All About A Levels
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jtoh:
Oops! Then maybe I'm wrong as jtoh's daughter was from the same JC as mine, although different time. Yes, please check.
Before you proceed any further, check if your dd's JC allows bio and history to be taken together. I know my dd's JC didn't allow it.Tanlines:
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Would like to know 1)which subject require more memory work? 2) my DD is able to do v well for history in sec school (however referring to my earlier post she is also taking bio and chem both are heavy in memory for a levels and also now we are talking about a higher level), is A levels history similar to sec school ? 3) is Econ’s easier to score compared to history? So she is considering to choose a subject of her interest like history or should she choose a subject easier to score like Econs? 4) what is required (language skills ...) to score well in these 2 subjects? Thanks! -
Do note that Bio and Geog are all very content heavy, not that other subjects are light, but contrary to what many think, Geog actually require quite a fair bit of memorising too.
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Tanlines:
———————-zbear:
[quote=\"Tanlines\"]Thanks for your replies. Any comments from those who had taken both Econs and history?
My DD took H2 History n Econs. In that year when she took her A levels, she used her knowledge from History for the GP paper.
What would u like to know?
Would like to know 1)which subject require more memory work? 2) my DD is able to do v well for history in sec school (however referring to my earlier post she is also taking bio and chem both are heavy in memory for a levels and also now we are talking about a higher level), is A levels history similar to sec school ? 3) is Econ’s easier to score compared to history? So she is considering to choose a subject of her interest like history or should she choose a subject easier to score like Econs? 4) what is required (language skills ...) to score well in these 2 subjects? Thanks![/quote]
Hello, I hv PMed u. -
Hello, many thanks to all above for your comments and sharing esp to phtthp & zbear for your PM!
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jtoh:
It's allowed in my dd's JC
Before you proceed any further, check if your dd's JC allows bio and history to be taken together. I know my dd's JC didn't allow it.Tanlines:
———————-
Would like to know 1)which subject require more memory work? 2) my DD is able to do v well for history in sec school (however referring to my earlier post she is also taking bio and chem both are heavy in memory for a levels and also now we are talking about a higher level), is A levels history similar to sec school ? 3) is Econ’s easier to score compared to history? So she is considering to choose a subject of her interest like history or should she choose a subject easier to score like Econs? 4) what is required (language skills ...) to score well in these 2 subjects? Thanks! -
phtthp:
based on recent 2015, 2016, 2017 GCE A level results, which are the Top 5 JCs, apart from (RI, Hwa Chong, VJC) ?
Based on 2017 results, VJC is not Top 3 JC. -
Grandyma:
And where can we see this ‘result’ that we speak of? Given that there isn’t an official release, and nearly everything is based on hearsay, how trustworthy is such ranking? Furthermore, there are a number of institutions offering IB. How to compare apples with oranges?phtthp:
based on recent 2015, 2016, 2017 GCE A level results, which are the Top 5 JCs, apart from (RI, Hwa Chong, VJC) ?
Based on 2017 results, VJC is not Top 3 JC. -
Former teacher here, but I have kept updated as a JC tuition teacher for history.
I cannot answer many questions, but there is one i can: History is EXTREMELY different in JC. Superficially, it looks like a slight increase - on paper. But it is ANYTHING but slight. Same applies to English -> GP. Or for any essay writing subject in JC.
Mentally:
At Secondary School, the requirement is lower, so there are often a lot of compromises made when teaching students. For example, teachers MIGHT still resort to giving essays to memorize, amongst others. Regardless of the cause, the results are as follows: a) Students might still retain the mindset that there is only ONE right way to answer the question. b) Students are led to believe, unintentionally, that there is only one main way to interpret an example. c) Also, because they can get marks easily simply by writing examples driven by examples, they do just that, rather than think like a lawyer, who is able to creatively twist and reinterpret and recontextualize examples to suit their story.
Massive increase in reading ability needed:
Furthermore, because the stuff that they read at secondary school level is extremely superficial, students are often NOT taught how to read longer pieces of content (which is common in JC). It might only be a page or two longer, but because their textbooks in Secondary school is so superficial, it feels like a giant jump in skills required of them.
No longer are points given to them in bit-sized chunks, they now have to be able to filter out content from a wide range of writers - some of whom cannot even write properly themselves, because they are smart academics - but poor writers. Seeing writings where ONE main argument is broken up into THREE different paragraphs, and with points scattered so bad they dont appear in chronological order is COMMON. I have personally seen at least one model paragraph, written by a teacher, where the second step in the argument was written in the second LAST line. No wonder it is hard to read.
Depth of thinking needed is exponentially increased:
Finally, the depth of thinking is deeper. A typical secondary school essay requires arguments that are only about 3 layers deep. For example, when explaining why someone is angry, they might argue that disrespect -> Frustration -> anger. And such an argument IS sufficient in secondary school. A good argument in JC would be about 5 to 6 points deep. Some might say that it is \"only\" a 3 point difference. But that is like a doubling in the depth required of their thinking. To be achieved within 2 years. And with each new depth of thinking exponentially harder than the previous.
So in JC for all subjects, INCLUDING history, the requirement on paper is a slight increase. But in reality, due to secondary school conditioning, and because the \"slight\" increase in content and requirement has been pushed past a critical threshold, it is much much more difficult for students with poor reading and writing foundations.
Hope it helps.
Disclaimer: This is from my perspective. Other teachers might beg to disagree. But I strongly believe in what I wrote.Tanlines:
It's allowed in my dd's JC[/quote]
Before you proceed any further, check if your dd's JC allows bio and history to be taken together. I know my dd's JC didn't allow it.jtoh:
[quote=\"Tanlines\"]
———————-
Would like to know 1)which subject require more memory work? 2) my DD is able to do v well for history in sec school (however referring to my earlier post she is also taking bio and chem both are heavy in memory for a levels and also now we are talking about a higher level), is A levels history similar to sec school ? 3) is Econ’s easier to score compared to history? So she is considering to choose a subject of her interest like history or should she choose a subject easier to score like Econs? 4) what is required (language skills ...) to score well in these 2 subjects? Thanks! -
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/a-level-results-students-apply-polytechnic-skip-semester-courses-11245456
Why would around 200 A-level graduates want to apply (enter) Polytechnic, after sat for, taken A-level ? -
phtthp:
If they didn't get into the university course they want (or didn't get into university at all), then a poly diploma offers better job prospects than an A level cert. And it gives another shot at getting into university. Not all A level holders make it to university with their A level grades.https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/a-level-results-students-apply-polytechnic-skip-semester-courses-11245456
Why would around 200 A-level graduates want to apply (enter) Polytechnic, after sat for, taken A-level ?
This new plan is good for students in this position and will save a lot of admin hassle for students and polys too. 2 year ago, because we didn't think our daughter would make it to university and didn't want her to wait a year to go to poly, she applied to poly before her A level results were released and actually started a poly course in April. But she also applied to university (she was borderline, so we thought \"why not?\"). She was only offered a university place in May, and then pulled out of poly. We had to pay a whole semester's poly fees, and the admin hassle was a pain.
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