This article is contributed by one of our teachers who teaches both Primary 4 and 5 students.
The transition from Primary 4 to Primary 5 may not seem like a crucial academic milestone. What many parents like yourself may not realise, however, is that this jump is often overlooked, and that many children and parents find themselves stressing out when it is already too late.
Many parents' reaction to this stress would be to enrol their children for intensive Primary 5 cram sessions. However, children may often find this unhelpful, which then spurs a negative attitude towards learning new topics, lessons and concepts.
Primary 5 is a sneak peek into what your child can expect for the PSLE. This means your child will be faced with not just new topics and concepts, but also topics pitched at a more difficult level. Students who are not mentally prepared for these new challenges will not know how to manage the pressure, and may eventually find themselves struggling to keep up.
As a teacher, I have witnessed both good and bad examples of the transition to Primary 5, though it is my duty to ensure that as many of my students as possible fall into the former category.
You can also help your child by preparing both him or her and yourself for this academic jump.
Here is a list of 5 things you need to know before your child enters Primary 5.
Your child will be expected to learn more in each subject. Across all subjects, your child will be exposed to not just more and new topics, but also more challenging questions that test their understanding and application.
The two main components to note are comprehension and composition, as they hold the highest weightage and cause students to lose the most marks.
For composition, students will see less straightforward composition themes and a greater diversity in the three provided pictures, which may or may not be linked together like what they are used to seeing in Primary 4. This component is also worth 40 marks now, which means it will be more difficult to score close to full marks.
Situational writing is a new examinable component. While initially not part of the Primary 4 syllabus, it is now part of Paper 1 in Primary 5, together with composition.
Since situational writing involves more creative forms of writing such as email writing, reports and letters, it will be helpful if your child is exposed to these writing styles earlier. One good way to start is by reading the “Opinions” section of The Straits Times to capture the tone and style of writing.
For comprehension, your child will be exposed to tougher passages that are longer and have more inferential questions as compared to Primary 4. The weightage for this component is now increased to 20 marks. Your child will need to be prepared to tackle this component using a wider range of answering techniques.
Here are some common misconceptions about Primary 5 Maths.
The use of calculators will make calculation easier
Primary 5 is the first year where your child will be allowed to use calculators in examinations. However, calculators are actually only allowed for Paper 2, while Paper 1 still requires manual calculations.
Hence, it is important for your child not to be overly dependent on calculators. Students should continue to practice rudimentary calculations such as conversions between measurements, fractions and decimals.
Students can still solve most problem sums by drawing models
In Primary 4, students predominantly use models to solve word problems. While students can still draw models to solve word problems involving fractions, they have to pick up unitary methods. Questions in Primary 5 often involve large numbers and complicated intermediate steps, which make drawing models almost impossible for most of the questions.
Lengthy problem sums translate into more difficult questions
In Primary 4, students still come across some pictorial diagrams and shorter word problems. However, in Primary 5, students are exposed to much longer word problems, especially in Paper 2.
Quell your child’s fears by assuring them that lengthier questions do not necessarily mean that they are more challenging. As more information is provided in the question, students simply need to build up the perseverance to read through it and obtain the key information to solve the questions.
In maths, many topics in Primary 5 are extensions of Primary 4 topics, so it is crucial that your child establishes a firm foundation in Primary 4.
Similar to maths, your child will also be exposed to more science topics in Primary 5. It is important to note that these topics are biology topics, which are heavier in content and require more memory work from students.
A common misconception that many students have when they enter Primary 5 is that they do not need to revise the topics learnt in Primary 3 and 4.
On the contrary, they are expected to demonstrate higher order thinking and a more refined understanding of previously taught science concepts.
Simply put, a Primary 5 question of a Primary 4 topic will be tougher and require more analysis in order to be answered correctly.
Similar to the English paper, the two main components that you should take note of are composition and language use.
For composition, there is an increase from three pictures in Primary 4 to five pictures in Primary 5. Your child will be expected to brainstorm further on the relation between all the pictures and still be able to craft a sound and believable story. Additionally, situational writing will also be introduced as part of this section. It will be good for your child to be exposed to some writing practices towards the end of Primary 4 to avoid any shock when they enter Primary 5.
For the language usage component, there will be new sections tested. They include completing the sentences, choosing the correct sentences and cloze passage.
It is thus important to note that there is a heavier emphasis on testing your child’s language and vocabulary when they enter Primary 5.
We have to accept reality. You will see a dip in your child’s grades in his or her first test paper in Primary 5. However, it is important to understand that it takes time for your child to adapt to the new topics and more challenging questions.
Making comparisons between your child and his or her peers will not be a fair gauge of his or her academic progress.
Every child learns differently and at a different pace, so it is a good idea to manage your expectations of your child's progress based on his or her learning ability.
Constantly remind and encourage your child to persevere and be disciplined in working hard, because his or her efforts will pay off by the time he or she takes the SA2 papers in Primary 5.
Your child will see the benefits of this hard work when he or she enters Primary 6 and in the lead up to the PSLE. because he or she will be able to handle the pressures of the exams better.
By the last quarter of Primary 4, you should be extending your child’s knowledge by exposing them to new question types under the topics he or she has learnt. This will prepare them for the new question types in Primary 5.
Ensure that your child develops good study habits and skills during Primary 4. Most students do not realise that submitting their assignments on time and doing corrections promptly play crucial roles in maintaining consistent progress in their learning.
Mistakes should be analysed and corrections completed thereafter to ensure that they understand exactly what went wrong and can avoid making the same mistake thereafter.
A good tip in studying smart is to encourage your child to highlight keywords in the questions. Whether it is a word problem in maths or an inferential question in an English comprehension, highlighting key words helps students focus on important key points and information.
For science, creating concept maps for content-heavy topics will also help your child to recall the necessary facts.
Finally, understand that your child is not alone in his or her learning journey. You are his or her biggest motivator. Together with the help of his or her teachers, form a tripartite relationship to ensure a smoother learning journey for your child.
With a constantly evolving curriculum in the MOE syllabus, you may find it difficult to offer the same help as you once did in your child’s lower primary years. This means your child’s teachers will play an even more important role in coaching your child.
At the end of the day, love your child for who he or she is, because every child is unique and has different learning styles and abilities.
Give your child an added advantage in his or her personal and academic growth. Our engaging lessons will equip your child with the necessary knowledge to excel in school and beyond.
Want a sneak peek into our curriculum in 2020? Click here to discover the enriching topics that we have in store for our Nursery to Junior College students.