NUS High School Year 3 Selection Application

[matadorepy]

Bigteddy:

Has anyone got their reply for their Selection Test to Year 3? I'm very nervous! :yikes:

Hi

U are nervous b'cos I understand you are extremely keen to join the school. But honestly speaking it's even tougher to join at y3 than y1 DSA b'cos the intake is actually very small (less than 30 based on 2013 intake and that also include oversea sec 3 scholars from ASEAN, China and Vietnam) .. hence the test and selection is even more stringent b'cos they have to ensure the intake can cope with the curriculum ..all selected Y3 must undergo the bridging courses for maths, physics, chemistry .. what I heard was ex IP-school eg RI, NYGH students have a far better chance of making a transfer than mainstream sec... That's only my personal observation ..

Wish you best of luck !

[TanJ]

Hi matadorepy


Any idea how the y3/y4 RP/RA program at RGS compares with that of y3/y4 of Nus High? Still undecided whether to select RGS or NUS High next month.

[matadorepy]

TanJ:

Hi matadorepy


Any idea how the y3/y4 RP/RA program at RGS compares with that of y3/y4 of Nus High? Still undecided whether to select RGS or NUS High next month.

I don't know much to comment about y3/y4 RP/RA at RGS but you can imagine the std if they still need to join RI at JC level just to complete 2 more years to take the \"A\" level programme,

But at NUSH, from Y1 foundation to end Y4 advance , the curriculum is already full speed acceleration for Maths and all 3 sciences (physics, chemistry, Biology), it is as good as completing the \"A\" level equivalent. On top of that at y3/y4, there are also integrated humanities studies and arts subject like economics, computing, geography, history and music. The
Y4/Y5 at NUSH are specialization years with focus on individual project research.

Also not every student at RGS/RI can take 3 sciences at JC level if i am not mistaken.

You can make the key comparisons and make a wise choice (eg not having to take \"A\" level exam, 2 years of research training at NUSH, prestige of being part of \"Raffles\" family etc).

[1girl1boy]

matadorepy:

TanJ:

Hi matadorepy


Any idea how the y3/y4 RP/RA program at RGS compares with that of y3/y4 of Nus High? Still undecided whether to select RGS or NUS High next month.

I don't know much to comment about y3/y4 RP/RA at RGS but you can imagine the std if they still need to join RI at JC level just to complete 2 more years to take the \"A\" level programme,

But at NUSH, from Y1 foundation to end Y4 advance , the curriculum is already full speed acceleration for Maths and all 3 sciences (physics, chemistry, Biology), it is as good as completing the \"A\" level equivalent. On top of that at y3/y4, there are also integrated humanities studies and arts subject like economics, computing, geography, history and music. The
Y4/Y5 at NUSH are specialization years with focus on individual project research.

Also not every student at RGS/RI can take 3 sciences at JC level if i am not mistaken.

You can make the key comparisons and make a wise choice (eg not having to take \"A\" level exam, 2 years of research training at NUSH, prestige of being part of \"Raffles\" family etc).

The Maths and Sciences Curriculum has definitely reached or even exceeded the A levels Syllabus by year4. In fact, some of the Maths topics for the advanced math electives are topics taught in graduate schools for finance and economics. In terms of specialization, I don't think you could compare. However, if you are keen on R, you should be motivated by other things which I think you should already have in your mind already.

[TanJ]

Thank you matadorepy and 1girl1boy for taking the time to reply.


Does the acceleration apply to all students or only a certain % of selected ones, like in the RA? Or is the rate of acceleration different for different groups of students, considering the fact that so many subjects are accelerated?

Do you have a very rough idea of the range and scale of research projects undertaken in Y5/Y6? If it can’t be disclosed, then it’s ok.

I wish they will abolish one-off do or die national exams or obsession with content testing, grades and GPAs. Opportunity costs.

[1girl1boy]

i

TanJ:

Thank you matadorepy and 1girl1boy for taking the time to reply.


Does the acceleration apply to all students or only a certain % of selected ones, like in the RA? Or is the rate of acceleration different for different groups of students, considering the fact that so many subjects are accelerated?

Do you have a very rough idea of the range and scale of research projects undertaken in Y5/Y6? If it can't be disclosed, then it's ok.

I wish they will abolish one-off do or die national exams or obsession with content testing, grades and GPAs. Opportunity costs.

My kid has not reached Y5,6 yet. So I am not sure about the research prog. But research projects starts much earlier in year 3 and I think 2 even. I am only aware of it because my kid participated in 1 which was for SMPF. Also if you are good and usually this is demonstrated in the Olympiads (whichever domain) you get to do advanced modules ahead of your years.
But for the whole cohort the syllabus is accelerated from year 1. The year 1 starts with an assumption that you know algebra sufficiently already and Newtonian physics typically year 3 stuffs.
The good and bad part is that the GPA do not have high weightage in the exams. My preference is actually a once off A levels so you can still do a recovery in year 6. although it is up to individuals. I have another a kid going for A levels though.

[TanJ]

1girl1boy:

My kid has not reached Y5,6 yet. So I am not sure about the research prog. But research projects starts much earlier in year 3 and I think 2 even. I am only aware of it because my kid participated in 1 which was for SMPF. Also if you are good and usually this is demonstrated in the Olympiads (whichever domain) you get to do advanced modules ahead of your years.
But for the whole cohort the syllabus is accelerated from year 1. The year 1 starts with an assumption that you know algebra sufficiently already and Newtonian physics typically year 3 stuffs.
The good and bad part is that the GPA do not have high weightage in the exams. My preference is actually a once off A levels so you can still do a recovery in year 6. although it is up to individuals. I have another a kid going for A levels though.

Haha, didn't think about the recovery thing in year 6. Good point. Saw the SMPF topics - very cheem. Also, acceleration plus research projects plus olympiads plus CCAs concurrently (plus assumption that you know some prerequisite stuff) must be quite a killer. The kids are really good as they are able to cope.

All the best for the coming A levels.

[1girl1boy]

TanJ:

1girl1boy:

My kid has not reached Y5,6 yet. So I am not sure about the research prog. But research projects starts much earlier in year 3 and I think 2 even. I am only aware of it because my kid participated in 1 which was for SMPF. Also if you are good and usually this is demonstrated in the Olympiads (whichever domain) you get to do advanced modules ahead of your years.
But for the whole cohort the syllabus is accelerated from year 1. The year 1 starts with an assumption that you know algebra sufficiently already and Newtonian physics typically year 3 stuffs.
The good and bad part is that the GPA do not have high weightage in the exams. My preference is actually a once off A levels so you can still do a recovery in year 6. although it is up to individuals. I have another a kid going for A levels though.

Haha, didn't think about the recovery thing in year 6. Good point. Saw the SMPF topics - very cheem. Also, acceleration plus research projects plus olympiads plus CCAs concurrently (plus assumption that you know some prerequisite stuff) must be quite a killer. The kids are really good as they are able to cope.

All the best for the coming A levels.

Sorry not very precise with my wordings - year 1 starts with an assumption you know algebra sufficiently and with newtonian physics. it does not require you to know newtonian physics.
I don't think that the going is that demanding for every child because everyone starts even footed. If it is tough, its tough for everyone. CCA is not very heavy in the school. Only maths olympiad started for year 1. If you look over at RI, they are on all sorts of olympiads as well. But over there there is also heavy emphasis on CCAs because they are trying to churn out \"scholars\" who are \"all rounded\" and they needed the portfolios.

[fanren]

Still quite unsure to choose nushigh or RI.