Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)

[pirated]

slmkhoo:

pirated:

[quote=\"slmkhoo\"]My daughter (now Yr4) was recently briefed about RAs in RI. Some questions about Science RAs in Yr5:


1) Does RA continue into Yr6? No. Yr 6 focus on H3

Does it complement or lead into an H3 course? No

Do students do both RA and H3 in Yr6? No

2) What is the independent research component like for science RAs? My daughter is rather concerned about what that might entail. No worry

3) Do science RAs prepare the students for competitions like Olympiads, no

or is that done separately? Yes

Thanks for any info!

RI Janitor

??? Is that a person, a website or what? Too cryptic for me![/quote]Lol ! Before I was retired / exiled to the sea to be pirated, I was the janitor there

If your girl has been doing RA in RGS, should be no problem. Refer to the reply behind your question

[mjl]

slmkhoo:

My daughter (now Yr4) was recently briefed about RAs in RI. Some questions about Science RAs in Yr5:


1) Does RA continue into Yr6? Does it complement or lead into an H3 course? Do students do both RA and H3 in Yr6?

2) What is the independent research component like for science RAs? My daughter is rather concerned about what that might entail.

3) Do science RAs prepare the students for competitions like Olympiads, or is that done separately?

Thanks for any info!

1. One needs to take selection test to qualify for Y5-Y6 RA in JC, Y3-Y4 RA does not continue into Y6 automatically. There is stiffer competition for JC RA, esp for RGS girls, who will now compete with RI boys and JAE students for limited RA places. Yes, if H3 is done as uni or moe module, then students do both RA and H3 in Y6.
3. Done separately.

[PiggyLalala]

Is it common to do ra in one subject and H3 in another subject. Does it even make any sense.

I rem ra will continue into year 6. Not sure if it will complement the h3 course.

[naggo-nitemare]

slmkhoo:

My daughter (now Yr4) was recently briefed about RAs in RI. Some questions about Science RAs in Yr5:


1) Does RA continue into Yr6? Does it complement or lead into an H3 course? Do students do both RA and H3 in Yr6?

2) What is the independent research component like for science RAs? My daughter is rather concerned about what that might entail.

3) Do science RAs prepare the students for competitions like Olympiads, or is that done separately?

Thanks for any info!

This is NN'S DS.

1)
I believe RA continues into Y6. How closely related RA and H3 are depends on subject. I believe the Math and Physics RAs cover most of the H3 content, but less so for the Chem and Bio RAs. One can be in a RA and not take an H3 for that subject, or not be in a RA and take the H3. They are largely independent.

2)
As far as I know, only Bio RA has a compulsory research component. It might require a little time commitment outside of lessons, maybe 1-2 hours a week? I'm not too sure about this but my friends in Bio RA didn't find it much of a problem. And I think this research was less than half a year long. The other RAs do not require any student research.

3)
There are separate Olympiad trainings for the Math and Science Olympiads out of curriculum time. In my opinion, only Physics RA specially trains the students for the Olympiad.

For Math, Chem and Bio, RA and Olympiad are pretty much separate in terms of content. The Olympiad training for each of these is held during the Monday enrichment time (the first 2 periods on Monday. One can apply to join elective programmes during this time, including the Olympiad trainings. Students with no electives can sleep in) One can be in one programme but not the other. Students need to sit through a separate selection test to be in the Olympiad training programme. No special advantage for RA students. I would estimate that around half of the people in each Olympiad training are from RA.

Physics RA works differently: all Physics RA students have to attend the weekly Physics Olympiad training (held on Tuesday afternoons). The Physics RA and Olympiad curriculums act as complements to each other (I believe one covers JC1 topics, and one covers JC2 topics). There is a selection test for Olympiad training for non-RA students, who attend the training, but not the RA lessons if they get in (I would estimate that around 10 get in, along with the ~20 Physics RA people who get in automatically). It might be harder for these students to follow the training in this case.

It should be noted that one has to be in the Science Olympiad training programme to be eligible for the Olympiad, but this does not apply for the Math one. I have also heard that the Physics Olympiad training might become a Monday elective next year, instead of being in the afternoon. Not sure whether this is true, though.

An extra note: you don't even have to take the subject to be in the Olympiad training programme. I know people who take Bio and are in the Physics Olympiad programme, and people who take Physics and train for the Bio Olympiad. So I guess the most important factor is interest

[sharonkhoo]

naggo-nitemare:

This is NN'S DS.

...

Thanks for such a detailed answer! OK, I have a clearer picture now.

[kiasurian]

Hi, Anyone knows how to join RI Music Elective Program (MEP) in Y1? My son received RI CO and intended to join MEP next year. Please advice. TIA.

[bryan_yeolo]

kiasurian:

Hi, Anyone knows how to join RI Music Elective Program (MEP) in Y1? My son received RI CO and intended to join MEP next year. Please advice. TIA.

Hi Kiasurian,

Sec4 RI student here.

I assume your son is in P6.

From my Y2 junior, I gather that there is a selection test for MEP. There is both a practical and theory test & a pen and paper assessment.

During the practical test you play your instrument for the teachers for evaluation. The pen and paper assessment follows a format close to a MEP paper but it is much simpler. Your son will need Grade 5 Theory and Grade 7 Practical.

All the best in applying.

[kiasurian]

bryan_yeolo:

kiasurian:

Hi, Anyone knows how to join RI Music Elective Program (MEP) in Y1? My son received RI CO and intended to join MEP next year. Please advice. TIA.

Hi Kiasurian,

Sec4 RI student here.

I assume your son is in P6.

From my Y2 junior, I gather that there is a selection test for MEP. There is both a practical and theory test & a pen and paper assessment.

During the practical test you play your instrument for the teachers for evaluation. The pen and paper assessment follows a format close to a MEP paper but it is much simpler. Your son will need Grade 5 Theory and Grade 7 Practical.

All the best in applying.

Thank you bryan_yeolo

[YY1205]

Hi all, I 'd like to consult you, what is the good side to taking RA in Y3? Beside learning deeper and wider outside the standard curriculum, will it do help for JC 's learning for the specific subject?

[ngl2010]

What is the difference between Maths 1 and Maths 2? Is Maths 1 E Maths and Maths 2 A Maths?