NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)
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benx\" post_id=\"2127329\" time=\"1705521797\" user_id=\"122909:
Don't believe indeed. Anyone can type whatever figure they like, it's a forum after all. To be credible, the onus is on them to be ready to state sources, otherwise whatever they have to say is akin to aunties at market exchanging \"intel\". LOL.
Its all over the papers. Dont believe? I wont spoonfeed you, you go and check yourself. If everyone keep asking every week, I will be too busy to entertain. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2127334\" time=\"1705536548\" user_id=\"175278:
Agree with you. Schools and teachers will instill in kids the value of pursuing excellence, set goals etc... which I think is a good thing, but this does not mean all schools and all teachers push the students too much.
I have alternate perspective to share. It’s from my own experience. It’s not true “top schools” always push their students. My child is in RI JC now. He chose that school so we let him be, even we have the typical concern of will it be too competitive. RI JC has a gap day every Wednesday. That day there is no schedule lessons. Students are free to attend CCA, or own time own target manage their own studies. It’s an effort by the school to help students relax a little. So it’s not true “top schools” always fill students to the brink. Another experience was during the annual meet the teacher session. I didn’t know what else to ask so I just ask about H3 subject. I was surprise by the teacher reaction. She opened her eyes so big and reply me “pls, don’t decide for your child on H3. Let them decide for themselves whether they are keen in taking H3 or not.”.
So it’s not true “top schools” push their students to the limit.
Many year back maybe there were more pushing. But after recent years’ incidence in schools, the system has changed a lot to lessen the stress. We parent can also manage our own expectations and help our children too.
Even when we hear of a parent or two sharing their kids' negative experiences, it is STILL just the personal experience of one or two kids/parents. Does this mean our own kids will experience the same and even if they do get the same teachers, does it mean they will feel the same extent of stress? If our kids are more resilient and confident, with more growth mindset etc...maybe they will not feel the same stress. If our kids are more sheltered in earlier years and less independent, with fixed mindset, perhaps anything out of his comfort zone will already cause too much stress. It also depends on the kind of parents we are as parenting style has an influence in how much our kids manage expectations and stress.
Recently a parent shared in a WhatsApp group how her older child was pushed to near-depression by all the teachers in another IP school as all subject teachers EXPECTED her child to score As for all subjects. I have two kids in that school and our experience have been so different. Every teacher is so caring and instead of pushing the kids just to score, they came across as always supportive and balanced. At PTM each year, not a single teacher just focused on grades. In fact, I thought the school did a fabulous job educating the students on the need to take care of their own mental health and HOW to do that. -
revils_ling\" post_id=\"2127343\" time=\"1705542263\" user_id=\"136480:
He joins RI JC via JAE - after O level.
May I ask if your child has been with RI since after PSLE? I'm just curious if RI IP also allows subject acceleration similar to NUS High?
I read from RI website their lower secondary syllabus cover some subjects that are not covered by mainstream schools. For example in math, they have a module call something like cross discipline math application. You may check it out. -
manorway\" post_id=\"2127349\" time=\"1705543977\" user_id=\"9303:
Agree with you. Schools and teachers will instill in kids the value of pursuing excellence, set goals etc... which I think is a good thing, but this does not mean all schools and all teachers push the students too much.
Even when we hear of a parent or two sharing their kids' negative experiences, it is STILL just the personal experience of one or two kids/parents. Does this mean our own kids will experience the same and even if they do get the same teachers, does it mean they will feel the same extent of stress? If our kids are more resilient and confident, with more growth mindset etc...maybe they will not feel the same stress. If our kids are more sheltered in earlier years and less independent, with fixed mindset, perhaps anything out of his comfort zone will already cause too much stress. It also depends on the kind of parents we are as parenting style has an influence in how much our kids manage expectations and stress.
Recently a parent shared in a WhatsApp group how her older child was pushed to near-depression by all the teachers in another IP school as all subject teachers EXPECTED her child to score As for all subjects. I have two kids in that school and our experience have been so different. Every teacher is so caring and instead of pushing the kids just to score, they came across as always supportive and balanced. At PTM each year, not a single teacher just focused on grades. In fact, I thought the school did a fabulous job educating the students on the need to take care of their own mental health and HOW to do that.
Yes. Need to find a way to help our child build resilience. After my children gotten their O level results, a relative ask “your parent force you all to study very hard is it?” My child replied “they just told
us to try our best.” I have another child just completed Y5 in RI JC. His teacher suggested he can try a H3 subject because his results are good enough. He applied but he was not selected for it. I ask him whether he knows the reason. He replied as a matter of fact: “there are so many students did better than me. You think it’s so easy to be selected?”To share my perspective and method, and I know not all people agree. I believe in telling my children to just try their best, in other words: focus on improving themselves day by day, and not comparing with others. some people may find it old fashion and just a slogan. But to me if done properly it can work wonders. I believe many top Sport personnel adopt this method to manage stress and performance. This is my “how to” manage stress and improve performance approach to share.
