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.