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 If your child is in Primary Six this year, PSLE is just 9 months away – a significant challenge in your child’s life. At home, the support of his or her family is integral. Even in school, teaching the Primary 6 cohort is a formidable task. Teachers have to ensure that they can cover the Primary 6 topics, work in sufficient revision time for the full PSLE syllabus, plus get all these done by the time Prelims are held in Term 3!
A lot boils down to time – which when well-planned, will help you to make the most of these 9 short months. We share with you some tips on how to work out your own 9-month PSLE action plan.
1. Discuss targets and priorities
PSLE is a major hurdle and while your child needs to know this, it is more important that your child is mentally prepared. Before you proceed to draw up schedules, engage tutors etc., have a good talk with your child. Use this chance to hear out your child’s thoughts about the coming exam, which may understandably include fears and doubts. Discuss and agree on what you both hope to achieve for the exam. Though some parents frown on dangling 'carrots' such as a new computer or an overseas holiday to get your child to agree to work hard, others have found that this is one way of reassuring their children that the months of hard work and 'restrictions' will culminate in a well-deserved reward. Let your child know that this is a team effort, and that his family will be there for him or her, every step of the way.
2. Identify areas of weaknesses and find solutions
'Solutions' do not necessary refer to tuition only, though many Primary 6 students do receive private tuition and/or attend tuition classes. If your child is receiving tuition, discuss the detailed study schedule with the tutor if possible, and see how the topics could be aligned to make best use of the time. The tuition sessions could be reflected in the schedule as hours ‘clocked’ for that particular subject or topic. Try to understand – via your own, the schoolteacher’s or the tutor’s assessment - what exactly are your child’s weak areas and find targeted solutions. Many assessment books provide focused practice on selected areas so you can zoom in on problem sums, cloze passages, composition, etc.
3. Make a study schedule
For many schools, involvement of Pri 6 students in CCAs is reduced, with some students stopping their CCA involvement altogether. This frees up more time for learning and revision. Draw up a study schedule based on the hours your child is not spending in school. Your study schedule should help you to accomplish the following:
- complete revision for all P6 topics by mid July
- complete revision for other topics covered in the PSLE syllabus by mid July
- set aside more time to attempt mock exam papers in July, August and September
These are pointers to note in setting up your study schedule:
- create detailed schedules with slots indicating subjects and topics to be covered
- allocate more hours to your child’s weaker areas where necessary
- be flexible in adjusting the subject/topic slots depending on your child’s needs as the year progresses
- Stagger study periods (which should not be more than 3 hours) with stretch breaks and leisuretime slots. For example, allow a 10-min stretch/snack break after every 45 mins, and give one or two hours of leisuretime after every study period. This leisuretime could be used for meals, baths, a quick jog, television or computer games (more on this later). Leisuretime slots can also be used as 'makeup sessions' to catch up on selected topics should there be delays in covering these during the scheduled study periods.
4. Make time for family leisure and ‘de-stressing’
Some parents ban computer games and forgo family holidays totally during PSLE year. You need to know what will work for your family, and must consider the needs of your other children, your spouse and your own too! It won’t do to impose many constraints on the ‘PSLE child’ while the rest get to do what they like. If allowing scheduled breaks for games and TV in between study sessions will help your child to destress and concentrate better, then it could be a good thing! You may want to skip that 2-week holiday this year, but a short weekend break may be just what everyone needs. You need not feel guilty about creating ‘holiday time’ for your family provided you have a solid revision schedule, which your child has been able to follow.
 Do you have other pointers to share with parents of Pri 6 children? Do share your thoughts with us 
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