Affiliated Schools and their COPs

[MrsKiasu]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2023512\" time=\"1620645487\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2023512 time=1620645487 user_id=53606]
To put it plainly, I’m just looking for a curriculum that gives fair credit to my child’s strengths & does not penalize him for his inability to cram info satisfactorily for one-off written exams that only accept narrow format answers. It’s like asking a fish to climb a tree for heavens sake.[/quote]

I just received similar feedback fm teacher. Work in class different from during test. I said dont worry, papers don't bite.

[lee_yl]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2023518\" time=\"1620647278\" user_id=\"28674:

For most students, I doubt A vs IB will change the outcome very much.

Not true. Singaporeans do extremely well in IB.

Friends’ kids who went on to International schools because they couldn’t make it back to their affiliated sec schools (Tscore low 200s), all did well in IB to enter universities. Their IB scores were decent, below 35 point, and one of them is in UK studying medicine, another one in NTU now.

Wanna study in medicine go UK universities can enter quite easily. In most countries, Doctors are just like any other professional, like engineers etc., only in SG, because of a quota system, need to fight head over heels for a place in the local Uni medical faculty. Lol

[floppy]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2023532\" time=\"1620654651\" user_id=\"17023:

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2023518\" time=\"1620647278\" user_id=\"28674:

For most students, I doubt A vs IB will change the outcome very much.

Not true. Singaporeans do extremely well in IB.

Friends’ kids who went on to International schools because they couldn’t make it back to their affiliated sec schools (Tscore low 200s), all did well in IB to enter universities. Their IB scores were decent, below 35 point, and one of them is in UK studying medicine, another one in NTU now.

Wanna study in medicine go UK universities can enter quite easily. In most countries, Doctors are just like any other professional, like engineers etc., only in SG, because of a quota system, need to fight head over heels for a place in the local Uni medical faculty. Lol

This is the power of $$$.

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2023532\" time=\"1620654651\" user_id=\"17023:

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2023518\" time=\"1620647278\" user_id=\"28674:

For most students, I doubt A vs IB will change the outcome very much.

Not true. Singaporeans do extremely well in IB.

Friends’ kids who went on to International schools because they couldn’t make it back to their affiliated sec schools (Tscore low 200s), all did well in IB to enter universities. Their IB scores were decent, below 35 point, and one of them is in UK studying medicine, another one in NTU now.

Wanna study in medicine go UK universities can enter quite easily. In most countries, Doctors are just like any other professional, like engineers etc., only in SG, because of a quota system, need to fight head over heels for a place in the local Uni medical faculty. Lol

My point is that (most of) those who do extremely well at IB are also likely to do extremely well at A levels; and the same for those who don't to as well, or do poorly. There are some students, because of individual traits, who do significantly better under 1 system rather than the other, but they are the minority. And I'm sure that there are some who do better under the A level system than IB.

Being able to study medicine with under IB 35 is more about the opportunities that those with more financial means enjoy, not whether the student did IB or A levels. He could possibly have achieved the equivalent A level grades anyway. IB 35 is unlikely to have got him into the most competitive UK universities, and studying medicine in Singapore is up there among the most competitive courses.

[lee_yl]

I can only share from my personal experiences. Knowing the kids involved and seeing their academic journey, I must say that had they not taken the IB route, they would have struggled in the local highly competitive environment and would not even qualify for A-levels in the first place!


So while it’s true that our top A-level kids are likely to excel in IB, it’s likely that even our mid-tier A-level students will perform well due to cohort comparison if nothing else.

Going to a less competitive UK Uni to do medicine is fine as she will still be a recognised doctor upon graduation. Not to mention the exposure that comes with studying abroad. In fact, it has been argued that the local universities are doing a great disservice to the nation by artificially keeping the medical cohort small. Our per capita doctors is not high to begin with and will come under greater stress with our ageing population.

[doodbug]

I am not claiming that either the IB or the A level is easier.

However, in terms of recognition to top UK universities, let me cite an example.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications#:~:text=International%20Baccalaureate&text=We%20would%20expect%20students%20to,in%20the%20higher%2Dlevel%20subjects.

Take Oxford for example, to be shortlisted for consideration with A levels will require at least AAA for the 3 content subjects. Where for the IBs, generally speaking, you will be shortlisted for consideration with 38-40 points.

Between scoring 38-40 points for IB and 3As for A levels, I can't say which is 'easier', but the average student from SJI International and Hwa Chong International will make the mark.

In some ways, I do attribute it to the international brand and quality strength of the IB - it is widely recognized in the US and UK, and 38 and above seems to be widely regarded as a very strong score.

[doodbug]

There is also a reason why there is a much stronger demand for IB than A levels by private, full fee-paying schools.


So I do think Singaporean students who get to do IB in ACSI, MGS, SOTA, SJI, SSP - it’s a real privilege!

[doodbug]

Also, although the Singapore A levels may somewhat be related to the UK A levels, some will say that Singaporean students are disadvantaged in that there is no A* grading unlike the UK A levels. Also, our A level requirements are much more onerous than for the UK A level student, in that we are required to take GP, PW, Mother Tongue.


The IB qualification is recognized on the same bar, internationally. Singapore-Cambridge A levels is really, unique to Singapore and not all institutions internationally fully understand it. The Singapore-Cambridge A leels is obviously, fully recognized for local universities, i.e NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, SUTD.

[Imp75]

IP or IB, depends very much on the child isn’t it. If child is strong in logic skills and therefore maths and sciences but can’t really express well in writing, then I think maybe IB may not be that suitable?

[doodbug]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2023560\" time=\"1620697102\" user_id=\"2358:

IP or IB, depends very much on the child isn't it. If child is strong in logic skills and therefore maths and sciences but can't really express well in writing, then I think maybe IB may not be that suitable?

I don't think the writing requirements are much more onerous under the IB - there is substantial choice and you can tailor. In fact, the 2nd language requirements are far less onerous under the IB programme - practically nearly all Singaporeans get 7 points for this segment. The H1 MT is substantially more difficult, even to pass. And passing does not help pull your UAS up.