Weak in Chinese, should still choose SAP schools?

[octopusmum]

HI all


Ds2 will be taking PSLE this year. if he is weak in Chinese, (actually not good in english too), should i avoid all SAP schools when it comes to sec school selection? thks

[Thetrees123]

No need to avoid SAP school. Anyway he will not allow to take HCL if his chinese is not up to SAP school standard, only allow to take Express Chinese.

[octopusmum]

thanks for your reply!


may i know how did the school determine if the child can take HCL? based on psle chinese results? like those who get A* for chinese will automatically take HCL from sec 1 onwards. or they will only assess after sec 1 ?

thks

[Thetrees123]

octopusmum:

thanks for your reply!


may i know how did the school determine if the child can take HCL? based on psle chinese results? like those who get A* for chinese will automatically take HCL from sec 1 onwards. or they will only assess after sec 1 ?

thks

If he get about 250 and above ( should be top 10% in psle)for psle but never take higher chinese in psle, he entitle for Higher Chinese for SAP school.
If he take higher chinese in psle, then he will entitle for higher chinese.

[octopusmum]

hi again,

my son is currently taking hcl in his primary school. if he is able to go to a SAP school, can we opt to drop hcl and just take express chinese? i dun think he can cope with hcl in sec school even though he is taking hcl now…

thks

[Thetrees123]

octopusmum:

hi again,

my son is currently taking hcl in his primary school. if he is able to go to a SAP school, can we opt to drop hcl and just take express chinese? i dun think he can cope with hcl in sec school even though he is taking hcl now....

thks

Sure. There are some classes taking only Express Chinese.
Majority taking Higher Chinese in SAP school

[octopusmum]

so sorry…so many questions…

dropping hcl won’t impact on "O"levels, right? if there is no impact, will most likely opt to do express chinese instead…

thks

[Thetrees123]

octopusmum:

so sorry...so many questions...

dropping hcl won't impact on \"O\"levels, right? if there is no impact, will most likely opt to do express chinese instead...

thks

Bonus -2marks for higher chinese if you go JC
No need to take Chinese in JC

[timtamfan]

octopusmum:

hi again,

my son is currently taking hcl in his primary school. if he is able to go to a SAP school, can we opt to drop hcl and just take express chinese? i dun think he can cope with hcl in sec school even though he is taking hcl now....

thks

I think it may depend on the school policy too. Probably at the start at Sec1, they'll insist the child take hcl, and then adjust from there. Besides the CL 'test', SAP schools offer a very conducive environment to learn the language (dedicated teachers, usage of CL in regular school matters etc). Being immersed in that environment, I don't think a child can escape absorbing CL. The official test is many years away at Sec 4, so there's ample time to adopt the language. I'm speaking as a potato parent but my DD has enjoyed 3 years of SAP upper primary and looking for SAP secondary now.

[octopusmum]

thks for the clarifications…so at the end of the day, taking hcl at sec school is still useful…


my son is now in a sap primary school and yes, the school is v "chinese" but he is still not good in that subject…