All About A Levels
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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\"]
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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! -
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. -
slmkhoo:
Yes I have also heard many horror stories of students who could not enter a university with their A level results. It is quite traumatic for the students...
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.phtthp:
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. -
phtthp:
I was discussing with dd just now.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 ?
There could be some after A level, realised their interest lies in some courses offered only in poly.
MOE just offers wider educational opportunities to A level students -
pokoyoko:
Why would people assume that if a student sat for, taken and graduated with A Level, means he / she can definitely go on to a local university? I don't think people realise how tough it can be to qualify for a local university. One needs to score a ranking points of 75 or better (out of 90) to stand a chance.
Yes I have also heard many horror stories of students who could not enter a university with their A level results. It is quite traumatic for the students...
The A Level is just a speed bump or road block, but it's not the end of the journey. Approx. 2% to 5% (and maybe more) of the students will be waylaid in the process (not to mention the % of students who had to accept a 'lesser' course that is not of their choice). Their only options are either head to an overseas university (if they are able to secure a father-mother-scholarship) or one of the local polytechnics. -
My son’s girlfriend was a 6-pointer in her O level. Went to JC. At the end of her first year in JC, she decided that JC was not for her. Her parents agreed to let her change track to pursue Mass Com in poly. She graduated with an almost perfect GPA 3 years later, then proceeded to Australia for another 2 years to complete her degree. Knowing 5 languages, she is currently working in a job of her passion.
I yet to meet her parents (going to be soon as my son wishes to start a family asap so that he can enjoy life like me to marry early and relax early with fully grown up kids at early 50s). My hunch is these parents are likely to be easy to get along with 豁达 personality. -
starlight1968sg:
But if like that, wouldn't they have wasted 2 years of studying A-level and after that still go Poly? Is like route one big round-about, in the end still end up in a Poly ?
I was discussing with dd just now.
There could be some after A level, realised their interest lies in some courses offered only in poly.
MOE just offers wider educational opportunities to A level students
They might as well have gone (enrolled) directly into Polytechnic 2 years ago, right after they had sat for their O-level, at 16 years old ?
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