Blog
Our insights on
Primary School, PSLE and Education
Learn More ↓
How to Use the December Holidays to Set Your Child Up for a Strong 2026 Academic Year
The December holidays are the perfect time to help your child step confidently into the 2026 academic year. Use this window to prepare them mentally for the increased rigour ahead, strengthen weak foundations revealed in their end-of-year results, and rebuild confidence before school starts again. And if work or family commitments make it challenging to guide your child consistently, getting expert support from specialists like Essential Education can make all the difference. With the right preparation now, your child can begin 2026 ahead — not catching up.
How to Choose the Right Secondary School After Your PSLE Results
Cut-off points shift every year, especially with changes in cohort size. The 2024 PSLE cohort is larger due to the Dragon Year, which means tighter competition. The 2025 cohort will be smaller, so cut-offs may loosen slightly. To help you take advantage of this while staying protected, use our recommended approach:
Our Recommended Strategy:
1st choice = PSLE AL – 1 (Take a chance on a school with a stronger cut-off.)
2nd & 3rd choice = PSLE AL (Realistic and desirable options.)
4th choice = PSLE AL + 1
5th choice = PSLE AL + 2
6th choice = PSLE AL + 3
This structure lets you aim higher where it matters, while safeguarding yourself against missing all six choices — a situation that can happen when students cluster their choices too closely at the same cut-off level.
GEP Changes and Its Likely Impact
The recent changes to Singapore’s Gifted Education Programme (GEP) aim to provide more inclusive opportunities by expanding the pool of students eligible for high-ability programs from 1% to 10%. However, this may increase stress for 70-80% of parents and students, as many view being in the top 10% as crucial due to cultural expectations and past educational benchmarks. Parents are likely to invest more resources to prepare their children from Primary 3 onwards. While the changes offer a breather for younger students to explore interests, competition may shift to the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme, creating pressure to excel in non-academic areas.
Academic Achievements are of Primary Concern for 70% of Parents in Singapore
In Singapore, a significant proportion (70%) of parents place a strong emphasis on their children's academic performance. This focus stems from a combination of cultural values, societal expectations, and the highly competitive nature of the Singaporean education system.
What Makes a Great Teacher?
A great teacher is driven by passion for teaching, shows empathy and understanding towards students, and communicates clearly to make complex ideas simple. They maintain a relentless focus on helping students achieve results and foster a positive attitude and patience, creating a supportive environment. These qualities inspire confidence and motivate students to reach their full potential.
Secrets of Essential’s Mathematics Curriculum for PSLE and Primary School Revealed
Our Mathematics tuition curriculum has consistently helped students improve their grades, and we're revealing our secrets to benefit more parents and students. Our approach begins with a thorough analysis of past PSLE papers to focus on key areas. The curriculum is carefully scaffolded to suit all competency levels, ensuring it's challenging yet achievable. We organize practice into "slow" sessions for understanding and "fast" sessions for speed, provide the simplest model solutions, and teach the easiest techniques. This combination promotes confidence, understanding, and exam readiness, helping students excel in Mathematics.
Why Exam Skills and Strategies are Essential for Primary School and PSLE Success
Exams are an imperfect measure of a student’s true competency. Strong exam skills help students better demonstrate their understanding by knowing what examiners are looking for, managing time effectively, and reducing careless mistakes. These skills are essential for maximising performance in the PSLE, particularly as students now have fewer opportunities to practise due to reduced testing in schools. Parents can support by ensuring regular practice, discussing exam techniques, and choosing tutors who are skilled in teaching these essential strategies.
Confidence is Key to Primary School and PSLE Success
Confidence is crucial for primary school students in Singapore, especially for the PSLE. It reduces anxiety, promotes active learning, enhances resilience, and improves speed in exams, especially in mathematics. Confident students engage more, participate actively, and recover from setbacks, leading to better academic outcomes. Parents should foster confidence by praising effort, creating a positive environment, and ensuring any tutor they hire focuses on building their child’s confidence alongside academic skills.
The Growing Reliance on Academic Tuition Among Singapore Parents for PSLE Preparation
Singaporean parents are increasingly relying on academic tuition to prepare their children for the high-stakes Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). This trend is driven by the competitive nature of Singapore's education system, where academic success is highly valued. Parents fear that regular schooling may not fully equip their children for the PSLE, leading them to seek additional support. Social pressure and a desire to provide the best opportunities for their children further fuel this reliance on tuition.
Key Challenges of the Singapore PSLE System
The Singapore PSLE system faces challenges including high stress, a focus on academic excellence at the expense of holistic development, financial strain from additional tuition, and pressure on educators. Addressing these issues is complex, requiring balanced reforms and there is no easy solution. Parents can help by providing emotional support, encouraging a balanced lifestyle, setting realistic expectations, staying involved in their child's learning, managing financial stress, seeking targeted academic help if needed, and promoting a range of interests beyond academics.
The Birth of Essential Education
We were motivated to start Essential Education to provide an efficient method to excel academically with minimal stress and time. This approach frees them to pursue arts, music, sports, and enjoy life, while easing financial pressures on families. We want to foster well-rounded, happy, and successful individuals.