ENGLISH PRACTICE PAPER 2006

For English, I would just like to focus on two components:

1) Rewriting sentences using the correction punctuations
[Take note of the following points]

• Capital letter for names and at the start of the sentence
• Commas to separate parts of a sentence [when there are 2 or more things]
• Full stop for end of sentence
• Use question mark if the sentence is a question

2) Joining sentences using 'and'
[Take note of the following points]

• Get children to note the words that are repeated in each sentence
• For eg: James likes running. James likes swimming.
  Note that 'James likes' is repeated in both sentences. Many children tend to write 'James likes running and James likes swimming'.
  Hence, remind your child NOT to write 'James likes' twice as it is redundant.
  
  The correct answer is 'James likes running and swimming'.
  

Qn 9) Writing the number '12' in words Problems: Children are unable to spell! This is unacceptable as I've given them many quizzes on spelling the numbers 1 - 20! Spelling is important in Maths too! Some wrote their answer as '13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20'. They probably assumed that they are supposed to list down numbers.
Remediation: Please guide children in reading the instructions & to learn their spelling of numbers! Losing 2 marks just like that is really a pity.

Qn 10) Arranging numbers from greatest to smallest
Problems: Children did not read the instructions and went to SPELL out the numbers. Some arranged from smallest to greatest.
Remediation: Please remind children the importance of reading the instructions, especially when it is UNDERLINED and BOLD! Also, reinforce the meaning of 'greatest'.

Qn 14 & 15) Making a family of 2 number sentences
Problems: Children choose any number they wish, some numbers NOT even given! Numbers given are 17, 5, 9 and 8. Children are to identify 3 numbers that can form 2 number sentences, one on addition and another on subtraction. Many of them gave the sentence '9 - 8 = 1'. This is incorrect as there is NO number '1' given! A 'family' of number sentences also means that if you identified '8, 9 and 17' to form a sentence '8 + 9 = 17', you have to use these same 3 numbers to form another sentence!
Remediation: More practice on number bonds so that children are able to identify the 3 numbers accurately!

Qn 26) Identify and colour the shapes of the same size as the one given Problems: Children only coloured ONE square [usually the 4th one]. This is because it looks exactly the same as the one given. However, there are 2 more squares that are of the same size! They are the 1st and 3rd squares, except that they are tilted.
Remediation: Please guide children in reading the instructions and help them see that the tilted squares are of the same size as the one given. The full 2 marks can only be awarded if 3 squares are coloured.

Qn 29 - 33) A question on 'Ordinal Numbers'
Problems: Children just look from left to right, assuming that 1st Fairy = Fairy E. They did not realize that the fairies are having a race and that the fairy nearest to the Finishing Line is considered 1st. [1st Fairy = Fairy A] Hence, many got qn 29 and 30 wrong. Also, some are unable to differentiate their 'LEFT' from 'RIGHT', hence getting qn 32 and 33 wrong. Another problem is that children are unable to write '3rd' and '5th', hence their answers are 'Fairy D is 3 from the left' and 'Fairy F is 5 from the right'. This is incorrect. They must write '3rd' and '5th'.
Remediation: Guide children on where their 'left' and 'right' is! Also guide them to write '1st', '2nd' etc whenever the question is asking them for POSITION.

I think that's about all! I hope I have addressed and clarified the problems that parents surfaced up to me about the difficulties their child has faced.


Points to take note for the exams [Remind child!]

1. Write down NAME, INDEX NUMBER and CLASS on exam paper
2. Do NOT leave any BLANKS. Try every single question. Make intelligent guesses if you do not know the answer.
3. TIME is precious! Move on to the next question if you are stuck on a particular question. Do the questions you are confident in and then return back to the questions that you were stuck at.
4. READ INSTRUCTIONS. Many children do not read instructions and hence, they lose marks. [They circle instead of colour, tick instead of cross out, start from smallest number instead of greatest etc]
5. After completing the paper, always CHECK! [Check that you have done ALL questions and check your answers to see if they make sense!]