DEVELOPING BRAINS
To understand why these “killer questions” loom so large, we need to recognise that 12-year-olds are neurologically unfinished. Their prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, planning, impulse control and emotional regulation, is still undergoing active construction.
The far-from-mature brain explains why Primary 6 students would struggle with challenging questions, particularly complex ones that need strategic thinking or high-level problem-solving. Expecting them to demonstrate composure, reasoning and speed under exam stress may be ambitious and unfair.
Students with certain conditions are particularly vulnerable in high-pressure exam settings. An estimated 5 per cent to 8 per cent of school-age children have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 3 per cent to 10 per cent of students have dyslexia.
