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    NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Secondary Schools - Parent Networking Groups
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    • lucidL Offline
      lucid
      last edited by

      lurline:
      Hi Bluebellas,

      haha....I also kaypoh and went to ask ds who was from mainstream. He knows a few outstanding geppers in his cohort but generally he has no idea about the rest. They don’t ask or discuss about it.
      Yes , agree. They don’t differentiate and it’s a level playing field. What i get is everyone is happy and comfortable in their own skin. :grphug: Something poignant I recall was the Vice Principal’s advice. He is a real funny and straight talker who is quite popular with parents and the students alike. He said at welcome speech something to the tune of - students , don’t be complacent and think you are a genius who can get good grades with minimal effort. Sorry hor , everyone here is a genius so you actually have to work hard and be consistent!

      Some parent started to clap :salute: and as I was sitting to the very side of the auditorium, I could see many parents just turn and look poignantly at their child. :pokeeye: It was a Kodak moment to remember.

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      • D Offline
        deardear07
        last edited by

        lucid:
        Harrychew:

        [quote=\"walterp\"]Wow, what a significant change in profile of NUSH students intake over the years.


        My GEP DC graduated in 2016 cohort. During my DC time, the intake was only 129 (out of 170). There were only 29 girls ( which 7 from GEP ) and only 10 other boys are from the GEP stream out of the remaining 100.

        I guess time has change as computing is now a critical component of the NUSH school curriculum. In terms of DSA assessment and testing requirements, GEPers are likely to have an edge. Also I believe STEM component as far as Maths and Science school has far greater emphasis than humanities. More future graduates are likely to pursue STEM than other non-science areas.

        I agree. NUSH only take in via DSA, and the DSA selection is largely based on maths and science questions that are way beyond primary school syllabus that only the GEP students would have some exposure to. I recall my DC took NUSH intake test last year and some of questions need to use atomic numbers from periodic table...

        My family has two generations of Geppers with first gen starting in 80’s first few cohorts ( then only RI and RGS in sec school ). It was clear to us MOE then had filtered all round ability in Math English and logical thinking. Over the years, MOE probably realised that GEP selection first tests for Math and English. A STEM focused education would need to select for aptitudes in Math and Science instead. Thus, we observe that there are GEP students and even Math Olympiad Golds who do not clear the NUSH first round. Meanwhile, there are mainstream kids from neighbourhood primary schools in DC’s cohort who sailed through the selection process with confirmed offers .. and these kids have never done any Olympiads. Invariably , there will be a few places left after the DSA process and the school opens up a Supplementary intake. I understand that they then offer it to the students with high PSLE scores with minimally A* in Math and Science ). From DC’s cohort , it appeared anecdotally that the supplementary intake had more of the geppers. Also , it seems more girls get in that way. I presume that it’s because girls are likely stronger in languages so tend to
        tilt to higher PSLE scores ...it may be that more girls can support a better balance in gender ratio.[/quote]from the way u say it, can't really pin the trend of how NUSH selects... even the MO gold can't get in..?

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        • phtthpP Offline
          phtthp
          last edited by

          deardear07:
          lucid:



          My family has two generations of Geppers with first gen starting in 80’s first few cohorts ( then only RI and RGS in sec school ). It was clear to us MOE then had filtered all round ability in Math English and logical thinking. Over the years, MOE probably realised that GEP selection first tests for Math and English.

          A STEM focused education would need to select for aptitudes in Math and Science instead. Thus, we observe that there are GEP students and even Math Olympiad Golds who do not clear the NUSH first round. Meanwhile, there are mainstream kids from neighbourhood primary schools in DC’s cohort who sailed through the selection process with confirmed offers .. and these kids have never done any Olympiads. Invariably , there will be a few places left after the DSA process and the school opens up a Supplementary intake. I understand that they then offer it to the students with high PSLE scores with minimally A* in Math and Science ).

          From DC’s cohort , it appeared anecdotally that the supplementary intake had more of the geppers. Also , it seems more girls get in that way. I presume that it’s because girls are likely stronger in languages so tend to
          tilt to higher PSLE scores ...it may be that more girls can support a better balance in gender ratio.

          from the way u say it, can't really pin the trend of how NUSH selects... even the MO gold can't get in..?

          Curious ...

          one would have thought that those with MO gold, would be the first to get into NUS High, readily.

          How come they failed, in clearing entrance selection tests ? :?

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          • lucidL Offline
            lucid
            last edited by

            phtthp:

            Curious ...

            one would have thought that those with MO gold, would be the first to get into NUS High, readily.

            How come they failed, in clearing entrance selection tests ? :?
            I understand MO Platinums are offered DSA - clear distinction there that the medalists are truly good. For Bronzes and Golds , the kids may be good or just hothoused / trained well at primary level. Also, selection at NUSH includes logic and the Sciences which is separate from math ability.
            They start with all 3 sciences concurrently from week one with Upper Sec curriculum. So, I can imagine that a kid who is very good in math but with no interest in Sciences will be quite miserable in the school.

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            • H Offline
              Harrychew
              last edited by

              lucid:
              phtthp:


              Curious ...

              one would have thought that those with MO gold, would be the first to get into NUS High, readily.

              How come they failed, in clearing entrance selection tests ? :?

              I understand MO Platinums are offered DSA - clear distinction there that the medalists are truly good. For Bronzes and Golds , the kids may be good or just hothoused / trained well at primary level. Also, selection at NUSH includes logic and the Sciences which is separate from math ability.
              They start with all 3 sciences concurrently from week one with Upper Sec curriculum. So, I can imagine that a kid who is very good in math but with no interest in Sciences will be quite miserable in the school.

              There are a few MO around, so the DSA offered may differ depending on which MO result is used. Also there are MO for each primary school level. Perhaps result from P5 MO will have more weight as compared to P3 MO result?

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              • lucidL Offline
                lucid
                last edited by

                Yes agree, I suppose the Platinums refer to the NMOS ( by NUSH) and the SMO ( by Hwa Chong ). Most of the time , chatter on the Olympiads don’t really specify which competition the awards come from. So when there is a gold mention , I always assumed it was NMOS. I was not aware that there are lower primary Olympiads too; good to know now.

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                • peasantsP Offline
                  peasants
                  last edited by

                  Hi, dd is asking me what is the difference between IP and NUSH ? Is it that IP has to be all rounder for all subjects, while NUSH is focus on Maths and Science? While other subjects are minor?

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                  • L Offline
                    lurline
                    last edited by

                    IP is a scheme that allows high-performing students in sec schools to skip O level and proceed to sit for the A-level or other diplomas.

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                    • peasantsP Offline
                      peasants
                      last edited by

                      U mean NUSH have to take O levels?

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                      • A Offline
                        abhcbl
                        last edited by

                        My understanding is there are currently four different system in Singapore (excluding international school):


                        1. Standard "O" and "A" level
                        2. IP (Integrated Program) - No need to take "O" level, the student will move on to JC of the school (or the affiliate program school)
                        3. IB - No "O" and "A" level exam, complete 6 years with an IB diploma (I think that is what it is call)
                        4. NUS High - No "O" and "A" level exam, complete with a NUS High Diploma.

                        My understanding is that NUS High also is the only full modular program (a bit like Uni with some restriction) which sound very attractive and interesting. Was at the Open House and was told that the Year 1 and Year 2 results are not taken into consideration in the NUS High Diploma cert… so technically you can flunk all subjects and still move on. But it will affect what module the student could take in Year 3 (some are like pre-requisite)

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