RI JC recently uploaded a YouTube video on their vice principals answering commonly ask questions on joining RI. One of the question is on the “small fish big pond” analogy. The answer given is , it’s not the size of the fish or pond that we should focus on. It should be whether joining RI will make the child becoming a stronger fish. If the child is the type like to challenge themselves, then RI may be the place for them. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2127363\" time=\"1705551159\" user_id=\"175278:
Thanks again for bring this info to my attention. Honestly, before reading your earlier post, we have totally not considered RI at all. But I like the idea of \"becoming a stronger fish\". I shall share this idea with my child and do some research on RI together. Appreciate your personal sharing. 👍
He joins RI JC via JAE - after O level.
I read from RI website their lower secondary syllabus cover some subjects that are not covered by mainstream schools. For example in math, they have a module call something like cross discipline math application. You may check it out. -
revils_ling\" post_id=\"2127375\" time=\"1705556170\" user_id=\"136480:
This is that YouTube video on RI V principals answering commonly asked questions. They also answered many other questions that may be of interest to you too:
Thanks again for bring this info to my attention. Honestly, before reading your earlier post, we have totally not considered RI before. I liked the idea of \"becoming a stronger fish\". I shall share this idea with my child and do some research on RI together. Appreciate your personal sharing. 👍
https://youtu.be/2uzGdr_TFVU?si=LZEzE5soMG69uTZz -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2127378\" time=\"1705556417\" user_id=\"175278:
Thanks so much for sharing the direct link. I was going to Google for it. Will watch it with my child later. 😊
This is that YouTube video on RI V principals answering commonly asked questions. They also answered many other questions that may be of interest to you too:
https://youtu.be/2uzGdr_TFVU?si=LZEzE5soMG69uTZz -
benx\" post_id=\"2127330\" time=\"1705522036\" user_id=\"122909:
Are you NUSH parent? I doubt its NUSH Culture to \"PUSH\" kids over the limits leh.. rather in NUSH culture its always to allow NUSHies to explore their passion, interests and excel in their area. Its always been this way, its actually the kids who pushes themselves. There are those who dont even take honours or 4th major or electives and teachers dont ask or push. So i dont think that was an accurate statement of NUSH culture. More like some parents who think their kids are in top school (erm.. if they think NUSH is) and push their kids over the limit la..NUSH is like a place for NUshies to be themselves and in their own planet. They are free to be themselves without judgement or moulded in any form, conformed to the norms. So drop outs or not, i think its mostly coz its about suitability, some kids just cant suit, they prefer RI style or A levels style. No right or wrong. NUSH is totally different style, cant compare apple to orange.
The 1.30pm is only 1-2 days in a week, 6pm is also 1-2 days in a week. Yeah, cannot expect to go home early especially top schools. Academic must perform, enrichment, electives and CCA also must perform because top schools teachers always want to push over the limits. -
revils_ling\" post_id=\"2127375\" time=\"1705556170\" user_id=\"136480:
the other side of \"a stronger fish\" is \"that which does not kill us makes us...\"
Thanks again for bring this info to my attention. Honestly, before reading your earlier post, we have totally not considered RI at all. But I like the idea of \"becoming a stronger fish\". I shall share this idea with my child and do some research on RI together. Appreciate your personal sharing. 👍
:imdrowning:
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revils_ling\" post_id=\"2127375\" time=\"1705556170\" user_id=\"136480:
For RI, it is ultimately a premier IP track so the coverage will be more rigorous than the standard O level curriculum. SBGEP track was scrapped after IP was set up but the kids are still streamed into bad/good classes. The epitome will be at the faster pace in the last few classes (higher PSLE scores and GEP students there as with classes /11 and /12 in RGS ) at lower secondary and then RA (Raffles Academy) at higher levels. Ultimately, they are there to clear A levels so there is only so much “acceleration” you can do so as not to dilute from the main focus of getting AAA/A to apply to university.
Thanks again for bring this info to my attention. Honestly, before reading your earlier post, we have totally not considered RI at all. But I like the idea of \"becoming a stronger fish\". I shall share this idea with my child and do some research on RI together. Appreciate your personal sharing. 👍
For NUSHigh, the acceleration is across the cohort as all are expected to be able to take the faster pace and increased depth. They sit diagnostic tests if they want to go even higher in certain subjects so in DS time, his classmates were doing Y2 or Y 3 math /chem at initial Y1 year ( NUS undergrad subject classes by Y4). It’s modular so the kids stay in their cohort year but just take the accelerated module of higher year.. the grade will count towards the core so some choose not to accelerate as you risk your core grades if you do choose to.
The teachers assert that most are are able to clear O levels by Year 3. By month May of Y5, all will sit Advanced Placement calculus AB and no one has got anything less than perfect 5 in history of the school.
By May Y6, they sit APs of various subjects and anyone taking honours in subject will get 5.0/5.0.
The true gauge is probably the Olympiads. If the schools has a slate of medallists , then it’s achievement reflecting the acceleration. Also, note in NUSH and R, you will likely see more Golds than the lesser medals whereas in other schools, there are more lower medals than Golds … implying there is a strict selection process before the kids are cleared to rep the school. In NUSH, it’s open season as anyone can take the junior Olympiads “for fun”, they still end up with a fair bit of medals that way.
The only drawback I see is most tend to be weaker in mother tongue. Average Higher Chinese grade at Y5 O levels is ard D though there are outliers. 😊
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