Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) [*IP]

[compvale]

Choco05:

compvale:

Hi....how's the workload at RGS ? Is it very stressful ?


Do most of the children have tuition ? Understand it is difficult to find tuition centre for IP schools.

Usually people are stressed not because of the huge workload (which isn't very huge). They are stressed because of their various other commitments: CCA, interest groups, whatever service projects etc they are doing. Coupled with academics, people find it hard to juggle their time and therefore they feel stressed. It's never really academics alone that makes them stressed i think.

Some have tuition, some don't. It really boils down to individuals.

Thank you!. Heard some IP schools have a O level class for students who need to make the switch. Does RGS have a O level class ?

[Choco05]

YoruichiGotAHat:

Hello! I'm new to this Kiasuparents site, and am still not sure whether there is an age limit or not, but here goes.


I've just finished PSLE, and have been posted to RGS.

My psle score is not enough for me to go to RGS through S1 option form, but I have a DSA CO. I was wondering whether the GEP students get grouped according to their PSLE scores.

I'm also worried about the curriculum, and other matters concerning RGS. Is it a very large leap from P6 to Sec 1?

What time does school start? What time does it end?

Is it compulsory to have a CCA? Are there selections for CCA?

For third language courses, are there a lot of vacancies? How many people take up third language? How many people don't get their first choice? How many people want to take up Japanese, and how many places are there?

I'm very very nervous, partly because I didn't go to the open house.

I've also heard that computers or electronic devices are needed, is it true?

Sorry if I'm not allowed to be on this site, and if my questions seem a little silly, but I desperately need the answers. :?:

EDIT: I still have some more questions unanswered. (Sorry...)

I've been wondering about the subjects, and looking at some of the previous posts, these subjects seem really really hard.

I don't really know how to study for future subjects, and would like to. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to study for future subjects? I would like to start early and get a grasp on some basic information before starting the sec one school year next year.

I'm also quite worried about future studying for subjects. Do you read notes, and remember things through rote memorisation in order to study? How do you study for subjects?

I don't really know how to study other than doing papers and it works for me as of the these six years I've spent in primary school. I need help on this.

Hey! Don't be too nervous!!

Regarding the edits part-- What subject do you think is really really hard? Actually RGS doesn't have any super special subjects that aren't offered by other schools, it's the usual math, bio, chem, physics etc. We may have fancy names for those things (like Research Studies sounds like studying but nah it isn't)

You don't need to worry about this too early, really! I know what you mean by don't know how to study-i've never really been made to sit down and memorise facts in pri school, it sort of just comes when you see the questions, right? But i have to tell you you're going to be in for quite a lot of surprise. Memorisation is quite a big thing in RGS i think? Some people go for the memorise word for word and chunk and remember key words/points and link them up together.

Practice papers are uncommon in RGS. I mean, it's not like you can really practice for subjects like lit or eng. For math and sci it may help, but take note that usually the teacher does not give out the papers. They are all uploaded online, so if you want you can download and do. Answer keys are NOT provided (don't know why), so i'm afraid your practice will go down.

Math dept usually gives enough worksheets and practices on past year qns and is also like the only department that provides answers (not solutions, you can ask your teachers though). Hope this sort of helps you understand what it's kinda like. You can get practice papers, sure, but don't be too surprised when you only get one, or at most two, instead of the like 10 per subject in pri sch.

[Choco05]

compvale:

Choco05:

[quote=\"compvale\"]Hi....how's the workload at RGS ? Is it very stressful ?


Do most of the children have tuition ? Understand it is difficult to find tuition centre for IP schools.

Usually people are stressed not because of the huge workload (which isn't very huge). They are stressed because of their various other commitments: CCA, interest groups, whatever service projects etc they are doing. Coupled with academics, people find it hard to juggle their time and therefore they feel stressed. It's never really academics alone that makes them stressed i think.

Some have tuition, some don't. It really boils down to individuals.

Thank you!. Heard some IP schools have a O level class for students who need to make the switch. Does RGS have a O level class ?[/quote]So far, no.

I heard RI is introducing one though, don't know if it's true.

[compvale]

Thank you Choco05.

[YoruichiGotAHat]

Thank you, Choco05!


The subjects I was referring to are generally all of them. People sleep at 1+ A.M and I think this scares me a lot, because I never have coped well with sleep deprivation.

And the additional subjects not learnt in primary school all seem to need a great deal of studying to be well-versed in the subjects.

Perhaps its me being too nervous, but memorization isn't really one of my best points and since its used for studying, I'm afraid that I won't easily remember facts and points.

Do you know when the booklist is going to be given out? Or when the reading list will be out?

If they're given out on orientation, and I can't make it, when would I get it? :gloomy:

[sharonkhoo]

YoruichiGotAHat:

Thank you, Choco05!


