Secondary School Chinese

[mamajs]

Hello all, sorry if these questions have been answered before but I am having difficulties navigating this new KSP forum …appreciate if I can get some advice/clarification on HCL in IP school:

1. Is HCL only compulsory in SAP IP school as I heard that some non-SAP IP schools, e.g. TJC, offer both HCL and CL to their students?

2. Is it true that while a minimum score of D7 in HCL at O-level will exempt students from H1 Chinese at A-level, this is only applicable to non-SAP schools? Heard that some SAP IP schools such as NYGH/DHS require students to score a B4 or better in HCL in order to opt out of H1 Chinese.

Thanks much in advance!

[bbbay]

@mamajs

Not sure about other SAP colleges, For HCI college, to get exemption from H1 Chinese , O level students need at least a C6, IP students need at least B4 (or B3?), in O level HCL grade.

My children were from non IP SAP secondary schools. All of them require to attempt HCL from secondary 1. I know another non IP SAP secondary school does not require all students to attempt HCL. so best is to email the school to check

[mamajs]

@bbbay i see. Thanks so much for sharing! So, it is true that SAP IP schools hold their IP students to a higher bar in HCL, compared to students they admit via JAE.

I also heard that for non-SAP IP schools, students just need to obtain a pass for O level HCL and they can opt out of H1 Chinese in Yr 5/6.

You’re right that every school seems to have different requirements for this (wonder if MOE has issued any guidelines), will find out more directly from DC’s preferred sec schools!

[zac's mum]

May i know whether cyber bullying may be translated as 网络霸凌？Official term in the oral handbook is stated as 网络欺凌, so i’m wondering whether 霸 conveys a physical violence act instead.

[chenlaoshi]

@zac-s-mum Yes, both terms can be used to express cyber bullying.

For example, both our local print and broadcast media uses 网络霸凌:
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/keywords/wang-luo-ba-ling
https://www.8world.com/topic/wangluobaling-0

Just don’t direct translate from English and use 网络欺负.

[zac's mum]

@chenlaoshi Thank u

[CM2010]

@chenlaoshi
Hi Chen Lao Shi, can I check is 议论文similar to argumentative writing in Eng ? Can you share the broad categories of topic tested for 议论文？ Any good books to let kids familiarize on the topics ? Cos eng at least the theme are given so it is easier to narrow down.
Thanks

[chenlaoshi]

Hi @CM2010,

Yeah, the range of topics tested can be really broad - they can cover both moral values and social issues. For 1 theme alone, there can be so many possibilities - e.g. on technology, it could be related to cashless payment or online learning or AI’s impact on ppl’s job etc.

Thus regular reading will be the best way to (while doing so, will be of help for the 实用文 and 口试 components too).

Reading material wise, you may want to check out this book:
https://adept-learning.com/product/secondary-o-level-cl-composition/

[CM2010]

@chenlaoshi thank you Chen Lao Shi for your recommendation.

[chenlaoshi]

From 2026, more students to be allowed to study higher mother tongue from Sec 1: Chan Chun Sing

More students will be allowed to study their mother tongue languages (MTLs) – Chinese, Malay or Tamil – at a higher level in secondary schools as part of a raft of efforts set to kick in over the next few years to shore up bilingual education.

From 2026, pupils who do well in the subject in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be able to take higher mother tongue languages (HMTLs) in Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score.

These are pupils who score AL1 or AL2 – the two highest possible scores – in their mother tongue, or a distinction or merit in HMTL in the PSLE.

This is a change from the current system, where pupils must do well across all four subjects – English, maths, science and mother tongue – in the PSLE to qualify to study HMTL in secondary school.