School of Science and Technology

[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.

[Smartiepants55]

super-mom\" post_id=\"2118194\" time=\"1693744625\" user_id=\"26984:

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?

Of course, you can! Cos National Exam mah!

[phtthp]

FYI


Question posed
=============

If some Sec 4 O level students failed to score a minimum D7 in their O-level Standard Chinese (pu hua),
eg.
say, scored E8 -

can they still qualify for Admission, into a Junior College (for A-level) ?

Answer :-
That will depend on, what is their overall L1R5 O-level score ?

Example
=======

Suppose, we have three students here. Suppose, these 3 students all have scored E8, in their pu-hua O-level Chinese, unfortunately.

First student (case 1) had scored an overall original L1R5 15 points or better, while

the other 2nd student (case 2) had scored 17 points in his overall L1R5.

The 3rd student (case 3) had also scored 17 points overall, in his L1R5.
Same as the 2nd student, also 17 points.

These students can be admitted into JC, on term & condition called "conditional" admission, provided following conditions are met :-

1) case 1
========

conditional admission entry into a Junior College (for A-level) :-

If a
Sec 4 student’s overall original L1R5 is 15 points or better,
then,

this 1st student can enter JC (A-level), on "conditional" admission.

What is the definition (meaning) of "conditional" admission, into a Junior College ?

It means that,
at the end of JC (first year), this pupil must re-take his (her) GCE "O"level pu-hua,

because

this pupil has scored E8 in O-level (pu hua), didn’t meet the minimum D7 or better criteria, in his Chinese.

What happen, next ?

A) if this pupil managed to pass his O-level (pu hua) at the end of JC (1st year),
then,

this pupil is allowed to continue with his (her) 2nd year A-level JC. No more issue.


B) But,
If this pupil unfortunately failed to meet minimum D7 again, even after retaking O-level (pu hua) at end of JC (first year),

then,

MOE will transfer this pupil out to Millinium Institute (MI), to let this pupil continue with his remaining balance A-level course of study, at MI.
After all, MI does offer a 3 years A-level course.

That is,
by transfering this student out from the Junior College into MI,
MOE will still allow this pupil to continue to retake his (her) O-level (pu hua), at the end of his 2nd year, at MI now.


2) case 2 and case 3
=================

That is, what happen, if L1R5 overall had exceeded 15 points, then what happen ?


The 2nd and the 3rd students,
each armed with 17 points overall in their L1R5,
even though their O-level one subject Chinese alone scored E8, MOE will then check each and every of their remaining L1R5 subjects.


C) If each of his L1R5 subjects that contributed to overall 17 points had scored grade A, either an (A1 or A2), then Yes ! This pupil can be admitted into a JC, on condition.

Because the admission into JC is "conditional", same thing.
At the end of JC (first year), this pupil must re-take O-level pu-hua.
Target to score minimum D7 or better, in Standard Chinese (pu-hua).


D) But,
if any of his L1R5 subjects that contributed to overall 17 points inside contain a grade B inside eg. Say, B3,
then Sorry,
this student cannot be admitted into a Junior College for A-level, at all. Perhaps, can consider Polytechnic, instead ?

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

Conclusion drawn

Minimum, must score grade D7 or better, in your O-level Standard Chinese (pu hua)

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

you may contact MOE,
at telephone number

687-22220

to verify, above information posted.
Thank you.

[revils_ling]

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