Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Parents upset as PSLE maths paper leaves pupils in tears

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/parents-upset-psle-maths-paper-leaves-pupils-tears
By Amelia Teng & Jolene Ang, The New Paper, 02 October 2019 at 06:00 am


One of the 'tricky' questions in the paper and the solution.
PHOTO: One of the "tricky" questions in the paper and the solution.
PHOTO: STUDY ROOM
Picture posted by Amelia Teng & Jolene Ang, The New Paper and 02 October 2019 at 06:00 am
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https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/parents-upset-psle-maths-paper-leaves-pupils-tears


Some say certain questions were exceptionally tough, educators say they required creativity to solve.

This year's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) mathematics paper left some pupils in tears and drew a backlash from several parents.

Some questions from the second section, known as Paper 2, were exceptionally difficult, parents told The Straits Times.

Three questions were shared online after the paper last Friday, and a Facebook post by a parent airing her grievances on Monday was shared more than 1,000 times.

Parents also took issue with "tricky" PSLE questions in 2015 and 2017.

Legal counsel Chia Su Anne, in her 40s, said her friend saw pupils emerging from school with "puffy red eyes". Her son said it was harder than preliminary papers but manageable.

Counsellor Cheryl Sim, 49, said her son had also found the exam tough.

"He felt so down after the paper. So we gave him more support for the last few papers."

Others felt the questions were manageable.

Mr Michael Ma, 44, said he talked to his son and looked at the questions circulating online. He felt they were "tricky" but not out of the syllabus scope.

"These questions could differentiate the best students from the good ones," he said.


Mr Michael Ma, 44, said he talked to his son and looked at the questions circulating online.
PHOTO: Mr Michael Ma, 44, said he talked to his son and looked at the questions circulating online. He felt they were "tricky" but not out of the syllabus scope.
"These questions could differentiate the best students from the good ones," he said.
Picture posted by Serene Eng-Yeo --> ‎Ong Ye Kung on 30 September 2019
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com, AsiaOne on 02 October 2019
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"With a good understanding of the syllabus, a pupil should be able to do well."

A spokesman for the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board said questions in all national exams are based on topics within the syllabus.

The aim is to "assess students' ability to understand and apply concepts".

He said there is a balance of "basic, average and challenging" questions so standards are maintained from year to year.

The Paper 2 exam was 11/2 hours long, comprising five short-answer questions and 12 long-answer questions.

Educators said it is typical for some questions every year to be more complex and require some level of creativity.

One question asked pupils to figure out patterns in a set of triangles, while another required them to find the diameter of a circle, given a set of semi-circles and measurements.

A word problem tested the pupils' application of calculating percentages.

STAY CALM
Mr Wallace Wong, co-founder of tuition centre Study Room, said the questions did not involve technical maths skills, such as a deep proficiency in algebra.

"It just takes patience and the ability to stay calm... to try different methods of visualising and solving a question."

But parents said it was unreasonable to expect children to think creatively under pressure.

Ms Ng Su-Ling, 47, who works in a charity organisation, said some questions seemed to be more a test of IQ than maths.

"The standards seem to be higher than what is to be expected of mainstream children."


Eng-Yeo also questioned Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the need to set such a tough paper and pointed out the consequences that it would have on students' mental health.
PHOTO: Eng-Yeo also questioned Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the need to set such a tough paper and pointed out the consequences that it would have on students' mental health.

She wrote: "You only need to set and mark the papers. But it is the scarring that you have inflicted on your future generation that the parents have to see through and undo.

"Make it challenging. Make it doable, I agree. But what I don't understand is the cruel decision to make it so unreasonably tough that children came out crying, deflated, demoralised and crushed."

Eng-Yeo's post struck a chord with many parents, who agreed that the exam this year was too difficult. Ong did not respond to Eng-Yeo's post at the time of writing.

The PSLE written examinations started on Sept 26 and will end today, Oct 2.
Photo from Facebook/serene.engyeo, ongyekung
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com, AsiaOne on 02 October 2019
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https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/why-make-psle-2019-such-nightmare-singapore-mum-asks-education-minister
 

It just takes patience and the ability to stay calm... to try different methods of visualising and solving a question.
It just takes patience and the ability to stay calm... to try different methods of visualising and solving a question.
PHOTO: "It just takes patience and the ability to stay calm... to try different methods of visualising and solving a question."
But parents said it was unreasonable to expect children to think creatively under pressure.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Let us say a little prayer :
'Heavenly Father, even though I am stress, I may not understand how everything will work out, but I trust you. I don't see a way, but I know you will make a way. I have faith at this very moment you are touching my heart, removing doubt and working in me. Things may look dark and bleak now, But I have faith that my dawn is coming! In Jesus' name, Amen.'
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By Amelia Teng & Jolene Ang, The New Paper, 02 October 2019 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] Amelia Teng & Jolene Ang, The New Paper, Parents upset as PSLE maths paper leaves pupils in tears, posted on 02 October 2019 at 06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/parents-upset-psle-maths-paper-leaves-pupils-tears


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