How to Help Children Deal with Poor PSLE Results
The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) determines the readiness of every student near the end of their sixth year in elementary school to enter secondary school. This test, administered by the Ministry of Education, analyzes students according to different areas to test their proficiency in the English language, their chosen Mother Tongue language, Science, and Mathematics. Aside from these, PSLE is also an indicator of which secondary schools children are eligible to enter and the academic field they can pursue. As such, different secondary schools also require a range of scores from students that they can admit to their schools.
The PSLE is not without controversy, though. Although there have been numerous objections to the test throughout the years, experts have maintained that it is a valuable tool for assessing students’ development and readiness for advanced coursework. In addition to helping students learn and comprehend the virtues of diligence, perseverance, and discipline, PSLE claims to be able to assess students’ present educational capacity. Many people think that exams are problematic for kids, particularly given the amount of pressure and stress they endure to pass them and gain entrance to the secondary school of their choice.
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How to help children deal with poor PSLE results?
The PSLE scoring method has been changed, however there may still be situations where a child receives a lesser result than they had hoped for. When they don’t receive their desired score, they may feel let down and even guilty, as if they’ve failed in some way and fallen short of their family’s expectations.
As parents, there is only so much you can do to assist your child. But if you think that the child is suffering from stress and anxiety about their incoming PSLE or received poor results in their preparation, we’ve gathered some tips to help children deal with them.
1. Let them express their emotions
Children, even younger ones, may be prone to bottling up their emotions, especially if they know they failed in a particular task or have done something wrong. They may even be afraid to let their emotions show. When parents see their child holding in their emotions, approach them calmly and let them know that it is acceptable to cry.
Children who suppress their emotions may grow up to utilize unhealthy coping strategies. It’s preferable to let kids express their feelings and frustrations so they may let it all out. After they’ve done so, they can begin to calm down and approach the situation rationally. Children who lack a way to express their feelings find it difficult to concentrate on the activity at hand and may even get more distracted due to their displeasure.
2. Don’t show negative emotions on your face
Children are as able to comprehend their parents’ feelings as their parents are. The child may likely become even more defensive if the parent is facing them and appears upset or dissatisfied. The child is already emotional at this stage, and if parents allow their feelings to affect how they express themselves, the child will get even more irate and feel bad for disappointing them. Remain composed and give the child his space. Getting upset or upset with the child won’t help anyone and will simply make things worse for both of you.
3. Communicate with the child
A child’s ability to understand and manage the stress of PSLE (or any exam, for that matter) preparation depends on their ability to communicate. Some kids tend to keep their emotions to themselves if they feel uncomfortable or threatened. They may do this out of concern that their parents will be upset with them or perhaps because they are unsure of their parent’s reactions. Parents should wait for their children to reach out to them in this situation so that they can eventually decide to talk to them and be in a safe setting. Let the child talk about their feelings, emotions, and hesitancies first before expressing your thoughts as well.
Children at this age and time will be more hesitant. They want to be heard so it’s important to let them finish talking first before giving them any advice or responding to what they are feeling. Keep in mind that kids can find it difficult to talk to their parents, and if they are interrupted or have their feelings dismissed, they might become depressed again. When talking to the child, explain that receiving poorer marks or results does not mean that their life is over. Help them realize that, although PSLE is significant, it will only assess their educational potential in the short term and not in the long term. It can help them narrow down their options for schools to go to, but it also helps them get into the school of their dreams.
4. Inspire them
You see movies all the time wherein the main character receives a pep talk from their coach or mentor before a pivotal moment in their character arc. The same principle can be used in real life and during these times when the child especially feels down.
Let the child know that this is only one of many difficulties they will encounter throughout their lives. Both success and failure are possible, but nothing is final, so even if they don’t receive the scores they desire, they may still be successful in the future. Reminding the child that there will always be individuals like his or her family and friends who will be there for them no matter what is also a fantastic option.
Parents can go a step further and cite individuals who have succeeded in spite of having less successful academic records. This does not imply that students should discard the test; rather, it should act as motivation that, even in the event of failure, they may still succeed to the same extent if they put in the necessary effort and keep working toward their objective. After all, why couldn’t they have done it if these people have?
5. Help them build their confidence
Allow the child to concentrate more on an activity or task that will divert their attention from the test results and help them regain their confidence once they have calmed down considerably and their mind is clearer. More than anything else, receiving lower scores damages a child’s confidence and sense of self.
If parents want their children to feel a sense of accomplishment without giving them a hard time, household chores are the way to go. These chores are simple and can be done in a short amount of time, they wouldn’t take a toll on the child while keeping them productive all the same. Additionally, they will also feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the chore.
Another good way to release all pent-up tension and energy is through sports. Sports helps students meet new people and also provides them with challenges. As such, they also learn many values such as discipline and perseverance which can help them during their exams as well.
6. Hire a tutor for them
Parents may need all the help and support they can get, even though there are numerous things they can do when their child is under pressure and stressed out about PSLE preparation. Although the exam can help limit the number of schools a kid can be admitted to, if they do receive the score they desire and are accepted into the school of their choice, it also boosts their confidence and self-esteem. One method to assist them overcome their difficulties is to get them a tutor at home.
Tutors can help children develop their study habits and provide them with a deeper understanding of the subjects. As such, home tutors can also impart knowledge on examination-taking techniques and time-management tips that students can’t get in schools.
7. Monitor the child
The child is going through a highly sensitive period. Parents can’t know exactly how their children are feeling all the time, regardless of how close they are. Therefore, it’s best to watch them and see how they behave. It’s also advisable to keep them away from comments made by others about those who performed worse on the test, as this could make them feel even worse and possibly lead to self-loathing. Instead of being upset with your child for thinking and feeling these things, support them and pay attention to their feelings.
Conclusion
Although children may find low PSLE scores extremely discouraging, they do not determine a child’s value or prospects for the future. During this difficult time, parents must provide reassurance, open communication, and emotional support. Parents may help children learn from this setback by allowing them to vent their emotions, assisting them in regaining their confidence, and providing them with understanding and patience. Children may overcome academic setbacks and continue to develop emotionally and academically with the correct encouragement and attitude.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
