Every year, primary 3 students sit for the GEP screening test. A selected few will go on to sit for the GEP selection test, before the top performers are invited to join the Gifted Education Programme proper.
While the GEP screening and selection tests are meant to measure a child’s innate potential, many tuition centres are also coming up with “GEP Prep classes” to prepare kids to sit the tests. Here at Future Academy, we have our own GEP Prep classes for math and English as well.
The question is, what do children do at the GEP Prep class? Does it really help them get into GEP? Well, let’s find out!
High success rates for our GEP prep class students
Naturally, parents want to know if these so-called GEP classes actually work. After all, GEP is supposed to be a test for ‘innate intelligence’.
Based on the numbers, we would say that GEP prep classes are likely to be effective! We had high success rates last year for our GEP classes. We also took data based on our students who attended at least one of our GEP prep classes for more than 3 months. We see that more than 90% of our GEP prep class students will usually get through the GEP screening test (1st round). This success rate has been consistent for the past few years.
This year in 2022, every single student from our GEP prep class passed the screening test. That’s right – that’s a 100% success rate!
For the GEP selection test (2nd round), the success rate is at about 50% for the past years.
What we do at GEP prep class
And what exactly do we do in these GEP prep classes?
We have to say, our classes are not miracle-creators that will turn any student into a ‘gifted’ one. But rather, your child must already show some potential of being more intelligent than the average.
What we do is then increase your child’s chances of success at the screening and selection tests. We do that by:
- Familiarising them with GEP-style questions through mock papers and practice questions
- Letting them practise higher order thinking skills such as analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and creativity
- Teaching them techniques to save time and how to tackle novel problems
We believe that their gift of intelligence is like a muscle that can be stretched and strengthened through these thinking exercises. If they do not already have the ability, it will be difficult for them to grasp the questions even with coaching.
The benefits of GEP prep class
Not every child in our GEP prep class will end up being offered a place in GEP. However, that does not mean that the prep class did not work or did not achieve its goal.
It’s best to think of our GEP Prep class as an enrichment programme that will develop and train your child’s higher order thinking skills. Your child might even have fun as the question types are like puzzles they can solve, with a huge variety of types.
Some of the skills your child will pick up and develop include:
- Analytical thinking (e.g. looking for patterns, cause and effect, applying new knowledge)
- Critical thinking (e.g. deductive reasoning, inferential skills)
- Spatial reasoning (e.g. recognising shapes, mental rotation)
- Verbal reasoning (e.g. phonological awareness, word manipulation)
- Creativity and problem-solving
The training will be beneficial to their holistic development and education, which is arguably far more important than a classification stating that they are ‘gifted’ or not.
Conclusion
Familiarisation and training is effective for high-ability children in helping them pass the GEP screening and selection tests. If you think your child has the potential and you want to give them the best shot without regrets, come and check out our GEP prep classes!