Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
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Thank you once again Autolycus! It is definitely helpful.
Guess I need to have confidence in both the school and my son
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autolycus:
Hi autolycus just curious why history over geography or econs ?
I would recommend a maximum flexibility choice. Think of it as preparing to choose IB Y5/6 subjects. Go for Chem+Physics, IHS+History (or Geog if he can't handle History, but History first choice), C & A Math, and the languages.WorkingAdult:
Hello I hope to get some advice regarding the sec 3 subject combi.
My son will be moving from the O level track to the IP track next year. Since sec 1, he has not been very consistent with his scores - for subjects like life and physical sciences as well as literature, he could be getting 60+ in one exam and 70/80+in another. For Math, English, History and Geography, it would be 70+ in one exam and 90+ in another. Even his Art can be 50+ in one and 80+ in another. He has topped his class in life science, History, Geography, English, Literature, Math at different exams but never in one exam. His only consistent subject is Chinese at 50+. For such a child what would be a good subject combi in sec 3? I find it difficult to gauge his strength and interest given his yo-yo results. Would appreciate some advice from experienced parents here.
Cheers!
What are the subjects available for humanities apart from Geog, IHS, history and econs ?
Chem is more or less a compulsory subject right ?
Just a bit worry if my son may face difficulty with Physics.
Both my wife and I will have no problem helping him with Bio if he needs help but we can't help him in Physics, our weakest subject in student days. -
ngbrdad:
Hi ngbrdad!Hi autolycus just curious why history over geography or econs ?
What are the subjects available for humanities apart from Geog, IHS, history and econs ?
Chem is more or less a compulsory subject right ?
Just a bit worry if my son may face difficulty with Physics.
Both my wife and I will have no problem helping him with Bio if he needs help but we can't help him in Physics, our weakest subject in student days.
History is a primary discipline — the construction of a chronological narrative from observations and recordings of events. As such, you'll find the same skills being used by doctors ('patient history'), scientists ('research history') and the other humanities. Geography is merely the history of the earth and its relationship with humans; economics is merely the history of human transaction and its use in predicting further transactive behaviour.
At Y3/4, IHS is compulsory in the ACS(I) IP, and you can also do History and Geog. At Y5/6, you can do a few others — Econs, Business & Management, etc. The range varies depending on whether there are teachers to teach them, because the IB has a lot of possible Group 3 subjects including Psychology and Anthropology.
Chem is compulsory these days because it's seen as the central science — you cannot avoid learning some basic physics when studying chemistry, and the primary method by which doctors treat patients is through pharmaceutical chemistry (and of course, diagnosis these days is by medical physics).
One of the things I have to gently persuade parents to do is to stop thinking in terms of how they personally can help their child. It's hard, but the problem is that what these young people learn, and how they learn it — very different from in our time. I've seen parents try to teach algebra to primary-school children and complain how mathematics these days is so different, for example.
Sometimes, they think school is very tough not because the child can't do it but because a ) they themselves can't do it, or don't think they can; or b ) they can't help their children personally and so wonder how on earth their children can do it. Then they get upset, the children get upset, the teachers get upset, and the tutors make money...
In your case, I understand that physics might not have been your strongest science in school (it was my weakest, actually). But that's a terrible reason to not let your son do physics! Imagine what would happen if parents who never studied medicine or computer science told their kids not to do it because in their time they never did it...
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autolycus:
Thanks autolycus
Hi ngbrdad!ngbrdad:
Hi autolycus just curious why history over geography or econs ?
What are the subjects available for humanities apart from Geog, IHS, history and econs ?
Chem is more or less a compulsory subject right ?
Just a bit worry if my son may face difficulty with Physics.
Both my wife and I will have no problem helping him with Bio if he needs help but we can't help him in Physics, our weakest subject in student days.
History is a primary discipline — the construction of a chronological narrative from observations and recordings of events. As such, you'll find the same skills being used by doctors ('patient history'), scientists ('research history') and the other humanities. Geography is merely the history of the earth and its relationship with humans; economics is merely the history of human transaction and its use in predicting further transactive behaviour.
At Y3/4, IHS is compulsory in the ACS(I) IP, and you can also do History and Geog. At Y5/6, you can do a few others — Econs, Business & Management, etc. The range varies depending on whether there are teachers to teach them, because the IB has a lot of possible Group 3 subjects including Psychology and Anthropology.
Chem is compulsory these days because it's seen as the central science — you cannot avoid learning some basic physics when studying chemistry, and the primary method by which doctors treat patients is through pharmaceutical chemistry (and of course, diagnosis these days is by medical physics).
