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PSLE Overhaul: Why Hiring Practices are the Real "Sacred Cow"
Between my National Service and university, I taught at a tuition centre catering to international school students. It was my first exposure to the IGCSE and IB curricula, and I was floored. Compared to the high-pressure cooker of the Singaporean O- and A-Levels, the exams seemed manageable—even "easier." At first, I was enamored. I saw students who didn't seem to suffer the same soul-crushing stress as their local peers. IGCSE did not affect what school you went, and there w
Terence Ang
2 days ago3 min read
Let’s Not Conflate Learning with Testing Well
The first episode of the Hess Academy Podcast Series (and one of our most popular to date) tackled a controversial question: Is "reading more" actually good advice for improving English grades? As an avid reader who cleared nearly 30 books in 2025, you might expect me to say yes. But my take is that reading for pleasure is a remarkably roundabout way to improve exam results. This hits on a broader, often uncomfortable truth in Singaporean education: the relationship between
Terence Ang
Jan 253 min read
Forget Future Proofing Our Kids for An AI World - Let’s Focus on Using AI to Help Them Test Better
There is an intense global debate churning about "AI-proofing" our workforce. This conversation inevitably zeros in on education: How must schooling change to equip students for a future where artificial intelligence dramatically reshapes the labor market and redefines what employers demand? There is a rising chorus demanding we "future-proof" our children for an AI world. It is reductive to claim education is solely about earning the certificates necessary for a good career.
Terence Ang
Jan 194 min read
The Economics of the Hwa Chong Canteen Saga: Why Nostalgia is No Longer Sustainable
Low prices and sustainable business models are fundamentally incompatible in a high-rent, high-labor-cost environment like Singapore. School canteens hold a special place in our collective memory; they represent our first taste of independence, where we learned to manage pocket money and make our own choices. But nostalgia has a way of distorting reality. While we fondly remember the $0.50 Mee Rebus of our primary school days, we often overlook the invisible subsidies and th
Terence Ang
Jan 113 min read
2025 PSLE English Model Composition - Suggested Answer
2025 PSLE English Model Composition - Suggested Answer. “Being Thankful”
Teacher Nagavello
Sep 25, 20253 min read
10 Unique Idioms to Make Your Primary School Composition Shine ✨
If you’d like your child to impress their teacher and make their story stand out from the rest, they’ll need something different. Idioms are like secret ingredients that add flavour, colour, and creativity to a child’s writing. The right idiom, used at the right moment, can transform an ordinary sentence into one that shines.
Hess Academy
Sep 12, 20253 min read
DSA Explained: Admissions Rates, Timelines & Strategies Parents Shouldn’t Miss!
Every year, thousands of parents pin their hopes on the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise, but the numbers reveal a sobering truth. While applications have soared — rising from 29,000 in 2019 to more than 42,000 in 2024 — only about 1 in 10 Primary 6 students successfully secure a place. For families, this means DSA is less of a guaranteed shortcut and more of a carefully planned journey where preparation and fit matter most.
Hess Academy
Sep 8, 20253 min read
Why IP English Comprehension Is Harder Than It Looks.
Many parents are surprised when their child, once a strong reader in primary school, struggles with IP English comprehension. The truth is, IP passages are longer, denser, and demand higher-order skills like inference, analysis, and precision in language. Unlike primary comprehension, where answers can often be lifted directly from the text, IP questions require students to evaluate tone, bias, and writer’s intent — all under strict time pressure.
Hess Academy
Aug 21, 20253 min read
How to Ace Your PSLE English: Words Students Always Misspelled
Spelling might seem like a small part of the PSLE English Examination, but careless mistakes can cost valuable marks. In this post, we’ll explore: The most commonly misspelled words in PSLE English, the words that often appear in the exam and Practical ways parents can help their children ace this section.
Hess Academy
Aug 16, 20253 min read
Why the Nicest Teacher Might Be Holding Your Child Back
The nicest teacher may create a warm classroom, but could that warmth come at the cost of high expectations? Discover the surprising traits that make a teacher truly impactful—and what parents should look for when choosing tuition.
Hess Academy
Aug 13, 20254 min read
Top 10 Mistakes Students Make in PSLE English Oral Exams
Top 10 Mistakes Students Make in PSLE English Oral Exams
Hess Academy
Aug 10, 20253 min read
From Failing to an A - Does Last Minute Tuition Work?
It’s a question parents frequently face — should they hold off on tuition until exam time or get started early? On the surface, postponing tuition could be seen as a way to save money, but it’s important to weigh the potential drawbacks.
Hess Academy
Aug 8, 20253 min read
Does Gaming Really Ruin Your Child’s Grades? The Truth About Gaming and Academic Success
Is Gaming the Real Problem? Video games such as Minecraft , Roblox , and Fortnite have often been blamed for falling grades and lack of...
Hess Academy
Aug 5, 20253 min read
Do We Really Need Tests? How Assessment Fuels Learning, Not Harm
In Singapore, testing is often seen as high-stakes — from class tests to national exams like the PSLE, O-Levels and A-Levels. But it’s time we rethink how we view assessments, not as a source of fear, but as a tool for clarity and growth.
Hess Academy
Jul 4, 20253 min read
Is the Integrated Programme (IP) in Singapore Right for Your Child?
In Singapore’s high-stakes education landscape, few milestones loom as large as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). For many families, it is more than just an academic checkpoint—it’s a launchpad to elite institutions, and the Integrated Programme (IP) is often perceived as the crown jewel of secondary education.
Hess Academy
Jun 30, 20254 min read
Raise Readers, Not Resisters: A Gentle Path to Better English Through Reading
We all want our children to grow confident in English—and reading is often recommended as the golden key. But here’s the truth: reading only works when it’s enjoyable. For some children, books are magical. For others, they’re a struggle.
So how do you nurture reading habits without turning it into a battle? Start by understanding this:
Hess Academy
Jun 4, 20254 min read
PSLE English Visual Text Comprehension: 2 Golden Questions to Ask Every Time
The Visual Text Comprehension section of the PSLE English Paper 2 may seem simple at first glance—it's just a poster, flyer or advertisement after all.
Hess Academy
May 20, 20253 min read
PSLE Oral: 3 Powerful Response Types That Impress Examiners
PSLE Oral: 3 Powerful Response Types That Impress Examiners
Hess Academy
May 15, 20253 min read
Mastering PSLE English Comprehension: A Guide to Question Types and Smart Tackling Strategies
Mastering PSLE English Comprehension: A Guide to Question Types and Smart Tackling Strategies
Hess Academy
May 8, 20253 min read
PSLE Listening Comprehension: 4 Active Listening Habits for Exam Success
PSLE Listening Comprehension: 4 Active Listening Habits for Exam Success
Hess Academy
May 3, 20252 min read
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