Choosing the right assessment books in Singapore for your child can be overwhelming, with so many options available in bookstores. Parents may wonder if assessment books are even necessary for their children. However, there are several factors to consider before making a decision. Here are seven things parents should consider when buying primary and secondary school books in Singapore:
- Short-term goal: If parents are looking for an immediate solution for their child to ace a test, buying numerous assessment books may not be the best option. Each school has different test papers, and even if a child solves several assessment books, the question format, solving approach, and types of questions may differ.
- PSLE format: Parents need to understand their child’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) format and curriculum. The Singaporean government continuously updates and changes the PSLE format to match the curriculum needs of children. Therefore, buying an older edition may not be helpful.
- Time for assessment books: The education system in Singapore is comprehensive, especially for primary school children, leaving little time for solving assessment books. Therefore, if a child does not have the time and energy to solve kindergarten or secondary school books in Singapore, there may be no point in buying them.
- Time to go through the work: Assessment books are a tool to help parents provide their children with the guidance they require. Once a child solves an assessment book, parents must spend time going through it, identifying and marking where they went wrong, and then explaining it to them. Therefore, parents must have the time to go through their child’s work and mark their mistakes.
- Subjects that need the most help: Parents should consider their child’s learning level and difficulty in different subjects. If their child is facing challenges in English, then buying them primary math books in Singapore may not be helpful. It is best to talk to children, ask them which subject is the most difficult for them, and spend more time studying that subject with them.
- Quality assessment books: There are various brands, levels, and subjects available for assessment books in bookstores. Parents can ask their child’s teachers for recommendations as educators have the best knowledge of which books are best in the market and suitable for their children. A quality assessment book will always provide self-assessment sections with solved answers.
In conclusion, before buying assessment books in Singapore for their children, parents should consider their short-term goals, the latest PSLE format, their child’s time availability, their own time availability to mark their child’s work, which subjects their child needs the most help in, the quality of the assessment books, and their effectiveness. With these factors in mind, parents can select the best assessment books for their child’s academic goals.