PSLE ENGLISH INTENSIVE REVISION WORKSHOP
Built on Critical Reading and Writing, Cognitus Academy’s English Programme produces strong results and lasting improvement through the Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) Strategy.
Who Should Attend This Course?
🖋 Students who are aiming for AL1 in PSLE English examinations should sign up for this PSLE Intensive Revision Workshop because you will learn consistently effective strategies that have helped students improve by at least 1 AL grade within one week. Even students who are already strong in English find great benefits from the Programme!
🖋 Students who are still unaware that Synthesis and Transformation, Comprehension Cloze Passage and Comprehension Open-ended can be learnt in a structured, reliable, and ultimately, repeatable manner must attend the PSLE Intensive Revision Workshop. Be let in on the open secrets on how to score for Paper 2!
🖋 Students who have tried everything and still can’t improve should attend this Workshop. We know how it feels to try so hard but not seeing an results. We have combined our strategies with passionate teachers to create a motivating and enjoyable learning experience!
Our Strategy
Using strategies taught to students in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), our Primary programme is built upon years of experienced teaching, designing curriculum, marking exams and designing assessment modes in schools. We can’t wait to share them with you!
Credits: This framework is an adaptation and synthesis of Paul and Elder’s theory on Critical Thinking, and books on Critical Reading and Critical Writing.
Critical Reading and Writing principles used in MOE’s Gifted Education Programme form the basis of Cognitus Academy’s English programmes.
Don’t worry. Although these strategies are taught to gifted students, our programmes are DOWN-TO-EARTH techniques that have helped students of all abilities improve and excel.
From Our Experience
Adopting our Critical Writing and Critical Reading approach, our team of ex-MOE teachers and PSLE exam markers have developed an intensive programme to help students with the following core components of the English exams
Students are struggling in S&T because they are unsure of the grammar rules, resulting in inconsistent performance for this section. Poor knowledge of grammar also affects Grammar MCQ (10 marks), Grammar Cloze Passage (10 marks) and Editing (6 marks).
Students are also losing marks in Comprehension OE as they are unable to read the passage critically and understand it. They also lack question analysis techniques and answering techniques.
Here at Cognitus Academy
Having been trained to teach at the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), Dr Daniel Chua and his team designed a system that develops critical thinking while integrating practical English Language skills that are relevant for school exams.
The Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) Strategy continues to be refined by our curriculum team comprising our experienced Cognitus teachers, ex-MOE teachers, Heads of Department, Senior Teachers and PSLE markers.
Our teachers are not only proficient in delivering lessons that apply the CRW Strategy, but also participate in making the system more engaging and effective during our curriculum planning sessions.
Among our past students who have taken their PSLE English exams, 83% achieved AL1 to AL5, with the rest achieving improvement by at least one grade. Among the areas that they made improvements, the most significant grade jumps come from Comprehension OE, Compre Cloze, S&T and Composition.
Our teachers will impart top exam tips and secrets to prepare your child for the PSLE English exam.
Mastery of English requires consistent effort over a period of time. However, some students may have heard about our programmes too late, or just need an additional set of strategies to do well in the exams. The PSLE English Intensive Revision Workshop is designed with these students in mind.
The following core components of the English exams will be covered in the PSLE English Intensive Revision Workshop:
PSLE English Exam Paper 1 and 2
Situational Writing (SW)
✔ Students will learn the format and style of formal and informal emails/letters.
✔ Improve on contextual tone & vocabulary by identifying the Purpose, Audience and Context of a SW question.
What will be covered:
✔ Emails (formal/informal)
✔ Letters (formal/informal)
Students will develop the ability to:
Identify main ideas of each paragraph
Fill in blanks in the passage based on the context
Identify clues in the passage
Students will be taught the following grammar conventions:
– Subject-verb agreement
– Tenses
– Conditional sentences
– Relative clauses
Students will also be taught up to twelve different types of S&T questions, including
– Contrast (despite, though, etc)
– Cause and effect (so…that, in order for, etc)
– Reported speech (statements, commands, questions)
– Conditions (if, unless, lest, etc)
Finally, students will be exposed to the most challenging types of S&T questions, similar to past PSLE and school exam questions.
