My girl felt very much at ease after that. Will never forget that act of kindness.

That's so kind! Did your daughter find that she was too tired to really make the most of the extra time? Is she preparing of A levels now? I see that most A level exams are about 3 hrs long already, so I'm not sure how much use extra time would be.

Think will definitely feel mentally tired and drained, be it at 12 or 16yo. That's where certain simple "strategies" help. For example, simple stretching, taking sips of water, close eyes for 1-2 mins (hopefully won't fall asleep here ) or quick toilet break. We usually get her to take a mini break 1/2 way through the exam. They are very simple tasks but my kid found them very effective to survive mental fatigue.

Having said that, a lot also depends on the temperament of the child. Every kid is different. I'm not sure if a ADHD child might get too distracted and carried away with the mini breaks. Just sharing what I did what my child and those activities have helped her.

slmkhoo wrote:Is she preparing of A levels now? I see that most A level exams are about 3 hrs long already, so I'm not sure how much use extra time would be.

No, she's not taking A levels. She's going the diploma route where we feel that the curriculum and mode of teaching is more suitable for her interest and learning style.

If it's a 3 hr long paper, maybe, not necessary to request for extra time. Poor child will be sitting for a 4 hour paper in that case.

tabgha wrote:If it's a 3 hr long paper, maybe, not necessary to request for extra time. Poor child will be sitting for a 4 hour paper in that case.

That's what we are thinking. She is unlikely to be able to complete all the questions in the time given, but I'm not sure extra time will help much as she'll be tired and probably thinking straight! Anyway, we'll see what happens this mid-year.