Over the years, the focus of the Singapore Primary Science Exams has shifted from knowledge-based questions to application-based questions. The memorisation of the facts is no longer sufficient for students to score well in exams. As the exam landscape shifts, it’s crucial for our young learners to not just recite facts but to comprehend and apply them adeptly.
Introducing the all-important PSLE Science Mistakes – those tricky pitfalls that can catch even the sharpest minds off guard. Join us as we navigate through these common stumbling blocks, turning them into stepping stones towards excellence.
Since the unveiling of the revamped PSLE Science syllabus in 2014, a tidal wave of change has brought forth a greater emphasis on skills and processes. It’s no longer enough to merely store information; students must wield their scientific knowledge in everyday scenarios, showcasing their ability to think critically and apply concepts effectively.
Let us journey together into the heart of PSLE Science, unraveling the threads of change, and mastering the intricate art of application. Stay tuned for illuminating insights, valuable tips, and expert guidance to empower your child on their path to PSLE Science mastery.
Before we get to PSLE Science Mistakes, Let’s Find out the Assessment Objectives
As evident from the table below, the weighting of application of knowledge is slightly higher than that on knowledge with understanding. This means the questions posed in the PSLE Science paper are geared more towards higher-order thinking skills rather than simply recalling knowledge and grasping concepts.
| Weighting | |
| Assessment Objectives | Standard Science |
| I Knowledge with understanding | 40% |
| II Application of knowledge & Processing skills | 60% |
Table: Assessment Objectives of PSLE Science
What are the common 3 mistakes made at PSLE Science MCQ Exam?
Section A (MCQ)
Let us look at some examples below:
1. Not reading the questions carefully.
This can occur at any section, but tend to happen more in Section A with the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). Most Science questions are long and contains many words. Many students do not have the stamina to read these long questions carefully, often skipping the key information or key question terms. They skim through the question and assume they are testing a certain concept. Most times, these questions contain important clues to the answer. Hence students should learn to slow down and read each question carefully.
2. A poor foundation in Science knowledge and concepts
Having a strong foundation in Science knowledge and concepts is important to scoring well in Science. Usually the options are very similar and represent common misconceptions. Without sufficient knowledge, a student would be easily confused by the options, and makes the wrong choice.
3. Not linking the data/information of a graph/chart/diagram to the question
Many students have poor graph analysis skills or do not annotate their understanding. As they read the lengthy questions, they have forgot about the information presented in the graph and fail to link to the question. Some students, in their haste to answer the questions, they simply ignore the graph/chart/diagram. Application of the data presented in a graph to answer a question well is a higher-order skill that students must master in order to score well in exams
I hope this article will help your child to understand common mistakes made in MCQ. Identifying one’s mistakes is the cornerstone for future improvement. Once your child can identify his or her weaknesses, then we can proceed with helping your child to minimise such mistakes and improve their PSLE Science results.
For more Science resources, do subscribe to our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/LXvTUfl1V0w
Please join us at our Facebook Discussion Group where we regularly discuss different Science questions with our parents.
Read our next article on the Common 5 mistakes made in PSLE Science Open-Ended Questions.