Applying Critical Reading techniques, our students are able to dive deep into the context of the passage by asking the following questions:
– What is happening in this paragraph?
– What is the main idea here?
– How does this paragraph connect with the previous?
– What do you think will happen next?
Next, students will analyse the requirements of the different questions types such as:
– Who
– What
– When
– Where
– How
Students will master the techniques for answering questions accurately and comprehensively.
PSLE English Exam Oral
✔ Develop accuracy in pronunciation and the ability to read with expression
✔ Learn to analyse graphic stimulus and predict possible questions for Stimulus-based Conversation.
✔ Interpreting the stimulus
✔ Predicting questions
✔ Designing responses
Our Teaching Team
Cognitus Academy takes pride in helping our students achieve breakthroughs in their results.
We are able to do that because of the strong team that we have built to teach, organise and administer our robust English programmes.
Having been a teacher trainer at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Dr Daniel Chua has not only crafted a solid curriculum for our students, but also an effective training programme for our teachers.
At Cognitus Academy, teachers form the foundation of our English programmes. Prospective teachers are screened meticulously and undergo a rigorous 3-month training programme to develop core competencies of a teacher. Teaching interns also develop academic and philosophical roots in their pedagogy by studying the relevant materials in-depth and observing senior teachers in action before they enter the classrooms to teach.
After the completion of formal training, new teachers will continue to go through robust training and meet regularly to sharpen their problem-solving skills, explore innovative and effective curriculum for students, and refine teaching methods to enhance the students' mastery of the subject.
Our curriculum and pedagogy are continuously refined and updated in accordance with the changes in the education system by our curriculum team comprising of ex-MOE teachers, Heads of Department, Senior Teachers, PSLE markers and experienced Cognitus teachers. All the teachers hired by Cognitus Academy must minimally obtain a Bachelor's Degree in English Language, English Literature or other related subjects.
How Cognitus Academy Gives Your Child the Edge
Our teaching approach is guided by CRW Strategy, maximising lesson time for your child’s learning. Your child might have spent many months, even years, in some tuition centres but have not seen improvement because they do not impart proven strategies to fundamentally improve your child’s English.
Our class sizes are kept small for your child’s maximum contact time with teachers. Let’s face it. Students are not learning effectively in schools because of massive class sizes and overworked (and overwhelmed) teachers. Looking for big tuition classes will be just as ineffective.
Our team is passionate and experienced, with a proven track record. Home-based one-to-one tuition can cost $70/80 per hour for experienced teachers. On the other hand, teachers who charge lower fees are often current students and untrained teachers. With us, you get value for money, but most importantly, value for your child’s precious time.
Here’s what our students say after they have attended ourPSLE English Intensive Revision Workshop
A For PSLE!
“Has been a short runway, but am glad you were there to guide him and clear any doubts he has with English. Especially his S&T! He used to score just 2 points for that section, and I was so worried for him. Ryan was so happy he scored A for PSLE!”
Parent of Ryan Chew, Primary 6
A Span Of A Month
“My daughter improved in her English from C to B in her PSLE. And, this improvement was seen in a span of just 1 month before her PSLE!”
Parent of Twylla Teo, Primary 6
Good Progress in Composition
“Thanks to Cognitus, I see the progress of my child. Got his confidence in Composition!”
Parent of Takuya Udagawa, Primary 6
In-depth Understanding
“The teacher has in-depth understanding of the usual problems faced by students when handling sections like Synthesis, Oral, Situational writing and Comprehension. He is able to devise alternative way to ensure student’s understanding.”
Parent of Jun Yang, Primary 6
Here are some of our students who achieved massive improvements in their English exams
If you are ready...
