Managing the Jump from Primary to Secondary School

The transition from primary to secondary school may seem daunting for both students and parents. Students face new subjects to tackle and expectations to meet, while parents often worry if their children are able to adapt to the new rigour. With that said, here are some things to look out for in order to better manage the jump from primary to secondary school.

1. Doing well in primary school may not translate into doing well in secondary school.

   
   

   Parents should be mindful of their expectations of their children and provide them with the space to adapt to the rigour of secondary school. As students progress to higher levels, they are expected to approach questions that involve higher-order thinking, a skill that takes time to hone and develop. Coupled with unfamiliar subject content and increased workload, it is common to feel overwhelmed at the start. A strong grasp of foundational concepts is required to do well in exams, especially where unique questions of a wide variety are involved.

   
   
   
   

2. Some schools do not necessarily follow the sequence of topics outlined in the textbook.

   
   

   This is a unique change from primary school, where the curriculum strictly adheres to the sequence outlined in the textbooks used. Some schools may adopt their own unique sequence according to what they feel is most effective for learning, or cover additional topics. Tuition centres tend to follow the textbook sequence of topics as a general guideline for lessons, but may end up sacrificing the needs of students learning at a different pace.

   
   

   Therefore, it is important to be aware of the school syllabus in order to understand the needs of the student, and look for a suitable tuition centre if necessary. It is normal, and in fact beneficial, for secondary school students to attend tuition should they feel that they require additional guidance. With specially curated learning materials at My Masterclass, concepts can be taught in great detail and students can be exposed to a wide variety of question types/answering techniques that may not be discussed in depth in schools. 

   
   

3. Some schools may cover topics beyond the G3 syllabus

As part of the Integrated Programme, some schools cover higher-level topics – otherwise known as ‘extensions’ – and may not necessarily be covered in most tuition centres. These extra topics can be taught during regular classes depending on the pace of the class, but may be hard to coordinate. With My Masterclass, we tailor our lesson schedules according to different syllabus to ensure that all students’ needs are met, and extra lessons may be arranged to ensure that all students acquire a clear grasp of the topic at hand. This ensures that students maximise their time here to learn and improve their problem-solving skills while also keeping up with their school’s unique sequence.

In conclusion, there are many unique changes that differentiate both primary and secondary education. While it may seem hard to keep up at first, it is important to take things slow and to always check in with your children should they require any assistance in their learning.