Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)
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Hi I am a Y1 student in RI. I’m also in MEP so perhaps I can shed some light on MEP/AEP.
Firstly, AEP requires no prerequisites but there is a selection test. According to my classmate who is in AEP, last year’s test was to draw their own shoe.
Secondly, students in AEP have extra lessons every Thursday from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. They also have to join the Photography and Art Club, which has sessions every Friday after school.
Thirdly, you are allowed to take MEP/AEP and a Third Language. However, this is strongly discouraged due to the heavy workload and long school hours.
Finally, MEP/AEP exams are conducted on a separate day from other subject’s exams. However, MEP exams are sometimes take home papers. -
Appreciate your insights into AEP, ngl2010 & kiasustudent850…(too many 0s you’ve, lol). Gave me a much better idea & points to discuss with my son.
Hmm…what an interesting test choice - to draw one’s shoe, funny! Wow, it’s compulsory to join the Photography & Art Club? That’s bad news because my son is also involved with fencing outside of school, a sport which he loves & is unwilling to give up. His trainings for that are on Fridays.
Indeed, the pressure is there - he’s from track & field individual sport. More so because VERY few boys were selected for his event. Can imagine the school banking on them to win some medals from day 1. Back in August he was already invited to train with the team. Now it’s no longer invitation but expectation, haha…!
To me, the positive thing is that they’ve 2 weekday trainings and 1 on Saturday morning, at least it’s spread out. Fortunately, my boy’s the athletic type. I don’t worry much about his trainings. He had almost zero tuition throughout his primary school life, mostly learning on his own. We intend to keep it that way as long as we can.
My concern is more of helping him to make the right decisions regarding subjects & workload. He’s fluent in 3 languages and he’s strong in them. That’s why it’s natural for us to desire that he picks up a 4th language. But he also likes Art a lot. Sounds like we’re going to have a tough choice choosing one of the two… -
Carpediem75:
It looks like he is already in RI!Appreciate your insights into AEP, ngl2010 & kiasustudent850.....(too many 0s you've, lol). Gave me a much better idea & points to discuss with my son.
Hmm...what an interesting test choice - to draw one's shoe, funny! Wow, it's compulsory to join the Photography & Art Club? That's bad news because my son is also involved with fencing outside of school, a sport which he loves & is unwilling to give up. His trainings for that are on Fridays.
Indeed, the pressure is there - he's from track & field individual sport. More so because VERY few boys were selected for his event. Can imagine the school banking on them to win some medals from day 1. Back in August he was already invited to train with the team. Now it's no longer invitation but expectation, haha...!
To me, the positive thing is that they've 2 weekday trainings and 1 on Saturday morning, at least it's spread out. Fortunately, my boy's the athletic type. I don't worry much about his trainings. He had almost zero tuition throughout his primary school life, mostly learning on his own. We intend to keep it that way as long as we can.
My concern is more of helping him to make the right decisions regarding subjects & workload. He's fluent in 3 languages and he's strong in them. That's why it's natural for us to desire that he picks up a 4th language. But he also likes Art a lot. Sounds like we're going to have a tough choice choosing one of the two...
He can always drop 3rd language. There are a few times in a year in which the student can submit application to drop 3rd language. I am not sure about AEP though. Maybe Kiasustudrnt850000 can advise you whether can drop AEP in the middle of school year or not.
On Fridays in semester 1, there are meetings with PSLs. You may need to re-arrange your son's fencing class if it is also held on Fridays next year.
There is no need for tuition. Wait until MYCT then decide whether need or not. The teachers hold consultations so your son can always ask the teachers during those consultation hours. -
ngl2010:
Thanks ngl2010. My son was in ODAC and represented his school in debate. Frankly I know he doesn't stand a chance..will just need to manage his expectations .
To be honest, the chance is slim. So far, the successful appeal cases I knew were only 2 points away at most. However, there is no harm to appeal. In the appeal form, there is a question whether any of the parents or siblings was/is in RI but I don't know what they use the information for.3Ymom:
DS just got his psle results w t score 253. He only has eyes for RI as his brother is currently in year one.
