School of Science and Technology

[harsha9]

This post is deleted!

[Hendon]

harsha9\" post_id=\"2079281\" time=\"1661119562\" user_id=\"128683:

I can't speak for the whole school, but many students I know here have Science or Maths as their strongest subject. There's a lot of competition in Sec 1 for the highest science marks. We are pretty passionate about what we do, that's why we can do well and ace exams. The highest AL score in my cohort is AL4 which is honestly a surprise for me. Many of us had accepted DSA offers because we were worried we would not do well for PSLE and get into other schools or planned to take up a particular applied subject.

thank you. It does show that SST has succeeded in attracting students with a passion for applied STEM subjects. I think someone having grades without passion will feel out of place in SST. Am I right?

[cmeilim]

SST does not look at the students’ grades. The school leaders have said so themselves at various public webinars. So grades is not part of the evaluation rubics for their DSA process. Instead, through their own two rounds of aptitude tests, they sieve out those who had demonstrated a preference and disposition towards applied learning, problem-solving and STEM. It is thus unlikely that an offer would be made to someone with top grades but did not demonstrate interest in any of these three aspects.

[chocolatemom]

Can I check if the school environment is very competitive and stressful?

[cmeilim]

chocolatemom\" post_id=\"2079389\" time=\"1661211155\" user_id=\"198613:

Can I check if the school environment is very competitive and stressful?

I think competitiveness and stress are dependent on nature (ie depending on the child) and partly environmental. My child isn't competitive by nature, and he isn't affected by the larger environment, although there are still adjustment that he had to make transitioning to Sec 1, double the subjects, and a lot of team collaborative project work. It's like a whole new way of learning, standards can be high and juggling between concurrent tests and project deadlines is demanding on discipline, focus, time management etc.

But the teachers are not pushy; they give a lot of time and space for the kids to try, make mistakes, try again, adapt and grow into their niches. The teachers don't stress on grades, but focus more on holistic development and the learning/thinking process. In this sense, nope, I don't think it is an academically stressful environment.

[phtthp]

chocolatemom\" post_id=\"2079389\" time=\"1661211155\" user_id=\"198613:

Can I check if the school environment is very competitive and stressful?

Take note.

There is NO Triple Science Sec 3 subject combination permitted, in SST. So, if your kid intend to study Triple Science, come Sec 3, then u should Not even be choosing SST.

Unlike other Secondary schools like

Eg.

Chung Cheng High (Main) or
Anglican High or
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Secondary, or
Presbyterian High, or
Tanjong Katong

Secondary schools, etc.
whereby Sec 3 Triple Science subject combination are allowed, in these named schools.

Example
This year (2022), Anglican High school opened,
is it (2.5 or 3) Sec 3 Triple Pure Science classes ? Yes, Anglican High opened a few Triple Sciences classes, this year. As usual, u know, kids born in 2007 (piggies), are extremely competitive. Just refer back to our past PSLE 2019 batch !


However, there is \"Applied\" Science subjects offered here, in SST.

=============================

At the end of Sec 2 (October) year-end streaming in SST, if u happen to choose Sec 3 subject combination comprising,
say, for example

- choose (Physics + Chem, ie. Double Science)
And
Biotechnology (an Applied Science subject)

This is a popular Sec 3 subject combination, for those heading towards Polytechnic, keen to do Bio-medical related Diploma (in Poly),


OR

- choose (Bio + Chem, ie. also Double Science)
And

another \"Applied\" Science subject, take note that --

Inside the Pure Science Laboratory, eg. inside \"Biology\" lab,
there are limited seats (or benches) maximum, per lab session conducted, for SST students.

for Example

Suppose inside a \"Biology\" laboratory, maximum number of seats available for students, is 18 seats.
So, if you happen to be the 19th student interested in taking Pure Bio, you may not be allowed to take Bio,

because

the lab itself, has no more seat for you.
So, where then are you going to sit, to do your \"Bio\" lab work Practical experiment(s) ?

Unless ...
SST Science (Bio) Teachers are willing to open to conduct another new Bio lab class, for you.
But, this is feasible only if, SST weekly curriculum school timetable is able to accommodate the demand for

extra ( Teaching resources + Lab facility), available.
In the event that no teaching resources nor lab facility is available, then, u being the 19th student interested to come in to take Sec 3 Bio, Sorry, cannot.

In this sense,
to answer your question,\"is it competitive to study in SST\",
the answer is unfortunately, \"Yes\",

because of this Sec 2 year end \"streaming\" exercise.
At end of Sec 2 streaming,
SST may take in the Top X number of students, for certain Sec 3 Science subjects intake. So, SST will sort your overall year-end Sec 2 (Science & Maths or English) results in a spreadsheet, and from there, based on the quota for certain Science subjects (if any), only the Top X number of students will get to do their Sec 3 selected subject combination.

