Is School Alone Sufficient or Is Tuition Needed for PSLE?

For many parents in Singapore, one of the biggest questions leading up to the PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) is:

👉 “Is the school curriculum and support enough or does my child need extra tuition?”

This is a debate that resurfaces every year, especially during exam period, when parents compare notes about tuition centres, enrichment classes and study schedules. Let’s break it down.

1. What Schools Already Provide

MOE schools are designed to prepare every student for PSLE. Teachers provide:

• Syllabus-aligned lessons that cover everything required for PSLE.
  
• Remedial and supplementary classes for students who need extra help.
  
• Access to practice papers and past-year questions.
  
• Continuous assessments (CA, SA, Prelims) that train students progressively.
  

In fact, at the Straits Times Smart Parenting Forum 2024, MOE officers emphasised that school alone is sufficient for most children to do well in PSLE, if they stay attentive and consistent.

2. Why Parents Turn to Tuition

Despite what schools provide, 7 in 10 Singaporean parents still send their children for tuition (Straits Times, 2023). The main reasons are:

• Individualised attention: In a class of 30 to 40 students, teachers may not be able to focus on one child’s weaknesses.
  
• Extra practice: Tuition centres often provide top school papers, targeted worksheets and model answers.
  
• Confidence boost: Some children feel reassured with guided coaching.
  
• Competitive pressure: Parents worry their child might “fall behind” if peers are getting extra help.

3. When School May Be Enough

Tuition is not always necessary. If your child:
✅ is consistently scoring well (e.g., AL1–AL3 in most subjects)
✅ is self-motivated and disciplined in doing revision
✅ can approach teachers for clarification when stuck
✅ is not overly stressed with homework load

…then school alone may be sufficient. In such cases, adding more tuition could lead to burnout rather than improvement.

4. When Tuition Can Make a Difference

Tuition can be a valuable support if your child:
🔸 is struggling with specific topics (e.g., fractions in Math, comprehension cloze in English)
🔸 needs help with exam strategies (e.g., time management, common pitfalls)
🔸 is shy to ask questions in school but opens up in smaller tuition classes
🔸 needs a structured revision programme during P6 Prelims and final PSLE prep

5. Finding the Balance

At the end of the day, the real question isn’t “school vs tuition” but rather:

👉 “What does my child need most at this stage?”

Some children thrive with just school support, while others benefit from tuition as an additional boost. Parents should also weigh:

• Child’s learning style (independent vs guided)
  
• Family budget (tuition costs can add up significantly)
  
• Wellbeing (too many classes may lead to stress and less family time)

Final Thoughts

School alone can be sufficient for PSLE success, the curriculum is designed for it. But if your child needs extra guidance, tuition can be a strategic supplement rather than a “must-have.”

The key is not to follow what other parents are doing, but to assess your child’s unique needs, strengths and confidence level. At Curious Mindz, we believe in finding that balance, helping students build both academic mastery and confidence for the PSLE journey.

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