What is the chance if he appeals? I told him is slim as he is 6 marks always from Cop. Is the chance higher w a sibling in RI too?
Does your DS excel in any sports? -
He’s starting sec 1 in Jan. Several months ago, we knew that his DSA went well, in fact on the day of trials itself & there was almost no doubt that he made it.
Pardon me, but what’s PSLs? I’m really bad with acronyms, blame it on being overseas for too many years. Came home to find S’poreans such experts in using them, lol.
Oh no, now another clash? At least for AEP, he can opt not to take it & avoid Photography & Art club to give way to fencing. But with PSL? Is that compulsory?? Re-arranging Friday training is impossible - that’s the tricky part. He can’t fence on Wednesdays under the same coach at 7.30 pm as his track & field training ends 7-ish. No human strength left for 2nd sport…
Exactly. My son told me that he’s giving himself half a year to assess how he copes with the system, he doesn’t want tuition at all. We believe that paying attention in class is the best.
I think I read earlier in the thread about the Rafflesian spirit of the older boys teaching the weaker ones who’re in need. How does it work - under arrangement by the teachers or entirely on their own initiative? It sounds wonderful! -
3Ymom:
Thanks ngl2010. My son was in ODAC and represented his school in debate. Frankly I know he doesn't stand a chance..will just need to manage his expectations .[/quote] :snuggles:
To be honest, the chance is slim. So far, the successful appeal cases I knew were only 2 points away at most. However, there is no harm to appeal. In the appeal form, there is a question whether any of the parents or siblings was/is in RI but I don't know what they use the information for.ngl2010:
[quote=\"3Ymom\"]DS just got his psle results w t score 253. He only has eyes for RI as his brother is currently in year one.
What is the chance if he appeals? I told him is slim as he is 6 marks always from Cop. Is the chance higher w a sibling in RI too?
Does your DS excel in any sports?
Maybe try to get in in Year 3? -
PSL = peer support leaders
The psl are year 4s selected and trained to guide the year 1s. They spent their year 3 year end holiday training and planning for the orientation for next year. A tradition really. The year 1s maintain contacts with their psl for as long as there’s need. Some become good friends. Big/younger brother like that.
The helping each other is entirely their own initiative. -
Carpediem75:
Pirated is right.He's starting sec 1 in Jan. Several months ago, we knew that his DSA went well, in fact on the day of trials itself & there was almost no doubt that he made it.
Pardon me, but what's PSLs? I'm really bad with acronyms, blame it on being overseas for too many years. Came home to find S'poreans such experts in using them, lol.
Oh no, now another clash? At least for AEP, he can opt not to take it & avoid Photography & Art club to give way to fencing. But with PSL? Is that compulsory?? Re-arranging Friday training is impossible - that's the tricky part. He can't fence on Wednesdays under the same coach at 7.30 pm as his track & field training ends 7-ish. No human strength left for 2nd sport...
Exactly. My son told me that he's giving himself half a year to assess how he copes with the system, he doesn't want tuition at all. We believe that paying attention in class is the best.
I think I read earlier in the thread about the Rafflesian spirit of the older boys teaching the weaker ones who're in need. How does it work - under arrangement by the teachers or entirely on their own initiative? It sounds wonderful!
By the way, the older boys helping the younger ones usually either the PSLs or seniors in the same CCA because they spend so much time together in CCA.
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Fantastic to hear! :rahrah: Like a buddy system to watch out for others. Especially those from the same CCA can understand what the younger ones are going through. Are the PSLs allocated to one student each (' fixed') or just across the board?
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Carpediem75:
Fantastic to hear! :rahrah: Like a buddy system to watch out for others. Especially those from the same CCA can understand what the younger ones are going through. Are the PSLs allocated to one student each (' fixed') or just across the board?
A few psl to each class, not one to one
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