Hi there

We tested our daughter when she was 3 years of age a year ago because she was rather different from her sibling. At that point of time we were just curious and wondered if she was street smart or gifted because her answers to simple everyday questions were deeper than what one would expect for her age. Secondly, we wanted to understand her intellectual capabilities as it will affect everything we do for her, right down to choice of toys! 😀

We understand that MOE will only accept IQ tests result taken at 5 years of age or older and if a child is exceptionally gifted, the child can possibly start P1 a year earlier. However, MOE’s preference is for the child to start P1 with the same age group and make a jump into P2 within the same year.

At that point in time, we would not even consider letting her start P1 earlier as we believe (and still do) that life is more than studies and academic pursuit. However, lately we have started wondering if we should reconsider.

Here are some of my thoughts….. in no particular order but separated into pro and cons.

Reasons for:
1. I had a school mate who skipped a year (yes, years ago in Singapore) and we were all amazed at her. However, although she was in the top class she was not able to top the class and I guess it is because she was chronologically 1 year younger. Or perhaps, those who top the class are high achievers and not gifted.
2. In the UK, kids start P1 when they are 6 years of age. Yes, earlier than us in Singapore.
3. Will our child blame us for not pushing them harder when they get are adults?
(My good friend’s daughter is also gifted and he is pushing her hard. Takes French and Spanish, swims, skis, does gymnastics and is very musically talented. She has perfect pitch and can identify musical notes just by hearing. He himself completed his PhD in Biophysics and Bioengineering and once told me he wished his parents had pushed him harder when he was young).
4. Child’s increased confidence about being able to compete with older kids.
5. It is difficult for a child who is in the upper 3% to stay motivated in an educational system that focuses primarily on the other 97%.

Reasons against:
1. Give them a childhood, let them enjoy their growing up years.
2. One of the dentist I go to completed his dentistry qualification when he was 19 years old. He said he didn’t fit in socially when in University.
3. The more gifted the child, the more out of sync she is likely to be within herself with wide differences between area of strength and area of relative weakness. Especially fine motor skills and emotions vis-à-vis mental capability.

I agree that in most profession, it is EQ and grit that counts more than IQ and 10 years into their working life is a reasonable arbitrary point to aim for. However, in certain professions EQ might not be that important. Eg. Doctors, hackers (IMHO, these people are underrated), dentist, scientist, various Singapore Government Scholars :D.

If the school you enrol your child in does not have the GEP program and she is selected for GEP, she will have to change school at that point in time IF you decide that she should go for the GEP program.

Lots of good information here
https://www.moe.gov.sg/faq/education/gifted-education-programme/exceptionally-gifted-children

Cheers