Hippo
Your question regarding assessment book's published yr & revised edition, sorry I can't answer.
I heard people say textbooks change every 2 yrs, but seems 4 - 5 yrs as those going to P1 next yr, their textbooks are changed. But for those P4 & above, they stick to old textbooks.
But I do know what assessment books suit my girl's sch. It depends on which year the child is in & what sch. For example, the so call teach less learn more for Chinese, some sch implement immediately for their P4 (I am referring to this yr's P4 students) which this cohort would only do the new syllabus when in P5. So these sch's students did badly for their SA1. While other sch implement a few changes in P4 instead of complete switch in P4. Also, exam paper is set by the sch teachers. Even with latest edition of assessment book, not all sections are exactly the same. I have to select some section from one assessment book and another section from another assessment book. To be more specific, same P4 level, one sch may have re-arrange the words while another sch doesn't have.
For Maths, I didn't go to the details as to the signs are excluded. Usually these signs come with algebra which is P6 syllabus. Since MOE exclude it, so be it. It is not big issue. Section C problem sums at PSLE is 12 questions (if I am not wrong). Some sch remain 6 questions at P4, my girl's sch increase to 9 questions. Maybe to 12 questions in P5 to gear them for P6. They say elite sch maths questions more difficult, the no. of problem sums also make it impossible to compare marks as children tend to be weak in problem sums.
One observation for Maths in my girl's sch. Exam questions not taught in class come out (same like people complain in ST forum that some questions not taught in sch come out). This trend begin from P3. I commented not fair during parent teacher conference (P4 syllabus of quotient come out in P3 SA1). teacher same reply as MOE, to sieve out the very good ones. P4 syllabus in P3 SA1 is sieve out good ones? And in P4, not using Maths text to teach. Purely worksheets do do do. So it depends on how the questions are phrased by the teachers. To majority, it is like never teach before.
Recent 2 yrs, we see changes. First the class size from 40 to 30. Then to the teach less learn more. Now the modular system.
Anyway, usually I buy 2-3 assessment books for a subject. That why I need to transfer books.
