Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[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?

[autolycus]

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?

Dear Frangipani,

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!

[dwwww]

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.

[autolycus]

dwwww:

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.

Hello, dwwww!

I think that if he can do 9 subjects and he wants to, it will be OK. But the time expenditure and management must be impressed on him, so that he will be mindful of how he's using his time.

What would his nine subjects be? I think that not doing history is a loss, but it's one that can be compensated for later in life. I stopped doing history after Sec 2, but I ended up doing history anyway, many years after a basic degree in the sciences.

[South African]

Hi everyone, Congrats to those parents whose kids made it to IP. It’s strange cause in my ds class, someone who is academically strong - average 85%, didn’t make it and someone whose score is 68% made it. Well my DS didn’t make it and I was extremely disappointed given that the IP/IB track is supposed to be more holistic & develop critical thinking skills which are impt in the long term. The only consolation is my 14 yr old Ds had to console me and said "mum, IP is not everything, move on. Afterall you did o levels and you are doing fine now." Well what can I say! He is looking at a bigger picture than me. And he is happy teenager.


Winston hodge took pains to explain to both tracks that there is no one superior track than another. But in reality is it true? My Ds shared that he used to help this boy (got into ip) in maths (my ds is strong in maths), then yesterday my ds asked him a life science questions, he refused to help. He observed that the IP students in his class are getting more arrogant. I am not going to take any issue with this, as I see this as an opportunity to teach my son values (1) learn to deal with it as there’s what is out there in the corporate world (2) encourage those boys who didn’t make it to IP not to give up (3) continue to be friends with those who made it to IP.

As confucious said, the glory is not in never failing but in getting up when you fall. And I am thankful for whatever opportunities for me to teach my ds values.

So parents out there for your Ds sake, do encourage your boys to remain humble. Ironically my Ds has lots of friends in the IP track (entry thru psle) and all of them are very friendly and willing to share.

[dwwww]

[/quote]

Hello, dwwww!

I think that if he can do 9 subjects and he wants to, it will be OK. But the time expenditure and management must be impressed on him, so that he will be mindful of how he's using his time.

What would his nine subjects be? I think that not doing history is a loss, but it's one that can be compensated for later in life. I stopped doing history after Sec 2, but I ended up doing history anyway, many years after a basic degree in the sciences. :)[/quote]

Hi autolycus,

His nine subjects will be:

5 compulsory groups: L Art, MT, IS, Core Math, Science (Chem or Physics)
3 or 4 option subjects: Physics or Chem, A Math, MEP, History

A Math is a given subject, he has to do math (consistently top the subject or among the top 3 since P4 - Year 2)

He is also passionate about music - we were initially thinking of letting go one science subject chem or physics so to allow him continue his MEP; or giving up MEP so to do a \"practical subject\" and we are ok either way. But last night he came back and told us that MEP can't be discontinued it's a 4 year \"scholorship program\" funded by MOE so he has to continue MEP. Further more MEP is considered a humanity subject, it can't replace another science subject.

So history becomes the only subject we have to let go if he goes with 8 subjects and MEP...we would love him to do history under your influcence I think it's pity if he has to give it a miss.

But he is not so keen in 9 subjects - his seniors doing 9 currently, are telling him time is always not enough...

Thanks for your advice / comments

[Frangipani]

autolycus:

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?

Dear Frangipani,

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!

Thanks Autolycus!

[dwwww]

South African:

Hi everyone, Congrats to those parents whose kids made it to IP. It's strange cause in my ds class, someone who is academically strong - average 85%, didn't make it and someone whose score is 68% made it. Well my DS didn't make it and I was extremely disappointed given that the IP/IB track is supposed to be more holistic & develop critical thinking skills which are impt in the long term. The only consolation is my 14 yr old Ds had to console me and said \"mum, IP is not everything, move on. Afterall you did o levels and you are doing fine now.\" Well what can I say! He is looking at a bigger picture than me. And he is happy teenager.


Winston hodge took pains to explain to both tracks that there is no one superior track than another. But in reality is it true? My Ds shared that he used to help this boy (got into ip) in maths (my ds is strong in maths), then yesterday my ds asked him a life science questions, he refused to help. He observed that the IP students in his class are getting more arrogant. I am not going to take any issue with this, as I see this as an opportunity to teach my son values (1) learn to deal with it as there's what is out there in the corporate world (2) encourage those boys who didn't make it to IP not to give up (3) continue to be friends with those who made it to IP.

As confucious said, the glory is not in never failing but in getting up when you fall. And I am thankful for whatever opportunities for me to teach my ds values.

So parents out there for your Ds sake, do encourage your boys to remain humble. Ironically my Ds has lots of friends in the IP track (entry thru psle) and all of them are very friendly and willing to share.

hi South African,
I am completely with you. Thinking back DS missed IP track just by 1 mark in Year 1 admission - not something we liked to see but I guess it makes us / our son stronger. He told us that there are reasons why he would need to stay in express so that he will work harder & smarter and he would try again in Year 3, which he did and made it. His average score year 1 at higher 60s; year 2 mid-year exam at 79%.

For sharing:- don't allow others dictate or even influence our own feelings, I know it's hard for our 14 year-old, many has said each child has their own strength or weakness and there is a reality out there, but we are not good because others say so.

[autolycus]

dwwww:

Hi autolycus,


His nine subjects will be:

5 compulsory groups: L Art, MT, IS, Core Math, Science (Chem or Physics)
3 or 4 option subjects: Physics or Chem, A Math, MEP, History...

I think that's fine: his menu actually looks like this —

Group 1: Language Arts
Group 2: Mother Tongue
Group 3: Intro to Human Societies
Group 4: Chemistry, Physics
Group 5: Core Math, Adv Math
Group 6: MEP

Because we designed IHS to be a 'gateway' Humanities subject, he will still be eligible to do History in Y5 if he does well enough in IHS. So, looking ahead, he will be fine.

[autolycus]

kandc:

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!

Hi kandc,

Entrance criteria for many UK-style medical schools (i.e. where medicine is taken as an undergraduate degree) are the main problem. But nowadays, most of them (including our local medical schools) will allow admission based on Chemistry + EITHER Bio or Physics, so Chem + Physics is fine. After all, students are going to study anatomy, physiology, biochemistry etc from scratch, but they're not going to be studying much more chemistry or physics — so they should make sure they know all the chem and physics they can get.

I much prefer that all students get some history training. Even as a doctor, the ability to correlate human events with a timeline (and thus figure out what has happened and is happening) is priceless.