Singapore has consistently excelled in international education benchmarks, reinforcing its status as a premier education hub. For example, students from Singapore have repeatedly secured top positions in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings for mathematics, science, and reading. This strong focus on academic excellence is embedded in the national mindset, with high-stakes examinations like the O-Level and PSLE serving as crucial milestones in every student’s academic journey.
The Checkpoint For Students
At the end of primary school, students will sit for their PSLE, assessing their academic strengths which determines which secondary school programme is most suitable for them. The PSLE score plays a crucial role in determining the secondary school.
But it does not end there. After secondary school, students will sit for their O Level which indirectly determines their future and path they want to follow.
What’s next? Which JC? What Polytechnic Course? How do they know which path to take in order to secure their future?
Good PSLE scores lead to good secondary education; good O Level scores lead to good tertiary education. Ultimately, good tertiary education will open more opportunities for all students.
What Parents Need To Know
- How to prepare for PSLE & O Level?
- What’s next after PSLE?
Evidently, the gap between transitioning to secondary school is not a small one.
“Regrets, regrets and more regrets.”
“I wish I had started preparation right after PSLE.”
Many had spent tons of time and effort to push their Chinese results up by 2-3 grades for PSLE, only to deteriorate to an E8 or a F9 in Secondary school. Why is that?
They admitted that they had spent too much time playing after PSLE and even more during Secondary 1 and 2—typically some of the most challenging years in a teenager’s life. As a result, their Chinese grades continued to suffer, and they only began to improve as the O Levels approached. Had they had a better start, they would not have to start from ground zero. Not every child has such great determination, discipline and drive to start things all over again. We know.
Ondrea’s Journey with SLC
When Ondrea joined us in Primary 6, she faced a significant language gap. Growing up in a Cantonese-speaking home, with limited exposure to Mandarin, she struggled to keep up with her peers. At school, she found it easier to express herself in English, making her Mandarin oral exams particularly daunting.
‘For Chinese, I’ve always remained at B3 and B4 and I wasn’t happy with my result.’
Ondrea’s mother was deeply concerned about her daughter’s progress, aware of the challenges Ondrea faced due to her limited Mandarin environment at home. She frequently sought guidance from our teachers, asking for advice on how to help Ondrea overcome her weaknesses. Whether it was understanding how to boost her oral fluency or improve her comprehension and writing, Ondrea’s mother remained engaged, keen to ensure her daughter didn’t fall behind in this crucial subject.
This consistent communication allowed us to identify specific areas where Ondrea needed extra support, particularly in building her confidence in speaking Mandarin. Ondrea’s mother trusted our tailored approach, and together, we formed a plan to work on Ondrea’s oral skills. We arranged additional practice sessions with multiple teachers to help Ondrea get comfortable speaking in front of adults. This was essential for her oral exams, as it tackled her fear of speaking to strangers.
‘I decided to reach out to SLC and now I have improved until A1 for Express Chinese Level’
Today, thanks to her hard work and the collaborative effort between her mother and our team, Ondrea speaks Mandarin fluently and excels in both oral and written formats. Her success is a testament to how personalised teaching, combined with active parental support, can transform a student’s learning journey. If your child is facing similar challenges, we’re here to help them reach their full potential.
S1 Bridging Programme
Starting October after PSLE, SLC will be having an S1 Bridging Programme to address the gaps and the struggle in transitioning to Secondary 1.
As of today, 70% of our existing P6 parents have enrolled their children for this preparatory programme as they want to give their children a smoother transition into Secondary One! Hope to see your child then!