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Although students are the ones who sit for PSLE, sometimes it feels like parents and teachers are also being evaluated. They play a critical role in raising and educating the children, and sometimes a child’s performance is a direct reflection of the mentors.

Parents can take several steps to ensure their children are ready for PSLE English and other papers long before the exams arrive.

Enrol Children for Tuition Early

Although the cost of tuition can be prohibitive, sometimes a little sacrifice goes a long way, especially if the child needs extra support to excel. Early intervention is critical because the child gets sufficient time to polish his communication, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar skills. 

English PSLE tests the child’s knowledge of the English language. Unfortunately, it takes time for the child to master the language and understand the tricks used in exams to confirm their knowledge.

Enrolling the child in English tuition in Singapore early gives the child sufficient time to read and understand what is expected in the English PSLE papers.

Cultivate a Reading Culture

Children develop a reading culture from a young age, and parents can steer them in this direction by investing in books. Initially, parents may need to set up time away from electronics so children can focus on reading.

The books may need to be what the children enjoy reading. For example, if a child enjoys reading adventure books, parents can go with them to the store so that they can choose the books they want.

To minimise costs, parents can encourage children to borrow books from the library or form book clubs where they exchange books with other children.

A child who reads has a better vocabulary and is likely to ace all PSLE English papers. The child also develops other skills, such as critical thinking, which are crucial when handling multiple-choice questions with very similar answers, yet one is the most correct.

Choose a Good English Tuition Centre

Singapore has hundreds of English tuition centres, but they all use different teaching strategies. Some have lessons that are similar to those of regular classes, so students do not have personalised learning. This may not be very helpful to a child who needs one-on-one attention.

Parents should consider their child’s needs when choosing an English tuition center. Whenever possible, get a designated tutor who will be responsible for the student. This way, parents get regular updates on the child’s performance, including challenges and how to address them.

Having an English tutor will also give the student the confidence to seek clarification without worrying about holding other students back.

Monitor School Performance

One of your parental responsibilities is to know how your child is performing in school. This is especially important for parents who aren’t sure if their child needs English tuition or not. Meet the teachers and find out what they think of the child’s performance in class. Does the child need extra classes and an English tutor?

If you’re paying for tuition, find out if your child is showing signs of improvement. If not, find out from the child if they are happy with the English tuition centre or if you should look for alternatives.

Ideally, English tuition should have a positive impact on the child’s performance. That is the whole point of it. If it doesn’t, then either the child is not taking the extra classes seriously or the tutor is not doing a good job. Identifying any shortfalls early will help parents find a solution long before PSLE.

The path to academic success depends on several factors: the student, the parents, the school, and in Singapore, the tuition center. English tuition centres receive thousands of students annually because English PSLE results have an impact on the course the child will undertake in secondary school.

Although the English tuition centres have the same goal of improving a child’s academic performance, the results vary from one centre to the next. Some centres are more popular and tend to charge a higher fee, but some may not be the right fit for your child.

Here is what to consider when choosing an English tuition centre in Singapore.

Academic Qualifications of The Tutors

Unlike schools, tuition centres do not have to meet set standards when it comes to the qualifications of the tutors. Often, parents have to trust that English tutors have the right credentials to educate their children.

Unfortunately, tuition is big business in Singapore, and some people are in it for the money. Your child will most likely pass English PSLE if they are in the hands of a tutor with passion and knowledge for the language.

You can tell you are dealing with professionals when you interact with the tutors. You can also check online to see what other parents have to say about the tuition centre and the impact it has had on student performance.

Class Sizes

Unfortunately, you can’t always get an English tutor per child unless you request private classes. Most tuition centres have a school set up with a tutor per class. When enrolling your child, find out about the class sizes.

A small class per tutor is more suitable because your child is likely to get personalised attention.

Customised Learning

Tuitions would not be very popular in Singapore if they mimicked the school setup fully. English tuition centres preparing for the English PSLE tend to customise learning based on student needs. The tutors often use different teaching styles to attract student attention and make learning easier.

Find out how the centre structures learning and if the approach they use will work with your child.

Teaching Resources

As students prepare for the English PSLE, they need exposure to papers and questions they are likely to encounter when they enter the exam room. Find out what resources the tutors use to teach the students. Do they use past examination papers? Do they have sample essays and other relevant reading materials? Do they use recordings to test listening comprehension?

These materials are critical because they expose students to PSLE English and the question structures they are likely to encounter. Reinforcing these concepts will help students have a better understanding of what is expected of them when they enter the exam room. 

Parent-Teacher Updates

Once a child is enrolled in an English tuition center, parents should get regular updates from the teachers. Find out how the centre handles these communications. Do parents get a monthly update? Can parents go in at any time to address any concerns?

Tuition is a partnership between parents, tutors, and students, and everyone should be involved every step of the way. The child should see this as a supportive learning environment where they can count on the teachers and parents as they figure out their educational journey.

Whenever possible, parents should involve their children in the tuition centre selection process. Sometimes a child may prefer one centre over another because that is where friends go. However, the child should also be aware of the parent’s priorities and why they would prefer a specific English tuition centre over another.

Exam season, especially the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), usually overwhelms parents, students, and teachers. Students and parents are particularly keen on PSLE English performance because it will determine the subjects the student will undertake in secondary school.

The key to passing PSE exams is preparation. Here are some tips on how to prepare for English PSLE.

English Tuition

Singapore’s tuition culture is known worldwide. Some people even go as far as to attribute this to the high education standard. It is, therefore, not surprising that most parents opt to pay extra for tuition lessons, especially when preparing for PSLE.

Unfortunately, of the four subjects tested (English, Mother Tongue, Science, and Maths), emphasis is put on Science and Mathematics. Many parents and students overlook the importance of English tuition in Singapore.

However, PSLE English is important because a poor result will affect the child’s overall score. Additionally, English performance influences the course the child will take in secondary school.

One way to help a child get the best result possible is to enrol them in an English tuition centre. Here, they will get targeted training for PSLE English. The child will also get the necessary skills on how to analyse the questions and answer them correctly.

The tutors also understand some of the tricks used in the question guidelines. They will help students use critical thinking skills to rationalise and understand some of the trick questions.

Focus on Exams Skills

One of the mistakes students make when preparing for PSLE is that they focus more on the language instead of acquiring exam skills. Unfortunately, the closer the exams are, the more unlikely it is that the student will improve spoken or written English or even acquire new skills.

The best approach is to have targeted practice, something that English tutors will focus on when preparing students for English PSLE. When a child goes to an English tuition centre, the tutors will analyse their strengths and weaknesses.

They will decide how best to strengthen the weaknesses and, at the same time, determine the best use of the time they have available before the exams.

Revise Old Exam Papers

One way to see how psle English exams are set is to go through past exam papers. The student may come across similar questions that have been asked over the years. There is a probability that the same or similar questions may be asked in the upcoming PSLE English paper. 

Doing this with an English tutor has an added benefit because the tutor has probably done exam revisions so many times that they now know what candidates should expect. The tutors can help your child discuss and analyse past exam papers. They can also look at the student’s compositions and see ways to make them better to improve the child’s performance.

Have A Target

Having a target, whether it is the average score or the English score, is critical because the student has something to work towards. Some parents fear pushing students towards a specific goal because they fear disappointment and the effect on the child.

However, when a student sets an attainable goal, they can work towards it. What students shouldn’t do is set a goal that is obviously beyond their reach. For example, parents and teachers can look at the child’s previous performance and together set a score a little higher than their past score.

With a goal in mind, students have something to work towards. They will study and focus on the right areas, with one goal in mind. Passing English PSLE.