One of the things I have to gently persuade parents to do is to stop thinking in terms of how they personally can help their child. It's hard, but the problem is that what these young people learn, and how they learn it — very different from in our time. I've seen parents try to teach algebra to primary-school children and complain how mathematics these days is so different, for example.
Sometimes, they think school is very tough not because the child can't do it but because a ) they themselves can't do it, or don't think they can; or b ) they can't help their children personally and so wonder how on earth their children can do it. Then they get upset, the children get upset, the teachers get upset, and the tutors make money...
In your case, I understand that physics might not have been your strongest science in school (it was my weakest, actually). But that's a terrible reason to not let your son do physics! Imagine what would happen if parents who never studied medicine or computer science told their kids not to do it because in their time they never did it... -
autolycus:
Hi Autolycus,WorkingAdult:
Hello I hope to get some advice regarding the sec 3 subject combi.
I would recommend a maximum flexibility choice. Think of it as preparing to choose IB Y5/6 subjects. Go for Chem+Physics, IHS+History (or Geog if he can't handle History, but History first choice), C & A Math, and the languages.
Cheers!
I have to agree with what you recommended here, for chemistry and history. My son was also prompted to IP next year. He is relatively stronger in science and math than others. He is considering to select all 3 science next year, e.g., physics, chemistry and biology, as well as history, C & A Math. But I am a bit concerning if he is able to cope all the subjects well. During the teacher-parent meeting in May, I also asked several of his class teachers. Some teachers said yes, some said not because of the potential heavy load for S3/S4. May I ask your opinion? If select triple science in S3, can still drop off one in S4? Thanks! -
kandc:
Hi kandc,Hi Autolycus,
I have to agree with what you recommended here, for chemistry and history. My son was also prompted to IP next year. He is relatively stronger in science and math than others. He is considering to select all 3 science next year, e.g., physics, chemistry and biology, as well as history, C & A Math. But I am a bit concerning if he is able to cope all the subjects well. During the teacher-parent meeting in May, I also asked several of his class teachers. Some teachers said yes, some said not because of the potential heavy load for S3/S4. May I ask your opinion? If select triple science in S3, can still drop off one in S4? Thanks!
Your son needs to be able to cope at about a 70% level for all subjects. The load is heavy, but you know him best. Yes, you can drop a science in S4. Just bear in mind that if he follows his class up, he will end up with extra free periods where his class will be doing the extra science and he is doing nothing at all... sometimes, that's a good thing; sometimes, not.
Cheers! -
Hi Autolycus & other parents,
After yesterday’s subject briefing, we are having a dilemma. My DS wants to choose physics, chemistry and history (his interests), but meanwhile, his dream is to enter a medical school in future. Without biology, we are hearing that it is more difficult to survive in medical school even he passes the entrance. As a parent, I hope he maintains the most flexibility by choosing the physics and chemistry, in case he cannot go into medical field at the end, he still has other possibilities for engineering/technology-based majors. Now have to choose either biology or history.
Any comments and advice? Thanks in advance! -
Dear Autolycus and other parents,
My DS is inclined to opt for Bio, Chem, Geo and Adv Math combination.
My concern is his dropping Phy at this early level. His reasoning is he prefers Bio to Phy though he has no intention to pursue medicine in future.
Any advice? -
Frangipani:
Dear Frangipani,Dear Autolycus and other parents,
My DS is inclined to opt for Bio, Chem, Geo and Adv Math combination.
My concern is his dropping Phy at this early level. His reasoning is he prefers Bio to Phy though he has no intention to pursue medicine in future.
Any advice?
There is a wide range of choices still available to him without Physics. However, he should note that it is easier to continue with Chemistry if he has some Physics — this is from years of having to teach Chem to Bio+Chem as well as Phys+Chem students.
As long as he has Chem and takes the Advanced Math course, he should be fine unless he wants to go into mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering. I hope his mathematical ability is good, though — using math as a substitute for physics is like playing billiards as a preparation for football.
Cheers! -
Hi autolycus
DS has to stick to MEP which is what he loves but he has to let go history, otherwise he has to take 9 subjects which is subject to approval. I read your other comments that 9 subjects are not advisable. Would he be "loosing out" in future, say if he wants to do law without doing history? He has shown no strong interest in any particular area as yet but he loves music, doing well in maths/physics and catching up in geo & history in year 2 and language & literature are in mid-70s.
Appreciate your insights in advance.
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