Therefore,
all Sec 2 SST students,
please go and clarify with your VP (Academic) or with your own class Sec 2 Science Teachers :-

maximum -
how many Sec 3 students, is SST going to take in for subject \"Bio\", due to the limited lab seating capacity, per lab session (for those, interested in Bio. Of course, if u are not keen in Bio, then no need to ask this question) ?

============================

Now,
Inside SST, the boys ratio is so much higher, than girls. There are not that many girls, studying inside SST, compared to the number of boys.
As such, overall,
more students will tend to choose Physics over Bio, at the end of Sec 2 streaming,

because

boys who are keen in University (Engineering) related degrees, will need to take Physics (O-level and A-level), which are often compulsory. Because
I am not sure if one chooses \"Chemical Engineering\", clarify, is Physics still compulsory ?
Chemistry is of course definitely compulsory, for those targeting University Chemical Engineering.

But,
if you were to choose University
(Electrical / Electronic / Computer / Mechanical / Construction) Engineering degree(s), then, Physics is definitely compulsory, besides Mathematics.

[Mkang2]

cmeilim\" post_id=\"2079390\" time=\"1661213487\" user_id=\"11760:

I think competitiveness and stress are dependent on nature (ie depending on the child) and partly environmental. My child isn't competitive by nature, and he isn't affected by the larger environment, although there are still adjustment that he had to make transitioning to Sec 1, double the subjects, and a lot of team collaborative project work. It's like a whole new way of learning, standards can be high and juggling between concurrent tests and project deadlines is demanding on discipline, focus, time management etc.

But the teachers are not pushy; they give a lot of time and space for the kids to try, make mistakes, try again, adapt and grow into their niches. The teachers don't stress on grades, but focus more on holistic development and the learning/thinking process. In this sense, nope, I don't think it is an academically stressful environment.

This is very good information and thank you for sharing. You have answered questions that I have been having but haven't had the chance to ask. Thank you again.

[Oldgal]

Anyone knows if SST accepts students who have their MTL as foundation for PSLE? if a child takes foundation mother tongue (chinese) at PSLE but scores well in the other 3 standard subjects, can he be considered? thanks

[phtthp]

Oldgal\" post_id=\"2080054\" time=\"1661693396\" user_id=\"126725:

Anyone knows if a child takes Foundation Mother tongue (Chinese) but scores quite well in the other 3 standard subjects,

when it comes to applying for secondary schools, will this cause him to be disadvantaged ?
Meaning do all secondary schools offer MTL B  (foundation) or only selected schools? Thanks

To enter SST,
via 2 round of DSA tests cum interview -

Chinese was not even tested, inside any of these tests conducted. What then, was tested, inside these two round ? Mainly P6 (Maths & Science) content, not even test Secondary school content. And majority of our students entered SST, via DSA.

Some more, don't forget that
SST is very fair, in conducting her FIRST round of test.

Why fair ?

Because

SST \" FIRST \" round of DSA test is conducted for ALL applicants. SST don't even do any short-listing of candidates at all, in this \"FIRST\" round of DSA test. Whoever have applied for SST, they are All welcome to come and take this \"FIRST\" test. That means, P6 applicants who are taking \"Foundational Chinese\", will also be sitting for this Round 1 test.

Furthermore,
if any COs have been given up by the students, these COs turned down will then be given next, to those on Wait-lists (SST).

In the end,
If there are still any balanced (remaining) vacancies left after converting all the Wait-lists one by one, then, these seats will be released to public. By then, SST will start to look at your actual PSLE AL score. Whether Foundational Chinese still matters or not, at this point in time, AFTER the release of PSLE results, pls call up the school to verify. Only either the Principal or VP (Academic) or Chinese HOD, can answer your question, \"will Foundational Chinese, cause him to be dis-advantaged ? \"

because
they are the ultimate decision makers, AFTER the interview is conducted. They have the final say, AFTER
interviewing short-listed applicants, who have applied into SST using their actual PSLE results released in November, for whatever balanced remaining number of vacancies, that are still left (if any). Definitely not anyone of us here, from this forum.

[Oldgal]

Thank you phtthp for the detailed description of their application process. I was worried that perhaps SST does not offer foundation MTL in their school. I tried to find information on the MOE website and school website but no info if foundation chinese is offered. However if they are purely selecting for rounds 1 and 2 according to their own criteria then it sounds like they are open to kids who are taking foundation MTL. Assuring to know cause my ds has high interest in STEM but just not good in languages. Thanks again