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PSE Day Two: Mixed Feelings About The Wrath Of The Math
posted (May 7, 2012)
Today marked the second round of this year's PSE examinations, so 7000 plus students are sighing with relief after completing what, statistically, has proven to be one of the most challenging subject areas. That subject is Mathematics, and the students expressed mixed feelings about the way the examination went.

Many found the math problem solving portion to be very difficult, but others said they breezed through it. We caught up with them after the exam, and they told us where they stumbled and how they prepared for the difficulties.

Robin Schaffer
"What exams did you have today?"

Student - St. Martin De Porres
"Social Studies and Math."

Robin Schaffer
"Alright, and were they hard?

Student - St. Martin De Porres
"Not really, it was just challenging. You just needed to put the effort and believe in yourself."

Robin Schaffer
"Did you prepare a lot for it beforehand?"

Student - Saint Martin De Porres
"No."

Robin Schaffer
"Which one was harder for you, Social Studies or Math?"

Student - Saint Martin De Porres
"Math, I just need to keep on studying, and do my best."

Robin Schaffer
"Do you think you did well?"

Student - Saint Martin De Porres
"Yes. I think so."

Robin Schaffer
"Did you find that the math may have been harder? I know that math usually has the lowest grades overall. Did you find that math was really challenging this year?"

Indira Mayorga - St. Joseph School
"Not really, it was challenging, yes, but it was good."

Robin Schaffer
"And do you think you did well?"

Indira Mayorga
"Yes."

Robin Schaffer
"Which exam was harder for you today?"

Jeremy Nunez - St. Joseph School
"The mathematics paper 2."

Robin Schaffer
"And how do you feel about it? Do you think you did well?"

Jeremy Nunez
"I think that I did okay."

Jocelyn Mejia - St. Joseph
"I think that I could have managed all of them, the social and the math."

Robin Schaffer
"So was the math harder?"

Jocelyn Mejia
"No, it was about the same. It was as easy as the social."

Robin Schaffer
"And do you think you were well prepared?"

Jocelyn Mejia
"Yes."

Robin Schaffer
"Overall, do you feel good about?"

Jocelyn Mejia
"I feel good about it."

Odilber Meza - St. Joseph
"The math was a bit challenging."

Robin Schaffer
"But did you feel that you were well prepared for that?"

Odilber Meza
"Yes, because our teachers at school were teaching us everything on that PSE."

Robin Schaffer
"So overall, how do you think you did?"

Odiliber Meza
"I think that I did well on the social studies."

Robin Schaffer
"Out of the 2, which one was harder?"

Jason Phillips - New Horizon Academy
"The math."

Robin Schaffer
"How did you prepare for that?"

Jason Phillips
"I calmed myself down, and afterwards, I started remembering the stuff they taught me."

Robin Schaffer
"So you went into that exam very well prepared, studying hard?"

Jason Phillips
"Yes Miss, I did."

Robin Schaffer
"So do you think that you did well?"

Jason Phillips
"Yes, I hope so."

Robin Schaffer
"How was the exam for you?"

Brandon Bennett - New Horizon Academy
"It was kinda hard in the beginning, but once I understood the questions, it was pretty easy."

Robin Schaffer
"And did you study a lot beforehand? Did you feel like you were well-prepared?"

Brandon Bennett
"Sometimes I studied from 11 o'clock lunch until 11 o'clock in the night."

Robin Schaffer
"Do you think it paid off? Do you think you did well?"

Brandon Bennett
"Yes Ma'am."

Robin Schaffer
"Of the 2 exams, which one was the hardest?"

Brandon Bennett
"It was the problem solving paper 2."

Jenna Alpuche - Holy Redeemer Primary School
"It was doable. I guess with PSE, you have to do a lot of preparation, but once you are prepared, it's really just focusing long enough to answer the questions. It makes you a bit nervous because you are preparing the whole year for this. It feels good when it's over."

Robin Schaffer
"Did you go into it prepared?"

Jenna Alpuche
"Yes, I prepared a lot. I was nervous but they told me to go in with confidence, and I did."

Robin Schaffer
"And the math, did you find that challenging at all?"

Jenna Alpuche
"Not really, it was pretty straight-forward. Like I said, it just that your focus long enough to sit down, breathe, and answer it."

Robing Schaffer
"Which one was hardest for you? I know that you did the math problem solving today, and a lot of people have been saying that it's difficult. Did you find it challenging?"

Dwayne Rodriguez - Holy Redeemer Primary School
"No, to me, the math was very easy. The social studies was the problem."

Robin Schaffer
"How did you prepare for that? How did you go into it?"

Dwayne Rodriguez
"My teachers and my mom drilled me on different things every evening after school, in the morning, and every time they had a chance."

Robin Schaffer
"So, do you think you did well looking back on it?"

Dwayne Rodriguez
"Yes, I am pretty sure."

Robin Schaffer
"How was the exam today?"

Christian Fabro - Holy Redeemer Primary School
"A bit challenging, the math problem solving. The rest was pretty straight-forward and easy."

Robin Schaffer
"So, how did you prepare for the math going in?"

Christian Fabro
"By studying and doing past PSE questions with my teachers and my father."

Robin Schaffer
"So, do you feel like you were well prepared?"

Christian Fabro
"Yes."

Robin Schaffer
"But were you nervous when you went in?"

Christian Fabro
"Not really, I got used to the one before, so I got used to the feeling."

Robin Schaffer
So, how was the exam for you?"

Jared Cain - Ebenezer Methodist Primary School
"Well, it was easy for me."

Robin Schaffer
"Which one do you find challenging? Which one was harder?"

Jared Cain
"To me, the social studies was a bit more challenging than the math. I was always studying. My mom was always pushing me along with my teachers."

Robin Schaffer
"Looking back on it, how do you think you did?"

Jared Cain
"Well, I think that I did pretty well."

Robin Schaffer
"Which one do you think that you did better on?"

Jalel Good- Ebenezer Methodist School
"I guess the math multiple choice."

Robin Schaffer
"How was the problem solving for you?"

Jalel Good
"It was kinda hard and challenging."

Robin Schaffer
"How did you deal with it? Did you prepare a lot? Did you study?"

Jalel Good
"Yes ma'am."

The examinations are over, and the students are now waiting for the results.


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