It’s been said that our examinations in Singapore are a test of memory, and reward students who know their textbooks back to back by heart. That is, until the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) shook things up in 2014.
“Scientific inquiry” makes a great many appearances in the revised syllabus. Simply put, understanding scientific concepts is no longer enough. Students have to know how to apply them. Given this pivot, how can Primary 6 students score well for PSLE science?
The PSLE Science exam is an hour and 45 minutes long. It comprises Booklet A, which has 28 multiple-choice questions worth two marks each; and Booklet B, which has around 12 to 13 open-ended questions worth two to five marks each.
According to SEAB’s website, the second assessment objective requires students to apply what they call “process skills”. These include inference, prediction, and analysis, to name a few. The full list gives parents an idea of what students need to be equipped with.
Cramming four years’ worth of content into ten months can be challenging, but coming up with a revision schedule helps. Not every topic requires the same amount of time, and a student’s scores across tests and exams offer clues of topics that need most work.
The revised syllabus on MOE’s site is 78 pages long, but zeroing in on the key inquiry questions under each topic helps. One such question under the theme “Interactions”, for instance, probes the consequences of Man’s interactions with the environment. Getting acquainted with these objectives helps parents to determine if students are ready to move on to themes further along in the syllabus.
Almost every year, there will be a couple of questions that test students for critical thinking. Last year, they had to apply their understanding of heat transfer to a cold turkey – an unconventional choice of conductor compared to the usual air and metal. While we can’t predict such questions, parents can give students a better chance by making a habit of relating theoretical concepts to everyday scenarios.
During revision, students can make a habit of noting common instructional keywords. Simple ones, like “name or list”, test for knowledge and understanding; and complex ones like “predict” and “compare” for application. These questions are worth more marks and students may have to demonstrate process skills in multiple parts.
The instruction and marks accorded can clue students in the format, length, and depth of their answers. When asked to “suggest why the centre of the turkey did not reach a temperature of 160 ˚C after 2 hours”, a student may gather both a hypothesis and explanation are needed. The marker will also be looking out for scientific terms like “poor conductor”.
Each revision cycle is done systematically to cover all topics from Primary 3 to 6. Handouts include a Revision Concept Map for students to revisit their learnings and Topical Tests with common questions and thinking questions of a higher order. Our Revision Quizzes, a curated selection of questions that frequently appear, also strengthen their knowledge and answering techniques.
Students will also receive Exam Techniques Handouts, which focuses on key exam techniques like analysing experiment-based and application questions, and helps them to identify common mistakes.
In the months leading up to Prelims and PSLE, students will be trained to manage time and minimise careless mistakes through checking procedures with our practice papers.
The new year will bring new challenges - but things do not have to get challenging.
At The Learning Lab, our Science programmes aim to help your child answer questions independently by guiding him or her progressively in learning the right skills and answering techniques.
Your child will also be given opportunities to participate in Science projects, experiments and games that bring concepts to life and encourage a hands-on approach to learning Science.
Find out more our Science programmes here.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
(+65) 6733 8711
enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg
