Exams and tests are part and parcel of a student’s life, especially in Singapore. An average academic year for applicable levels consists of 2 major assessments – mid-year and final. That is until the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that mid-year exams for all levels will be removed from 2023 onwards.
This is in line with MOE’s ongoing efforts to shift the focus away from grades and tests and allow students the space to explore their interests. With this move, you may wonder what impact this will have on your child’s learning journey and have concerns about his or her academic weaknesses.
As with every long-distance run, good stamina and pacing will help you to finish strong. Previously, we published a list of study tips for final-year examinations. In this article, we share ways to do so while adapting to the new system.
By starting early and creating sustainable study routines, students and parents can avoid an insurmountable bottleneck at the end of the year.
In practice, this could look like carving out two 30-minute study blocks every evening to revise the concepts they have learnt that day. Depending on their co-curricular activities, these timings can vary from student to student. Committing to a regular schedule is key.
With a regular and consistent revision schedule, students will be able to identify learning gaps early and address them by seeking help from teachers.
Monitor your child’s progress with alternative modes of assessment. It could be a class quiz or an informal test. For instance, at The Learning Lab, we publish weekly TLL.360 quizzes for students to independently attempt the concepts taught in class that week. Upon attempting each quiz, students receive detailed feedback immediately for them to review. The Learning Lab also publishes a Revision Test every term for students to assess their progress.
The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
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.
This consistent assessment effectively highlights to students the specific topics and concepts they need to work on. Generic mid-year examination scores, on the other hand, tend to be an aggregate of all the content covered, making it difficult to determine the specific areas that require added support.
To prime students for the final exams, parents can conduct mid-year mock examinations using past year papers. Ideally, students should not take breaks for snacks or check their phones in the process. Enforcing a timed condition makes the simulation as close to reality as possible.
This is especially useful for language or humanities subjects with essay formats where students can easily lose track of time.
There’s no doubt that content is central to examinations, but the ability to stay composed and manage time well can make or break a year’s worth of hard work.
Without a mid-year checkpoint, every other assessment could start to look like one. Some parents and students may feel compelled to ace every other test and power through every month at peak performance, but those who miss the spirit of the new system may burn out prematurely.
Rather than making rest an afterthought, study plans should have a good balance of work and play.
All the to-do lists in the world count for nothing without a healthy amount of exercise and sleep to pull them off. Remember, the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
As our former Education Minister Ong Ye Kung noted, examinations have always been a “comfortable security blanket” for parents and students. Now that it has been hauled out of the window, momentum will be the defining factor for academic success.
The Learning Lab helps parents and students navigate this adjustment, keep pace and stay on track throughout the year. Rather than simply surviving our education system’s “new normal”, they can be well-positioned to thrive in it.
The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 67338711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
Who was the best teacher you ever had? Which mentor immediately stands out as the one who has been most influential and inspirational in your life? This could have been a teacher from primary school, secondary school or junior college. It could be a tutor or even your dance instructor. Whoever it was, your teacher was someone who was an absolute master at helping you learn far more than you ever imagined possible.
Bring to mind a clear image of this remarkable teacher. Hear your teacher’s voice, concentrating on not only its unique cadence and tone but also something they have said that has stuck with you throughout all these years. Feel the inspiration that still lives within you as a result of your relationship with this teacher. Think about the personal qualities this person exuded that commanded your respect and reverence.
As you recall memories of this individual who was such a powerful role model in your life, it is likely that you can identify and list certain personal characteristics that were most memorable. As you review this list of qualities, it may surprise you to realise that very few of these notable attributes have to do with the content of what this teacher taught.
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As some of the most influential role models for developing students, teachers are responsible for more than just academic enrichment. If you want to be a great educator, you must connect with your pupils and reach them on multiple levels, because the best teachers are committed to their students’ well-being both inside and outside the classroom. By forging strong relationships, educators are able to affect virtually every aspect of their students’ lives, teaching them the important life lessons that will help them succeed beyond term papers and standardized tests.
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