Even if the exams are permanently over for most of us, the unfortunate fact is that Singaporean adults still get recurring dreams of exam anxiety from time to time.
These notorious questions, however, seem to pose a deeper threat to our supposedly adult existence. Why can't we solve (some of) them now even as adults? Why?
1. Cheryl's Birthday
Level: Upper Secondary Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad
As one of the most infamous questions on the list, poor Cheryl has been sadly branded as a s*** by logically frustrated Singaporeans after this incident. We've covered this before, so let's move on before we start bleeding from our ears.
2. $1 coins
Level: Primary 6 Mathematics
Question: How much do eight $1 coins weigh? Students were given four options: Six grams, 60g, 600g, and 6kg.
While some parents felt that it was an "unfair" question completely unrelated to the syllabus, Gordon Lim's argument that the question only requires the student to apply basic, real world knowledge - a task that is not only entirely doable, but also achieves its purpose in confronting the fact that maths doesn't solely exist in an academic vacuum.
In other words, common sense.
Solution: Would it be an insult?
3. The Double Decker Bus
Level: Primary 6 Science
Solution: It has to do with the centre of gravity. Or something.
4. Sequence Confusion
Level: Primary 6 Math
Solution: Our outstanding knowledge of mathematics tells us that we have one in four chances of getting it right.
5. And, as always, the classic "Point A to Point B" that drives every Singaporean student nuts:
Level: Every. Single. Year.
"Two stations A and B are 110 km apart on a straight line. One train starts from A at 7 a.m. and travels towards B at 20 kmph. Another train starts from B at 8 a.m. and travels towards A at a speed of 25 kmph. At what time will they meet?"
Source: Indiabix
Solution: Nope.
Top image from PSLE Examination Questions 2003 - 2007 Science.
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