Are you a parent pulling your hair out trying to help your child understand their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Science curriculum? Don’t fret anymore, we have compiled the ultimate PSLE Science cheat sheet for you! This guide will help your child master the essential science process skills and sail through their examination with confidence.
Master the PSLE Listening Comprehension with this PSLE Science Cheat Sheet
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If you’re a parent helping your child prepare for the PSLE, you know how critical it is to cover all aspects of the curriculum.
One component that often gets overlooked is the Listening Comprehension section. Despite accounting for 10% of the entire paper, this section can significantly influence your child’s final grade.
Here’s how you can help your child ace this part of the exam using our PSLE Science cheat sheet.
Understanding Question Types in Listening Comprehension
Just like the comprehension section, the Listening Comprehension section mainly comprises three types of questions:
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Factual: These questions require straightforward answers based on the audio text.
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Inferential: These questions require students to deduce answers by listening attentively to the text.
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Summary: These questions require students to conclude the answer after listening to the full text.
Using our PSLE Science cheat sheet, your child can get accustomed to identifying these question types quickly and prepare accordingly.
Paying Attention is Key
The audio texts used in the Listening Comprehension section are usually news reports, advertisements, radio talk shows, and interviews. While the content may not always be exciting, it’s crucial for students to remain attentive throughout. ‘Switching off’ even for a few seconds can cost valuable marks.
However, if your child does lose focus, remind them not to panic. The text is read twice, so they’ll have another chance to catch what they missed.
Reading the Questions and Avoiding Complacency
Encourage your child to scan through the questions before each text begins. This will help them identify the type of questions quickly and know what to listen out for.
Even if the questions seem straightforward and the answers easily found, remind your child not to become complacent. They should listen attentively during the second reading of the text and check their answers.
Understanding Primary Science Process Skills
Scientific processes are the steps taken to make things happen. The PSLE Science examination tests your child’s understanding of these scientific processes and their definitions. Nailing down these definitions is the first step towards acing the exam.
Recognizing Definition Questions
Definition questions usually start with phrases like “State what (process) is/means”. These questions have been appearing more frequently in recent PSLE papers. Here are some examples:
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State what deforestation is. [1 mark] (PSLE 2022)
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State what digestion is. (PSLE 2022)
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State what is temperature. (PSLE 2021)
Definitions of Key Processes
Now, let’s dive into the definitions of key processes that frequently appear in the PSLE Science papers:
Diversity
Classification: It involves arranging things into different groups based on their characteristics.
Living Things & Non-Living Things
Decomposition: Decomposers, mainly fungi and bacteria, break down dead matter into simpler substances over time, which mix into the soil. Plants then use these substances as nutrients to grow.
Cycles
Cycles are an integral part of life and nature, often represented in the form of diagrams or flowcharts.
Systems
Systems include various biological systems such as the digestive and respiratory systems.
Energy
Reflection: This is the process when a ray of light bounces off a surface and changes its direction.
Energy conversion: This refers to the change(s) in the form of energy. For example, during photosynthesis, light energy (from the Sun) is converted into chemical potential energy (stored as food in the plant).
Interactions
Interactions involve the way things influence each other and their environment. Examples include magnets and adaptation.
PSLE Science Cheat Sheet and Listening Comprehension Examination Schedule
In addition to the PSLE Science cheat sheet, parents and students should also be aware of the Listening Comprehension Examination schedule. This year, the Listening Comprehension Examinations will be conducted on Friday, 15th September. The schedule is as follows:
Morning Session
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Chinese Language, Malay Language, Tamil Language: 0900 – 0935 h *
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Foundation Chinese Language, Foundation Malay Language, Foundation Tamil Language: 0900 – 0940 h *
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Bengali Language, Gujarati Language, Hindi Language, Panjabi Language, Urdu Language, Foundation Bengali Language, Foundation Gujarati Language, Foundation Hindi Language, Foundation Panjabi Language, Foundation Urdu Language: 0900 – 0930 h *
Afternoon Session
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English Language, Foundation English Language: 1115 – 1150 h *
This timetable helps students to plan their revision schedules effectively. Remember to revise for both the science and listening comprehension exams using the PSLE Science cheat sheet and other relevant resources. Good luck with your preparations!
Source: SG Primary School
PSLE Science Cheat Sheet is a Game Changer
With the right guidance and practice, your child can excel in the Listening Comprehension section of the PSLE. This PSLE Science cheat sheet is designed to help your child understand the requirements of this section and prepare effectively. Let’s give our children the confidence they need to tackle the PSLE with ease!
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