School of Science and Technology

[super-mom]

If take Bio-tech in SST (instead of Biology), can the student transition smoothly to Biology in A-levels? Any knowledge gap/disadvantage?


Thanks

[phtthp]

super-mom\" post_id=\"2117767\" time=\"1693363790\" user_id=\"26984:

If take Bio-tech in SST (instead of Biology), can the student transition smoothly to Biology in A-levels? Any knowledge gap/disadvantage?

Thanks

If u take Biotechnology, then what u are learning are all the technology related to Bio.

In contrast, if u learn Pure Biology, then what u are learning are the functions and fundamental of all the organs inside your body : how they work. Eg. How your heart pump blood to all parts of your part, or how your kidney produce urine and get out of your body, etc.

Obviously, there is a big difference, between studying Pure Bio subject vs. Biotechnology.

You may refer to the latest SEAB O level syllabus, print out the detailed exam syllabus taught (covered), print out, place them side by side each other. Then, read yourself. As u read, u will be able to tell the difference, clearly

[Smartiepants55]

super-mom\" post_id=\"2117767\" time=\"1693363790\" user_id=\"26984:

If take Bio-tech in SST (instead of Biology), can the student transition smoothly to Biology in A-levels? Any knowledge gap/disadvantage?

Thanks

The answer isL you need to check with the JC side if they allow. What I heard many dont allow. 1 or 2 allows. Need to check pls....

[super-mom]

Thanks for your replies. Yes I’m aware of the syllabus difference between Biology and Biotechnology.


Does it mean that SST students taking Chemistry (pure), Physics (pure) and Biotech (applied) in O-level, can only take Chemistry + Physics (but not Biology) in JC?

Thanks!

[phtthp]

super-mom\" post_id=\"2117842\" time=\"1693406911\" user_id=\"26984:

Thanks for your replies. Yes I’m aware of the syllabus difference between Biology and Biotechnology.

Does it mean that SST students taking Chemistry (pure), Physics (pure) and Biotech (applied) in O-level, can only take Chemistry + Physics (but not Biology) in JC?

Thanks!

Hi super-mom,

you have asked a very important question, also a very good question,

because

the qn u have posed ...
has actually led some P6 students to give up their DSA CO (SST) before in the past years, after realising that the

SEAB Bio-technology O-level syllabus deviates very far away, from the Pure Biology exam syllabus taught (covered).

Because

Bio-technology (NP04) deals with the technology aspects that are related to Bio. In contrast, Pure Biology (6093) deal with the study, the working & the functioning of our complicated, designed entire human body system, with each & every organ inside our body (human anatomy), plus the leaf transport, the flowers, plants Kingdom and also the invisible, naked to the eye how our body cells function & work, if seen under a microscope.

Why ?

Because

1) a lot of contents inside Pure Bio (6093) are NOT taught (covered), inside the subject Bio-technology.
As such,

many students will be struggling, have a difficult, challenging tough time trying to cope with A-level Biology.

2) whoever is considering Sec 3 subject combination comprising Bio-technology,
whether


u are a PSLE P6 student accepting DSA offer

OR

an end of Sec 2 SST student considering your new Sec 3 subject combination,

please do the following first,

so that u know what to expect, after taking your GCE \"O\" level subject, \"Bio-technology\".
That is, first & foremost,

3) write an email to the Principal of that particular desired JC (Junior College) which u are interested in, or at least email the Science HOD of that JC, ask them these questions explicitly yourself, below :-

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

Dear Principal (of xx Junior College),

I have a question.

I did not take Pure Biology, SEAB exam code 6093 in my GCE \"O\" level. But, I have taken Bio-technology \"NP04\" instead, and my
grade achieved for Bio-technology (O-level) is ... (please mention your grade achieved, to the Principal) , may I clarify :-

A) can I study A-level H2 Biology or can only be allowed to study H1 Biology but not allowed to study H2 Biology, in your JC (first year) admission ?

B) if I have scored distinction (A1 or A2) in my O-level (Bio-technology) and not scored (B3 to C6) grade,
can I still be allowed

to study A-level H2 Biology or H1 Biology, or totally not allowed to take any Biology at all, inside your JC ?

OR

Will you arrange or let me sit for some entrance tests in Biology, before allowing me to study A-level Bio, in your JC (1) level ?

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

Above questions, please clarify very clearly

Because

different Junior Colleges will answer your question differently, with regards to handling subject Bio-technology (NP04). There is no standardised one sized common answer that fits all JCs, across the board.

Because

C) those IP-JCs' answer,
may differ

from that of the Non-IP JCs.

