The current PSLE scoring system comes with its share of pros and cons, especially when it comes to Math.
On the plus side, getting a 90 will get you the same achievement level (AL1) as getting a perfect score of 100. However, while the current AL1 is equivalent to the A* of the previous scoring system (90 marks and above), an AL2 (85–89 marks) is much more challenging to attain than an A (75–90) of the previous scoring system.
For instance, imagine a situation where Student X scored 84 marks and Student Y scored 86 marks. Under the old PSLE scoring system, both students would have obtained an A grade. However, in the new scoring system, Student X will get an AL3, whereas Student Y would get an AL 2.
Doing well in Math is thus key to ace the PSLE.
On the bright side, despite the numerous challenges involved in tackling tough questions, Math remains one of the few subjects where students can score full marks in.
With the right strategies and a little bit of help, you can boost your child’s score from an AL3 to an AL1 :
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Boost your child’s confidence
We all want our children to do really well in their exams and gain admission in top schools. But sometimes the pressure to excel might be overwhelming and wreak havoc on a child’s mental well-being.
It can cause them to experience anxiety, fear of failure, feelings of inadequacy and not being “good enough”.
Studies show that math anxiety does not only affect how children do in exams, it also affects their ability to learn new mathematical concepts and procedures in class.
Sometimes, we also end up passing our own stresses and fears to our children, which can again be detrimental to their academic performance.
Our children thrive on positive reinforcement. We can encourage our kids to be resilient learners by praising the effort and hard work they put in, not the grades or marks they get.
We have to teach our kids that it’s okay to make mistakes, in math, and in life. It’s okay to not always have the answer, and that’s just how we learn new things. By developing a growth mindset, we can help our kids understand that our abilities can improve with hard work. Failure is just a sign that we should try harder the next time.
Mums and dads, we understand that it can be hard to juggle work commitments, house work, extracurricular activities, homework and revision all at once. While as parents we can provide emotional support and encouragement, our children might need expert help in order to maximise their potential.
In Singapore, Oodles Learning is the only certified tuition partner of onSponge to conduct the official onSponge learning programmes for Primary 1 to Secondary 4 students. They aim to make learning fun for students and provide a positive and personalised learning environment where inquisitivity and problem-solving skills are nurtured in a holistic manner.
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Instil Good Habits to Gain More Method Marks During Exams
Apart from the use of Math strategies, your child needs to master the right habits early on, in order to gain method marks during examinations. Method marks refers to the marks awarded for 'knowing a method and attempting to apply it'.
As parents, we can ensure that our child is disciplined about practising these good habits in problem sum solving. For instance, it is important to highlight key words and information in the questions in order to minimise errors and careless mistakes.
Always make sure that your child’s presentation of work is clear and accurate, and a concise computational statement is present. This is a simple but essential discipline that many students lack due to impatience which commonly leads to carelessness and loss of precious marks.
Take a look at your child’s school assignments and work. Do check for:
- Breaking Down of the Question
- Neat and Clear Presentation
- Well-Labelled Steps
- Computation Statements
These are some of the right habits and approaches critical to achieving that AL1 in Math. So if you don’t see them in your child’s work, it’s about time you get started on changing his habits!
In fact, one of the key areas of focus at Oodles Learning is to instil the right habits, attitude, and approaches in students, using their award-winning Oodles Learning Ma+h Framework.
3. Progressive Learning to Increase Confidence
It can be frustrating for parents and children to see very little improvement in marks even after endless hours of practice and revision. Sometimes, it’s all about quality over quantity. It is not about the number of practice questions your child attempts, but giving him the right practice that will make a difference!
We need to recognise that every child learns at a different pace and grasps concepts differently. In order to help your child to perform better, you should first assess his level of competency in each topic.
In your next study session with your child, pick a topic that he needs more practice in. Start off with the simpler problem sums, and gently progress on to the more complex ones, in the order of increasing difficulty.
A structured and progressive learning method based on his learning pace and ability will help to build his confidence and knowledge in the topic before he starts attempting the more challenging questions.
Parents, Oodles Learning provides students with a progressive and ability-based curriculum that is meticulously scaffolded with questions of up to 4 levels of difficulty.
Their results have been impressive as well. Schedule a free diagnostic test today to assess your child’s competency in Math and discover where improvement is needed.