Express or Normal stream

[wpslok]

Anyone here can give some comment on the following school. Thinking of choosing the Express stream in these school.

1) Bartley sec
2) Bendemeer Sec
3) Serangoon garden sec
4) Yio Chu Kang sec
5) Yuying Sec

[chenlaoshi]

Just thought this article is worth sharing - for current and prospective Normal stream students.


https://i.imgur.com/EiIZxSC.jpg\">

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/normal-stream-student-achieves-his-dream-of-becoming-a-doctor
https://fb.watch/7KCy0q76Ns/

[chika2021]

skss\" post_id=\"619828\" time=\"1319625915\" user_id=\"48741:

Please enlighten me here... out of touch with the secondary school system since my own...

Qn1) If a student gets eg. 240, it's an Express for sure and there is no option for student to choose normal, right?
Qn2) If student gets 180, it's Normal for sure, right?
Qn3) What is range for those who can choose Express or Normal ( somewhere around 188 to 200)???

:scratchhead:

This year onwards MOE uses the AL system so they need AL 21-22 to be in the range for which they can choose between Express or NA.

[maple]

If the child score AL 21 or AL 22, any advice what are the factors to consider when choosing express or normal stream?

[zac's mum]

maple\" post_id=\"2040181\" time=\"1633091567\" user_id=\"6458:

If the child score AL 21 or AL 22, any advice what are the factors to consider when choosing express or normal stream?

All the 6 choices in the form must be for the same stream, ie. Either all Express, or all NA stream.

So sometimes there are very limited choices of schools for Express especially if you want near your house.

Worthwhile to consider those pilot FSBB schools, pick NA stream instead, especially if only 1 subject (Eg CL) dragged down the total PSLE score. Child still has chance to do the other subjects at Express level.

[Zeal mummy]

I would pick express, whenever it’s possible. Just try, yup!

[floppy]

I will go along with zac’s mum selection.


The reality of the situation is very few schools in the eligible range of 21-22 produces quality candidates at O Level. Hence, insisting in Express only may only limit your options moving forward. The double whammy that you will face is a poor result at PSLE limits your options at secondary schools, resulting in poor O Level results limiting your options for post-secondary education.

There are a few ways to break this cycle. One, as zac’s mum suggest is to opt for schools with FSBB. That will allow you to do some subjects at Express level and some at NA level. The advantage is that you are effective splitting the National exams into two years, while staying in the school system (ie not private candidate). If you do well enough for the express subjects, you will not have to take them again in sec 5. Less workload means higher probability of doing better at sec 5.

In addition, PFP is an option open to ONLY NA students. It’s a programme that I’ll utilize even if I’m doing FSBB. Effectively, you are competing among NA students ONLY for entry to polytechnic courses. You get the courses before O Level / express students get their pick a year later. The advantage is you do not have to be the big fish in a small pond, even a moderate size one is good enough, to get into some popular courses. Also, you wont risk being a small fish in big pond when the express students turn up en masse after the O Level.

Going with express offers the lowest probability of success but it’s the one that t most people go with because there are face issues and “extra” year issue.

[maple]

Hi floppy & zac’s mum,

Thank you for your detailed analysis.

Hi Zeal mummy,
Thank your for your feedback and comment.