With us being halfway through the March School Holidays already, primary school students here at LingoAce are starting to gear up for the upcoming Weighted Assessment 1 (WA1) assessments with our mock tests and holiday writing camps! For most SG MOE schools, the Weighted Assessment 1 is roughly conducted in the mid of term 2 (Mar-Apr) and WA2 is conducted around July or August depending on which school your child is studying in.
Read on to find out what was covered in our WA1 Parenting Talk last month cover by Mr Roi Xu, our Regional Head of Learning Product and ways you can help your child to better prepare!
The History of Weighted Assessment in Primary Schools
Due to a directive from the Ministry of Education (MOE), the absence of Mid-Year Examinations (MYE) has marked the educational landscape for the past three years. This strategic move aims to alleviate stress for both students and teachers, prompting some schools to embrace a shift towards fostering new skills and spreading out learning opportunities. Minister Chan Chun Sing also mentioned that the shift towards on-going assessments will better allow students to focus on their learning and less on marks.
However, as the focus shifts to End-of-Year Examinations (EOYs) as a weighted assessment, questions arise about whether the elimination of MYEs has inadvertently heightened the stakes for these year-end evaluations.
A glimpse into the assessment landscape reveals a historical progression: 1. no exams for P1-P2
2. Mid-year-Exam (MYE) omission during transitional years (P3 and P5)
3. P3-P6 students now navigate the landscape of Weighted Assessment 1 (WA1) and Weighted Assessment 2 (WA2)
3 Myths of The Upcoming Weighted Assessments
1. P1 and P2 students will no longer have any assessments
While all weighted assessments will be removed for Primary 1 and 2 students, schools will still continue to conduct non- weighted assessments regularly. In P1 and P2, although all examinations and weighted assessments has been removed, teachers will still need ways to benchmark your child’s learning and Chinese standards. Hence, non-weighted assessments such as 听写 to assess dictation as well as mini quizzes and classroom performance are still conducted regularly. This is to help our young learners better assess their strengths and weakness in their subjects by having a continuous feedback loop through a wider variety of assessments throughout the year.
2. Weighted Assessments are not examinations
To debunk this myth, let us first understand what the difference between weighted and non-weighted assessments is. Although the objective of the removal of examinations is to shift student's learning towards a continuous feedback loop through learning-assessment cycles, Weighted Assessments still count towards a student's overall result in a subject for the semester or the year, just like an examination would.
3.The new lack of exams may increase stress on your child
Depending on the child, what this change in assessment brings is that the old system of exams (CA1, SA1, CA2, SA2) are removed, in lieu of just 2x Weighted Assessments per year, or even no assessments at all.
This may in turn put higher stakes and more pressure on students in the second half of the year. However, as MOE recognises that P3 and P5 are transitional years for our young learners, with the introduction of new formats and learning objectives, the removal the mid-year-exams (MYEs) may prove to help students more than harming their learning.
Case study 1: How the new assessment format may help a lower-primary learner
To better understand how the new assessment format may help, let’s look at how implementing a continuous assessment system can help a child improve their Chinese and formulate a better learning plan together!
Take the example of a primary 2 student, who is taking his regular 听写 in class. Through this simple exercise, your child’s teacher will be better able to identify some common mistakes that are being made, such as misunderstanding similarly shaped words, and missing strokes of certain Chinese characters.
With that, the teacher can then step in to correct those errors early, continuously revisit the content, and better serve the memory curve by relearning and reviewing 常错字, to eventually not repeat the same mistakes in the future. This format of assessment is also better able to foster interest in Chinese amongst younger learners, to build a solid foundation for higher levels.
Case study 2: How the new assessment format may help an upper primary learner
With the new Weighted Assessment for continuous feedback, learners can now better target individual components in their PSLE Chinese exam papers to further breakdown and analyse where they can improve to achieve their desired Achievement Level (AL grade).
For example, let us look at this primary 6 learner who currently has a score AL 5 for his PSLE Chinese mock test. He is strong in listening with a strong listening comprehension score, but needs improvement in other components such as oral, comprehension and writing in order to achieve a higher AL grade.
Through continuous assessments throughout the year, we are able to catch the learner’s weaknesses early, and draft out a customised learning plan, thus reducing the stress of having to improve every aspect of the PSLE Chinese paper components.
Head on down to LingoAce for a free trial class or mock test now to identify your child’s areas of improvements in a comprehensive learning report!
Focus Reset – Getting back on Track
Last with the March Holidays soon to be over, it is time to get serious and down to business with your learning plan. Heres 5 simple tips on how you can do that! 1. Begin with the right mindset Encourage your child to approach their studies with a positive and determined mindset. Remind them of their goals and the importance of staying focused. Reinforce the idea that challenges are opportunities for growth and improvement. A positive attitude can significantly impact their learning experience.
2. Optimize your child’s study area Ensure that the study environment is conducive to learning. Remove distractions, organize study materials, and make sure there is proper lighting. A comfortable and well-organized space can enhance concentration and make studying more enjoyable.
3. Start with ease
Instead of diving straight into intense study sessions, ease back into the routine gradually.Start with shorter study periods and gradually increase the duration as your child becomes more accustomed to the routine. This helps in avoiding burnout and makes the transition smoother.
4. Get back on your routine
Reinstate a structured daily routine. Set specific study hours, breaks, and recreational time. Consistency is key, as it helps create a sense of stability and predictability. Having a routine also makes it easier for your child to manage their time effectively and plan their study sessions.
5. Create a to-do list
Break down the study material into manageable tasks and create a to-do list. Prioritize tasks based on importance and deadlines. This helps your child stay organized and focused on specific goals. As they complete each task, they'll experience a sense of accomplishment, motivating them to continue with their studies. By incorporating these tips, your child can approach their PSLE Chinese preparation with a positive mindset, in an optimized study environment, gradually building habits, sticking to a routine, and effectively managing their tasks through a structured to-do list.
For more information on similar tips to prepare for PSLE Chinese, read more here!
Download our WA1 Parenting slides here
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