And

D) even amongst the IP JCs themselves,
like for Example :-
RI / Hwa Chong / Eunoia / National / Victoria / Temasek / Dunman High JCs,

their answer may also differ, from one another, although all are called IP A-level JCs.

[super-mom]

Thanks phtthp, appreciate!


Besides the Applied Subjects (which are useful for Poly, but not JC), all the other subjects are EXACTLY THE SAME as mainstream secondary for O-levels, therefore enabling SST students to proceed seamlessly to JC, am I right?

These subjects are:
English, MT/HMT, E Math, A Math, 3 Pure Sciences (choose 2), SS History/SS Geography (choose 1)

[phtthp]

Hi super-mom,


Yes, u are correct.

Apart from the Applied Science subjects (eg. Bio-technology),
the rest of the other subjects which u have explicitly mentioned -

are all the same, as those taught in any other typical O-level Secondary school. They will all be sitting for the same identical, common GCE "O" level exam paper at the end of their Sec 4, regardless

whether u come from SST or u come from say,
eg. Anglican High or from Presbyterian High (at Yio Chu kang) or from
Tanjong Katong Secondary school.


Inside SST,
besides Mother tongue, there are also students who study 3rd language (Japanese / Spanish / German / French).

[phtthp]

Hi super-mom,


To add on … fyi

If your child is
either

a P6 student
considering accepting SST DSA offer OR

an end of Sec 2 SST student selecting his (her) Sec 3 new subject combination,

during the briefing time held by the SST school Principal (P) to welcome in new P6 students on board via DSA COs

OR

during the briefing time given to all Sec 2 (students + Parents),
you can ask either P or VP (Academic), this question below,

" if my child Is taking Applied Bio-technology NP04,
may I know normally,
how many Sec 3 vacancies are there, for this particular subject Bio-techlogy " ?

This is another important question, to clarify.

Why ?

Because

It doesn’t mean that if u are interested to take Sec 3 Bio-technology (Applied Science), u will definitely guaranteed to get it.

Why ?

Because

the vacancies can be limited by the number of laboratory seats available, inside your "Bio-tech" lab.

Example
=======

say, suppose, your Bio-technlogy laboratory, at any one time, one single lab session can only accommodate up to say, maximum 25 seats. So, if you are the 26th student coming in keen to take up Bio-tech, sorry. You will be turned down (rejected), because where to find the number 26th bench space inside the lab, for u to hands on do Practical work, assuming that the lab maximum can accommodate up to 25 seats ?

So, best to clarify out-front, first. That is, example: say, based on this year 2023 Sec 3 intake, how many Bio-technology students did SST accept (take in) ?

Of course, to expand the intake, end of Sec 2 (students + parents) can suggest to your SST Head of Science department, to try to open up one more extra lab, so that can accommodate another 25 more new students, thereby making it to Total : 50 students.

Yes, u may suggest. But whether the school is agreeable to your idea of "lab" expansion or not, is another different matter. Because school will need extra resources to conduct another lab session. Is the school willing to ?

Of course, if school is willing, great! But if the school refused, stick back to the original 25 students intake,
then, that means

it is possible that they check, sorting inside an Excel spreadsheet to filter out amongst end of Sec 2 Science cohort : who are the Top 25 students who have selected Sec 3 subject "Bio-technology", and from there, cut off ? So, your Science results have to be
good.

check Sec 2 level : Total how many students are there, inside this cohort ? And out of this cohort, how many been selected, to study Bio-technology (Applied Science) ?

Note

This number, 25, is an arbitrary number chosen to illustrate, for example purpose. The actual number of Sec 3 intake for "Bio-technology", please confirm directly with your Science HOD.

Thus, it makes sense to clarify these, out-front. Because in the event if u are not selected to take "Bio-technology" although u badly wanted to study this subject, then what’s next ? Take which other Applied Science subject ? Take "Computer Science " ?

[super-mom]

Got it, thanks phtthp.


Heard it’s difficult to find external tuition for common subjects (English, Pure Sciences, Math etc).

Is it due to SST teaching topics in different order through Sec 1-3, by Sec 4 will still complete the same syllabus like mainstream secondary and ready for exam?

So in sec 4, sst students can use the mainstream materials (past year papers) to prepare for O-levels?

[phtthp]

The way SST Teachers teach Maths & Science to students, is slightly different from that taught in Mainstream schools, although at the end of Sec 4, whether u are from SST or from other typical Mainstream O-level schools, all of them still take the same, common, identical O level papers.


During the briefing or during orientation, your son can actually ask & find out more from those Seniors inside SST : how they go about learning (or been taught) Pure Science + Maths subjects, inside SST. When u mingle with Seniors around, network & connect with them, u tend to get more insight info, from the ground level up.