All About GEP

[ChiefKiasu]

ck123:

Hi


Trying to get information from the experts here.

Should we let our kids take the GEP screening?

Went to my son school and heard parents debating on this topic so I think is good to hear from this forum. Pro and Cons?

Thanks

In general, most parents feel that it being admitted to the GEP is an honor, since it means their children are amongst the \"top 1%\" in the nation, at least in terms of English, Math, and IQ mastery.

There are several camps of thought here.

There are those with genuinely gifted children who feel that the GEP can help their children further their talents. In fact, they wish that GEP testing can be done to identify their children earlier so that they can start the education earlier.

There are those with bright kids who are not sure if their children are \"gifted\" or \"just hardworking\". Failing to qualify for the GEP might create a permanent loss of self-esteem for these children even though they have been performing well in school. I think this group of students have the most to lose from the testing.

There are those who wonder why they need someone to test their children and tell them if they are gifted or not based on an arbitrary set of criteria.

And of course, there are those that ask, \"why not? Free wan wat. Just try for fun lor.\"

[BlueBells]

Taking the GEP test is fine. The problem arise after the test. If she is not gifted, no issue. If she is gifted, then what? Do you take her out of her current school so that she attends a GEP school, and start all over again, or leave her where she is currently happy and learning fine? The emotional stress can be quite high for a new kid in the class, trying to fit it, to make new friends, new syllabus, new environment, etc. .

[wswslim]

Who to go about conduct GEP Test?


Where is the venue, pls advise.

Cheers,
WS

[gifted]

Hi ck123,


wats your decision then, to let your son try or not?? wats your view toward the screening??

[ck123]

Hi gifted,


Personally I hope he can take and at least know what is GEP (so that next time he can tell his children ... too far right :lol: :lol: :lol: )

I was discussing with my son when he brought back the notice from school, he was asking me what would it be like in the GEP, so I started saying first round testing english and maths and 2nd round maths , english and general paper. He asked what is general paper? I answered should be testing general views and creativity. So he answer me \" I am creative cause my classmates always find my ideas interesting!\" Then I said but you must go through the first round which will be slightly more difficult than school exams. He answered \"then I am not going.\"

So what should I do? :roll:

[ck123]

I had the following feedback too:


My nephew who went through the gifted screening but refuses to change school and has no regret until today. He got in to RI too.

My friend son got into gifted and was very happy cause he can use a lower PSLE score to get into top school. He scored something like 250 and got into Hwa Chong while normal child might have to score at least 275 to get in.

[gifted]

Last year, I had this problem with my girl too. I told her I was curious on the setting of screening and wat kind of question she was expected to answered. I told her the outcome is not important and she need not to specially prepared for it but she had to do her best. I told her to make her own decision and we would respect whatever decision she made. She asked wat if she get through, wat will happen to her? I told her we would only discuss the matter if she really get through. After some thought, she decided to give a tried.

[wswslim]

Hi Gifted


Pls advise how to apply GEP Test & where is the place?


Thks,
WS

[gifted]

Hi wswslim,


Every P3 students in Singapore will get the chance to go through this screening if you sign up the consent form that the child brings home. There will be 2 round of tests. The 1st round will conduct in their own school for Math and English sometime in August. If the child manage to get through the 1st round, he/she will be invited to the 2nd round and this time it will be conducted in 2 days in a primary school selected by MOE. One day for English and a general paper and the next will be Math and a general paper. Both test will take about half a day each.

[MMM]

My mum has a ex-neighbour whose daughter studied in neighbourhood school and then she got into GEP at TNS. She subsequently went on to Nanyang.


But when she is around sec 1, she started to lag behind and couldn’t cope with the academics that the mum was called in and told by the school that she needed tuition,etc… to help her cope. One of their relatives mentioned that it was through alot of practise of assessments, drilling, etc… when the girl was younger that enable the girl to cope well in primary school and hence getting into GEP,etc…

But in sec school, it is a diff ball game hence the girl just wasn’t able to cope anymore and started to lag behind. I guess it must be stressful for the girl and I don’t know how she is taking it from a self-esteem/ self-confidence point of view.

Along this line, I was just thinking the definition of "gifted". Is it man made (eg. through drilling) or god given…