The subjects I was referring to are generally all of them. People sleep at 1+ A.M and I think this scares me a lot, because I never have coped well with sleep deprivation.

And the additional subjects not learnt in primary school all seem to need a great deal of studying to be well-versed in the subjects.

Perhaps its me being too nervous, but memorization isn't really one of my best points and since its used for studying, I'm afraid that I won't easily remember facts and points.

Do you know when the booklist is going to be given out? Or when the reading list will be out?

If they're given out on orientation, and I can't make it, when would I get it? :gloomy:

Don't worry so much. You really don't need much memorization, at least not the 'brute force' type as long as you understand your work. Focus on understanding and the memory will keep up. I think the book list will be given out when you register for school. Just go and read widely, and don't worry about reading textbooks.

As for sleep deprivation, if you are disciplined, aren't involved in too many activities, don't spend too much time on social media etc, you don't have to be sleep deprived. My daughter has just finished Yr 3, and has never yet slept past 11pm, and even that was only a very few times (mostly because of performances ending late). She's mostly in bed before 10.30pm. She has 1 main CCA, no tuition, joins some ad hoc things now and again, and is quite restrained about spending time on social media. She values her sleep a lot, and will adjust her activities to give priority to sleep!

[Choco05]

YoruichiGotAHat:

Thank you, Choco05!


The subjects I was referring to are generally all of them. People sleep at 1+ A.M and I think this scares me a lot, because I never have coped well with sleep deprivation.

And the additional subjects not learnt in primary school all seem to need a great deal of studying to be well-versed in the subjects.

Perhaps its me being too nervous, but memorization isn't really one of my best points and since its used for studying, I'm afraid that I won't easily remember facts and points.

Do you know when the booklist is going to be given out? Or when the reading list will be out?

If they're given out on orientation, and I can't make it, when would I get it? :gloomy:

Haha...1am... That's considered normal already. For year 1s yes, 1am is really strange... but by year 4? All nighters can't shock you either! You see, sleep is all about time management and therefore dependent on the person. People can sleep at 2am, but what are they doing? Social media. But there are still people sleeping at 3am studying/doing stuff so :evil: :evil: You'll find out. By the time you have to sleep late, you'll be quite accustomed to it.

Book list is given out during reporting day. Sec 1 orientation lasts one week, first week of school. If you can't make it(or there are too many people) you can always go to RGS popular bookshop after the reporting day, they will still have everything packed and sold.

Memorising is by choice. Some people don't memorise, they link things together. You'll find out which one suits you. All these things may scare you, but when you experience some of it you'll realise RG syllabus isn't that hard. Our papers are chicken feet compared to other schools, especially RI/HCI in math and science.

Relax a little I'm sure many people are more worried than you are, and you have a CO for a head start and they don't!

[Yellow_Sky]

I heard RGS puts a lot of emphasis on their CCAs.

Approximately how much time does one spend on their CCAs?
Also, do you need to have prior knowledge to enrol in CCAs, like the Infocomm Club and the Ptographic Society?
How strict are the auditions/interviews?

[Choco05]

Yellow_Sky:

I heard RGS puts a lot of emphasis on their CCAs.

Approximately how much time does one spend on their CCAs?
Also, do you need to have prior knowledge to enrol in CCAs, like the Infocomm Club and the Ptographic Society?
How strict are the auditions/interviews?

Very! CCAs are a big part of our lives.

It depends on what CCA you are in.. For sports definitely the most time spent training, can go up to 4 times a week during competition season. For Perf Arts it is usually less vigorous but can go up to 4 times during performance season too, etc etc.

Most CCAs, especially sports require prior experience or best if you won some awards in pri sch in your sport. Otherwise, really hard to get in. The sports school teams are usually small, with about 10 people per batch. PA would depend, musical background would be what they mostly look out for But if you have no real experience in handling a particular instrument, they can still let you in, aka learn it from scratch.

UGs look out more for character traits, clubs would depend on whatever club it is. Auditions/interviews are definitely difficult. Many people end up not being accepted into anything they went for trials for.

For info on each of the CCA requirements will be given during CCA selection period, and also during CCA Orientation on the first week of school you can ask the seniors there too

[alng]

Yellow_Sky:

I heard RGS puts a lot of emphasis on their CCAs.

Approximately how much time does one spend on their CCAs?
Also, do you need to have prior knowledge to enrol in CCAs, like the Infocomm Club and the Ptographic Society?
How strict are the auditions/interviews?

RGS used to have 49 CCAs before the consolidation. I am not sure how many CCAs the school has now as there was a consolidation to merge some CCAs. Every CCA takes in less than 20 year 1 students (some CCAs take in less than 10). Every CCA has to go through a selection process. Some CCAs are more popular than others thus more competitive.

Most CCAs have at least twice a week meetings.