NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)

[ammonite]

Hi parents, are there any ways to "predict" if a child will be able to cope with the workload at NUSH? Eg scores for math and science in primary school should be in the 90s without too much mugging, example of books used in Yr 1 and 2 to have a rough idea of the pacing, etc. Thanks!

[Miracle Child]

Enjoyed the open house yesterday. The principal was candid in his talk. Spoke to some students as well.

[Miracle Child]

ammonite:

Hi parents, are there any ways to \"predict\" if a child will be able to cope with the workload at NUSH? Eg scores for math and science in primary school should be in the 90s without too much mugging, example of books used in Yr 1 and 2 to have a rough idea of the pacing, etc. Thanks!

Hi Ammonite, perhaps parents with kids studying at NUSH can provide a better answer to your question. But just to share based on what I gathered, I understand that for math and science subjects, they will complete the O level equivalent syllabus by Year 2. The textbooks they use in Yr 1 and Yr 2 are individual O level science textbooks (i.e. Physics, Chem and Bio) and not the integrated science textbooks that other schools use for Year 1 and Year 2...any parent, correct me if I am wrong.

[dyh]

Miracle Child:

ammonite:

Hi parents, are there any ways to \"predict\" if a child will be able to cope with the workload at NUSH? Eg scores for math and science in primary school should be in the 90s without too much mugging, example of books used in Yr 1 and 2 to have a rough idea of the pacing, etc. Thanks!

Hi Ammonite, perhaps parents with kids studying at NUSH can provide a better answer to your question. But just to share based on what I gathered, I understand that for math and science subjects, they will complete the O level equivalent syllabus by Year 2. The textbooks they use in Yr 1 and Yr 2 are individual O level science textbooks (i.e. Physics, Chem and Bio) and not the integrated science textbooks that other schools use for Year 1 and Year 2...any parent, correct me if I am wrong.

correct.
for their computer studies module in year 2, it is similar to what some universities are doing.

[phtthp]

Miracle Child:

Enjoyed the open house yesterday. The principal was candid in his talk. Spoke to some students as well.

the Tour also interesting : the tour guide (Yr 5 student) very enthusiastic, respond well to questions asked by students & parents.

Tour guide brought us around the lab on level 6 : into Analytical Chemistry lab, Organic Chemistry lab, to Life Sciences Micro-Bio lab to see growth of Ecoli culture, & other type of bacteria to see which brand of Mouth wash is most effective in killing germs in our mouth / tongue, and also how to grow cauliflower shoots and plantlets.

tour guide explained that -
- by end of Yr 2 : they have completed O level syllabus

- by end of Yr 4 : they have completed A level syllabus

- by end of Yr 6 :
they'd done part of university Science syllabus.
That's why some better students are able to jump straight into Year 2 or 3 NUS University Science / Engineering Faculty locally, or into MIT University Yr 3 overseas. She said quite common, amongst the better students


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for parents who happened to miss yesterday (April 11) Open house, but will enrol their child via online Registration for test, may note :

a) expect around 1800 to 2000 P6 students to take test, on Saturday 27 June 2015 (9am to 12 noon)

1.5 hr : Maths Test, first
take a short break

resume another 1.5 hr : Science Test

format of Tests
MCQ + Structured qns

http://www.nushigh.edu.sg/admission-n-o ... -interview

b) after NUSH High mark test -
out of 1800 to 2000 P6 students who sat for the test : 400 shortlisted, to attend Science Camp, on Saturday 25 July 2015, 8 am to 2 pm

P6 students divided into small groups : move from lab to lab, to conduct mini discussion of General knowledge Science project(s)


c) conduct Selection Interview : only for those who need further assessment

Interview date : 5 August 2015, 2 to 6 pm


d) finally, 153 students (out of 400) will be offered Letter of DSA, in August


e) students can exercise Option to accept Phase 1 DSA offer :
from 19 October to 23 October (tentative)


f) 2015 Psle results will be released tentatively, between 25 Nov (Wed) to 27 Nov (Fri) : according to SEAB

https://www.seab.gov.sg/pages/important_dates.asp


g) remaining 17 vacancies :
wait until PSLE results released in November, Phase 2 entry based on T-score

last year (2014) : Cut off point for T-score was 256


Total
153 (90 %, via DSA) + 17 (remaining 10%, via T-score) = 170 vacancies, for 2016 Sec 1 intake (born 2003)
these pupils will be divided into 7 Sec 1 classes
each class around 20 to 25 pupils


ratio of boys to girls : about 2 to 3 boys, per girl, in NUS High

tour guide said
- 2015 onwards : Sec 1 introduce Computer Science classes

- in Yr 5 / 6 : some students take a bus, about 2 to 3 bus stop away from campus, hop over to NUS university campus nearby, to take certain module(s) under certain Mentor(s) from NUS.
She said very convenient

[ammonite]

dyh:

Miracle Child:

[quote=\"ammonite\"]Hi parents, are there any ways to \"predict\" if a child will be able to cope with the workload at NUSH? Eg scores for math and science in primary school should be in the 90s without too much mugging, example of books used in Yr 1 and 2 to have a rough idea of the pacing, etc. Thanks!

Hi Ammonite, perhaps parents with kids studying at NUSH can provide a better answer to your question. But just to share based on what I gathered, I understand that for math and science subjects, they will complete the O level equivalent syllabus by Year 2. The textbooks they use in Yr 1 and Yr 2 are individual O level science textbooks (i.e. Physics, Chem and Bio) and not the integrated science textbooks that other schools use for Year 1 and Year 2...any parent, correct me if I am wrong.

correct.
for their computer studies module in year 2, it is similar to what some universities are doing.[/quote]Miracle child, dyh,

Thanks very much for your responses. I am aware that they finish the equivalent by end of year 2 and 4, which really sounds very fast paced to me. but then again, that is subjective to the child's interests and academic strength. Is there a booklist for year 1 and 2 that we can refer to for some concrete reference? Thanks!

[Sun_2010]

Ammonite,

I am not sure how it is now, but there were no books , just reference books for Bio. They are given nites and practise/ revision paperd. To get a feel you can check the Shinglee books till o-levels.

Also here is the 2015 syllabus.

http://www.nushigh.edu.sg/academic-curr ... ol-diploma

Hope this helps

[ammonite]

Sun_2010:

Ammonite,

I am not sure how it is now, but there were no books , just reference books for Bio. They are given nites and practise/ revision paperd. To get a feel you can check the Shinglee books till o-levels.

Also here is the 2015 syllabus.

http://www.nushigh.edu.sg/academic-curr ... ol-diploma

Hope this helps

Sun_2010,
That's very useful! Thanks so much! :thankyou:

[phtthp]

for P6 students :

online DSA application for NUS High is open, until 19 June 2015
(last day of DSA application)

[scm292]

DS went back to help out in the OH. When I drove there to fetch him at about 1pm, saw not many people there. Also few cars parked along the road. Unlike 4 years ago when we went to the OH, it was very packed and we did not even get a chance to attend the talks.

Looks like not many attend the OH this year ?