We spoke to Zenith Academy's Science HOD, Macus Quek on what he focuses on during this final lap to PSLE.
Q: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. As the PSLE exams approach, parents are asking what they can do to help their kids with Science. Could you provide some tips on how to support them during this crucial period?
MACUS: Absolutely, I'd be happy to help. Let's start by understanding that P6 students typically fall into three main profiles when it comes to science proficiency. Each student profile requires a different approach.
Q: I see. Could you elaborate on these profiles?
MACUS: Definitely. The first profile includes students who are not familiar with Science concepts. For these students, cheat sheets and infographics can be very useful. Visual aids help in organising concepts and making the material more approachable.
Here's an example of one of our visual aids that we'll be sharing during the upcoming PSLE booster classes:
Q: That looks like it could really help with revision! What about students who know these concepts but struggle with answering questions?
MACUS: That brings us to the second profile. These students have the knowledge but lack the skills to effectively analyse and answer science questions. In these cases, it's crucial to focus on teaching them how to dissect and understand the questions. Unfortunately, in the regular classroom, there's often not enough time to dive deep into these techniques.
Q: And the third profile?
MACUS: The third profile includes students who understand the concepts and can analyse the questions but still perform poorly in their attempts. For these students, it's essential to refine their answering techniques and practice extensively under supervision.
Q: What can we do to help students across all these profiles?
MACUS: For all students, having a live Q&A session or practice sessions with PSLE-level science questions can be very beneficial. These sessions allow students to interact, hear how other students answer, and receive immediate feedback that helps them identify and correct their mistakes. Encouraging students to develop their own approaches and techniques is also important. Teachers can highlight the clues students might be missing, which often results in lost marks.
Q: Understand. Student profiles aside, can you share some common challenges P6 students face in PSLE?
MACUS: Certainly. Let's break it down by topics:
- Plants - Students often struggle here because it requires multi-layered understanding. They need to grasp experimental setups, interpret results in graphs or tables, and combine their understanding to craft well-conceptualised answers.
- Water, Heat & Light - This module can be challenging due to difficulties in interpreting questions and communicating in words their conceptual understanding.
- Energy, Forces, Magnets & Electrical Systems - Diagrams of real-life scenarios in this module can be hard to understand, hence making answering them tricky.
Q: It sounds like phrasing answers is a common issue. Is this due to how MOE science assessment has changed over the years?
MACUS: You're correct. Students often struggle with phrasing their answers. The focus has shifted from merely using keywords to demonstrating a conceptual understanding. It's not just about the keywords but about how the concept is expressed. As long as the concept is well-grasped and communicated, students will get the marks.
Q: How can booster classes help in this regard?
MACUS: Booster classes are designed to address these issues directly. Here's how they work:
- Recap Concepts - Teachers will review concepts at a high level to refresh students' memories.
- Practice and Supervision - Students will get practice opportunities in class with on-the-spot supervision to ensure they retain what they learn.
- Best Practices in Answer Techniques - Depending on the class profile, teachers will demonstrate the best practices in answering techniques. For higher-level profiles, teachers might engage students through questioning rather than simply providing solutions.
Q: This sounds very comprehensive. Thank you for these insights. I feel more confident about how to support my child through this final lap.
MACUS: You're welcome. With the right approach and support, your child can overcome these challenges and perform their best in the PSLE. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
Join us at our PSLE Booster Classes at Bishan CC this August 2024!
- 12 students per class
- 3hr in-person classes by expert educators
- Strategically tailored for PSLE 2024
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