2016 O levels (Kids born in 2000)

[janet88]

as long as you’re in school, it’s going to be TOUGH, whether it’s poly or JC.

but schooling is better than working life right? just like an unborn baby enjoys life inside the womb compared to a newborn.

[zbear]

Totally agree with TA and Nebbermind re A levels vs Poly route.


DS is so super stressed and tired. Told him to tong 9 more months n it will be over.

Feel so sorry for him and all A level students who find it a struggle to cope with JC life (not withstanding the top 1% of the national cohort who will find academics a beeeze for them with minimal efforts).

Well, this is life n life still has to go on.

[janet88]

zbear:

Totally agree with TA and Nebbermind re A levels vs Poly route.


DS is so super stressed and tired. Told him to tong 9 more months n it will be over.

Feel so sorry for him and all A level students who find it a struggle to cope with JC life (not withstanding the top 1% of the national cohort who will find academics a beeeze for them with minimal efforts).

Well, this is life n life still has to go on.

9 months more, just like preparing for psle.
it's really very tough (plus your son is among the best), the weather is not helping either. he would need lots of vitamin c.

all the best to your son.

[zbear]

Thanks Janet.

[TheAnswer]

I dun want to be a wet blanket but we need to be practical. During A levels, students are competing with a group of resourceful, intelligent and hardworking students. The bell curve will not be anywhere close to O levels bell curve. A level bell curve includes IP students. A student can try their best yet achieve horrendous results. Good courses in local universities are asking for mostly As. Bs and Cs can get only limited choices. Any lower passing grades won’t make it to local university. It is not easy to score a B during A levels. Ask around. Ask someone in mid range JC to know what much they struggle. It is blood and sweat continuously for 2 years. Nonstop torture if I may put it that way. Also dun expect Lecturers to teach n reteach same thing over n over again. Either self help or drown. End of year 1 promo exam. From what I remember, that was like the 2nd worst exam ever in my life. Worst exam was A levels in terms of difficulty and stress. O levels I barely studied but I did pretty well. University was a breeze for me. I’m sharing so that u know the issue is not uncommon and I’m comparing the difficulty/ intensity of the exams.

[zbear]

TheAnswer:

I dun want to be a wet blanket but we need to be practical. During A levels, students are competing with a group of resourceful, intelligent and hardworking students. The bell curve will not be anywhere close to O levels bell curve. A level bell curve includes IP students. A student can try their best yet achieve horrendous results. Good courses in local universities are asking for mostly As. Bs and Cs can get only limited choices. Any lower passing grades won't make it to local university. It is not easy to score a B during A levels. Ask around. Ask someone in mid range JC to know what much they struggle. It is blood and sweat continuously for 2 years. Nonstop torture if I may put it that way. Also dun expect Lecturers to teach n reteach same thing over n over again. Either self help or drown. End of year 1 promo exam. From what I remember, that was like the 2nd worst exam ever in my life. Worst exam was A levels in terms of difficulty and stress. O levels I barely studied but I did pretty well. University was a breeze for me. I'm sharing so that u know the issue is not uncommon and I'm comparing the difficulty/ intensity of the exams.

:goodpost:

I agree. Doing well in O levels is no guarantee that you will do well in A levels. The jump is too great.

Have told DS to try his best n I will accept whatever his A level results may be.

Also told him that Uni life will definitely be better than JC life, so he can look forward after going through this year of academic torture.

[lee_yl]

Poly offers another route to the university for those who are not so academically inclined. My cousins who went to Poly all went on to local universities. Granted that they had to work hard.


A-level is very stressful and competitive. 2 of my cousins who went to JCs, albeit the lower ranked ones, ended up going back to Poly before getting into University.

IMO, MI Business stream may be a better choice.

[floppy]

lee_yl:

IMO, MI Business stream may be a better choice.

I agree.

A level, like the O level, is a national exam that's graded on a curve. Hence, it's as much as doing well for yourself and doing better than your peers. However, unlike the O level, the A level is basically an exam between the top 20%, rather than the entire cohort. Furthermore, the top 5% were not even present during the O level. Some of the O level's As could well become A level's Bs or Cs when these missing students come into play.

Given that JCs do not offer the commerce stream anymore, the effect of the curve for some subjects may not be that severe.

[Imp75]

A levels has always been a competition amongst the best academically. I thought it would be a better situation now as there are more pathways and some are siphoned away into the IB league.


Eh actually my time hor, A levels quite relaxed leh… Cos I only take bare min subjects (3 subjects) And no extra rubbish (eg S papers etc) to pad my certificate. University is even better, can work PT and go clubbing. Oh miss those days!

[iFirefly]

Imp75:

A levels has always been a competition amongst the best academically. I thought it would be a better situation now as there are more pathways and some are siphoned away into the IB league.


Eh actually my time hor, A levels quite relaxed leh.... Cos I only take bare min subjects (3 subjects) And no extra rubbish (eg S papers etc) to pad my certificate. University is even better, can work PT and go clubbing. Oh miss those days!

Wow.. Your time must be a long long time ago..