O Level Examinations will be here in less than 1 month time. It’s that short and tight.
You might have noticed a Countdown Clock towards O Level Chemistry on the top right hand corner. In 29 days time, Pure Chemistry students from Singapore will take their O Level Chemistry Paper 2.
Many current MOE teachers and educators may not like this blog-post cos it is going to be Controversial! I noticed that many schools are asking the students to go back to school in weekdays evening to attend extra classes which are known as “Mock Exams” sessions. According to many of my friends that are teaching in schools, students will be put through sessions after sessions of doing exam papers in assembly halls. Whole idea is to create a exam-type environment so that students can get used to it.
Idea is good, but i see many CONS in such a system and curriculum. Many parents have also voiced out the CONS in such a curriculum and many have feedback discuss quarrel with the principals.
Such Mock-Exams will definitely be beneficial for those students that have very strong concepts of the subject. i.e. students that are having an A2 at the moment and pushing towards their A1, or A1 students making sure they maintain their momentum. Yes, this group of students will definitely benefit from it.
Now, what about students that are getting F9, E8, D7, C6, C5, B4 and B3??
I would like to throw the following questions for such an Intensive Mock Exam-based sessions:
- Will it be beneficial for a student that is getting EB now?
- Since their concept is not strong, how can they benefit from such program?
- Will they be just wasting their precious weekday evening time in school doing exam-based papers that they have no clue how to do?
- Will it be better for the students to have the precious weekday evening to brush up their essential concepts instead?
- Will such Mock-Exam sessions robbed students of their time to do their own revisions?
- Worst still, will such Mock-Exam sessions motivates the current A1 and A2 students, but demotivates those students that do not have strong foundations yet?
For the past few weeks, besides parents that are complaining, i have also overheard students complaining about the long hours they are spending in schools that robbed them of precious time to do revisions or?to brush up concepts they are not strong yet.?Many felt such sessions really make them very lethargic and tired day-in day-out. They can’t find any motivation and interest to study for their upcoming examinations.
And i understand also that some schools have such mock exams until 1 week before the O Levels Examinations! Can someone tell me how students can find personal time to do their own revision for exams?
Following are some pictures that?showed students?being?so tired in the afternoon.
How can studying been so tiring and boring? Gosh….
Students – i just want to know i understand how you feel. I would change the system if i have the authority to do so. But for now, i would just want to say “Complete What You Have Started“. Don’t waste the years that you have spent going to Secondary Schools (High Schools). Do Whatever It Takes!
PS: What are your views? Drop me a line or two in the “Leave A Reply” section below. I would love to hear from you.
Hello Ron,
Can’t agree with you more.
Indeed, these days students are only preparing their major exams very late.
This is not helped by the Preliminary Exam being a “Not Impt” exam anymore.
Many students that we have came across have taken Prelims as a “Just a Test” paper.
I think it is undeniable that the intensive mock exams are de-motivating students who are getting C and below. And also it is true that the authority or school hasn’t done much to improve this. But, i think those students have to acknowledge the fact that they did not put enough effort in the past, thats why they are lagging so far behind others.