Networking Group - JCs General

[newbieks]

Listened to minister’s speech… he says it is still complusary to offer 4 content based subjects, so maybe it means still need to take 4, but only 3 counted

[phtthp]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2099383\" time=\"1677649953\" user_id=\"178749:

Listened to minister’s speech.. he says it is still complusary to offer 4 content based subjects, so maybe it means still need to take 4, but only 3 counted

It means that

ask u to take minimum
(3 H2 + 1 H1),

but NO need to take 4H2 anymore.

But Not ask u to take 3H2 only, without taking 1 H1

[zeemimi]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2099382\" time=\"1677649945\" user_id=\"13281:

boy you hit the nail on the head!!
So eventually, they still want all kids to go through the motion. But fair enough, at least no need to grade/count it in some narrow metrics.

I once also thought to myself, we will never get rid of PSLE or SG A levels to adopt the IB or other exams, otherwise what do we do with all the SEAB folks? Then again, isn't it good we have a ready pool of teachers/curriculum specialists to redeploy to schools to reduce class sizes?

The pass/fail grade for PW is still useless. Can fail PW meh? Unless the student totally bochup.

[Dino]

its a social problem… need to create employment…

[doodbug]

zeemimi\" post_id=\"2099386\" time=\"1677650228\" user_id=\"15896:

The pass/fail grade for PW is still useless. Can fail PW meh? Unless the student totally bochup.

That's why I say, go through the PW motion. Maybe no more assigned topic the way it is now....lol!

[newbieks]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2099385\" time=\"1677650083\" user_id=\"35251:

It means that

ask u to take minimum
(3 H2 + 1 H1),

but NO need to take 4H2 anymore.

But Not ask u to take 3H2 only, without taking 1 H1

All long, it was never complsary to take 4 H2, only 3H2 and 1H1.

On project work, maybe that is partly why in my child’s IP school they remove those maths/science project graded work this year which I always felt took up so much time and not so useful in enhancing their mastery of the subject.

[lee_yl]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2099374\" time=\"1677647751\" user_id=\"178749:

The way I see this change is that it gives those considered 'less good' now to be just as good as the 'good' ones now, because you only need 70 to be a perfect scorer, no longer 90.

Then as what the minister says, this should free up time to do other stuff like interests, cca etc etc.

I take this to also mean that for the 'good' ones to stand out in the new system, they got to do more of the other stuff, whether it is taking H3 subjects (which is only counted as distinction/merit but does not go into the RP calculation) or doing even more extra-curricular stuff.

Yes, that’s how I would interpret it too. Like more students will henceforth be academically eligible for coveted courses based on RP70.

So I guess when it comes to Uni applications, it’s either balloting or outstanding portfolio like 200 hrs VIA, president of student council, or have done 1 or 2 H3.

Someone earlier mentioned in the A level vs IB thread before, that those who are more capable can go ahead to do more H3s, but don’t make it until all the kids are so stressed up with A level exams till horror stories of students seeking to commit suicide due to academic stress and related mental health issues!!

[newbieks]

Another comment from minister that i don’t quite understand. He says ‘The content of most of Singapore’s A-Level syllabuses is already similar or narrower than the international syllabuses used as benchmarks for comparison’…


so he does not think or agree that Singapore A levels papers are tougher than UK based ones? Or maybe he means content similar, but never mention standard of papers.

[zeemimi]

Every new education minister that comes in want to make some new changes.


Not sure who introduced PW, but I understand PW was introduced because the A level system lacks the research/project component that is present in IB. I have to say that the PW generally is a failure because it did not reap the intended benefits, hence the need to remove it from the computation of RP.

With a pass/fail grade for PW, i expect the passing criteria to be rewritten to ensure that the students do some decent work.

Over the years, each change made to the SG educational system just makes things harder, never easier. Do away with mid year exams? Introduce more bite-size assessment. No exams in the first year, dump all the exam content on you eventually.

Waiting to see how this will pan out though i will have no more stake.

[newbieks]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2099394\" time=\"1677651247\" user_id=\"17023:

Yes, that’s how I would interpret it too. Like more students will henceforth be academically eligible for coveted courses based on RP70.

So I guess when it comes to Uni applications, it’s either balloting or outstanding portfolio like 200 hrs VIA, president of student council, or have done 1 or 2 H3.

Someone earlier mentioned in the A level vs IB thread before, that those who are more capable can go ahead to do more H3s, but don’t make it until all the kids are so stressed up with A level exams till horror stories of students seeking to commit suicide due to academic stress and related mental health issues!!

Taking H3 does not increase RP beyond the max 70, but may not help so help in university admission for normal courses, but maybe more for scholarship applications, or med/dentistry kind of courses.