Not To Overly Concern About the Scores

It is natural to expect our child’s to get good marks, but not to overly concern about the scores.
Think about below three situations, what would you say if you were the parents?

Scenario 1: Any improvement?
Albert scored 75 for his Mathematics test in March. In May, he obtained 75 for Mathematics again. His mother was disappointed because she expected him to show improvement, after all the coaching from his private tutor.

Scenario 2: Did he slip?
Benny’s mark for the first English test was 70 and he scored 65 for his second test. His mother was horrified as she expected a better grade after she spent much time tutoring him

Scenario 3: Time for celebration?
Calvin scored 10 marks more for the recent Chinese test, compared to his previous results. His mother was rather pleased

All three mothers may be wrong! When we compare two scores, it’s easy to be misled. Tests cover different topics of different standards and usually syllabi list easier topics earlier. So, though Albert scored 75 for both tests, he may have in fact made an improvement if the later one was more difficult. However, such gains are not reflected in the marks. This same principle works for Benny and Calvin.

An increase in scores may not reflect improvement. Conversely, a decrease may not signify lack of progress either. The crucial factor is the relative difficulty levels of the two examinations.

In recent times, examination results have become highly emotional events for students, and parents perhaps, it is important to know that every score is relative to other factors, which are essential for the correct interpretation of results. Sometimes, such pertinent information Is not available to you as a parent. So what’s critical is your child’s self-esteem. Encourage and support your in his progress and not be overly concerned about scores.