📍 Goldhill Plaza
| Run | Programme | Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Run 22 (CLOSED)
|
PSLE Intensive
Oral Workshop |
6 Aug
1:30pm - 4:30pm |
|
Run 23 (CLOSED)
|
13 Aug
1:30pm - 4:30pm |
*All schedules subject to changes. Classes are usually fully subscribed 1 month in advance. Sign up now to avoid disappointment.
| Run | Programme | Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Run 28
|
Synthesis and Transformation,
Compre Cloze, Compre OE Situational Writing |
21 Nov to 24 Nov
10:30am - 12:30pm |
|
Run 29
|
28 Nov to 1 Dec
10:30am - 12:30pm |
|
|
Run 30
|
5 Dec to 8 Dec
10:30am - 12:30pm |
*All schedules subject to changes. Classes are usually fully subscribed 1 month in advance. Sign up now to avoid disappointment.
💭 If you are still not fully convinced, consider this...
In the past, Primary 6 students have come to us at different times of the year. The group that makes us “drop everything” and give herculean support to are those who come less than two months before PSLE. Very often, they are failing the subject and are panicking.
While we have given them extra coaching and equipped them with every tip that will help them, we are anguished that these students found us too late. But we are happy to share that every one of these “Hail Mary” students have improved by 1 to 2 grades (D for Prelim improved to B for PSLE! We did it together!).
Here’s what we will cover:
➡️ 11 critical question types for Synthesis and Transformation
➡️Four-step method for getting full marks for
Comprehension
Cloze Passage (It is possible!)
➡️ Clear steps on achieving optimal understanding of comprehension passages
and knowing what every question type requires.
➡️ Fool-proof method to ace Situational Writing, just by following our templates.
Your child still has time, but we may not. As with all things good, our team of dedicated teachers do not have unlimited time and capacity. Act fast, so that we don’t have turn you away when you need us the most. Yes, some parents decide to act as early as Primary 3 because slow and steady wins the race 😊
We do have to turn them away because we have saved the seat for your Primary 6 child. Act now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike English enrichment programmes conducted by other centres, the PSLE Jump Start Programme follows the Critical Reading and Writing Strategy that has helped numerous students get a boost in their results since we started running our English programmes. Find out more about the CRW Strategy here.
Other English programmes may combine several components of the English examinations into one session. The PSLE Jump Start Programme is targeted and saves your child valuable time by allowing your child to only attend sessions that cover their areas of weakness. Refer to our latest schedule for the next run.
That depends. For your child to master the different components of the English examination, they need to learn and apply the techniques that we teach. What your child learns in a few hours cannot compare with what regular Cognitus students spend weeks to master. Therefore, for Synthesis and Transformation, and Comprehension Open-ended, homework may be assigned to allow students to practice and get feedback from our teachers. For Oral, Comprehension Cloze and Situational Writing, feedback can be given during the course.
A set of carefully curated questions and notes will be given to students before the commencement of the courses. The materials are an accumulation of past year PSLE and school examinations, combined with grammar notes that come from the English reference books used by PSLE English markers. Your child will learn materials that teach the teachers how to mark PSLE papers. This is an advantage worth acquiring.
All teachers undergo rigorous training over a span of one to three months. Only the most dedicated and qualified teachers get to teach our students. So rest assured that your child will only learn from the best. Find out more about teachers here.
Depending on prevailing Covid-19 safe management measures, the PSLE Jump Start Programme will run in two modes: hybrid and full online.
Hybrid mode allows the flexibility to attend the lesson onsite (capped at 8 students per class) or from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Full online lessons will only be conducted via Zoom if Cognitus Academy is not permitted to conduct in-person courses at its premises.
Thanks for taking time to read about ourPSLE English Intensive Revision Workshop.
These are the underlying principles behind some of the strategies taught to gifted kids. We want mainstream students to also benefit from them because we have seen how powerful they can be. If you want your child to improve significantly for the coming PSLE English exams, sign up using the form below.