New L1R4 system for JC entry

[zac's mum]

@bbbay what do u mean by “CCA subject”?

[bbbay]

From the student’s excel file, I counted 10 JCs’ (more than half of all JCs) requirement for H2 math is only 1 of the O level math. If students are open to these JCs’ science stream, they will have 1 more subject leeway.

[Imp75]

@bbbay
I am getting confused. What is exploratory subject? Isn’t CL a compulsory subject to take as it’s a language so whether it gets counted in L1R4 is irrelevant? So to go JC science need min 7 subjects to have the foundation to cope with the A level syllabus? Anyways not sure if someone can do H2 maths with no knowledge of A maths (are differentiation and integration taught in E maths?)

[bbbay]

@zac-s-mum said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

@bbbay what do u mean by “CCA subject”?

Subject that has no bearing on promotion to next level of formal study. Students can choose whichever interest them. Get to visit NUS during Saturday to hear professor giving talk on the subject. Get to play around with research equipment. Do up some project for display during school open house . Receive some certificates of recognition. Just like school’s usual CCA. Except this “CCA subject” are our usual academic subjects.

[bbbay]

@Imp75 said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

@bbbay
I am getting confused. What is exploratory subject? Isn’t CL a compulsory subject to take as it’s a language so whether it gets counted in L1R4 is irrelevant?

Yes it is irrelevant. Can experiment more with it and even if score badly, it will not dent the JC science stream admission plan

So to go JC science need min 7 subjects to have the foundation to cope with the A level syllabus?

I think just 6 subjects will do, both under the current R5 or new R4 systems: the L1 and R1’s humanity and 2 math and 2 sciences. Meet the official requirements therefore offer good foundation.

Under new R4 system, students taking 7 subjects, will be left with the 1 MT or HTM subject, after taking out the 6 subjects. So can relief from stress just a little on their MT subject.

Anyways not sure if someone can do H2 maths with no knowledge of A maths (are differentiation and integration taught in E maths?)

I read from that excel file NJC’s and YJC’s requirement for H2 math is A or E math. Many others JCs require just A math, include RI. That would mean instead of 6 needed subjects (which include both A and E math), just 5 subjects will do. This translate to system is demanding less from students, if students can don’t feel so kiasi.

[zac's mum]

@bbbay said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

@zac-s-mum said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

@bbbay what do u mean by “CCA subject”?

Subject that has no bearing on promotion to next level of formal study. Students can choose whichever interest them. Get to visit NUS during Saturday to hear professor giving talk on the subject. Get to play around with research equipment. Do up some project for display during school open house . Receive some certificates of recognition. Just like school’s usual CCA. Except this “CCA subject” are our usual academic subjects.

I see. Well, the schools’ resources are already quite stretched. I don’t think they can cater to so many different interests. There’s already existing programs like ALP and LLP that are cohort-wide in each school.

With 1-2 subjects less, the school day can end earlier (or the students have a few more free periods per week), and also fewer papers to study for every term. My son has more free time than the triple science students. He uses his free time at home to learn German & Bahasa Indonesia online, draw anime on his PLD with stylus, and play around with BandLab compositions. Plus watch History documentaries during hols.

[bbbay]

I wrote to one of the lower tier JC yesterday morning. This was my query:

Hi

I have a query appreciate your advice please.

If a child L1R4 subjects for the 2028 JAE to XXJC, are

L1 English
R1 Humanities
R2 E Math
R3 Pure Science A
R4 Pure Science B

Does the child qualified to study science stream in XXJC? Considering the child does not take A math

Another scenario

L1 English
R1 Humanities
R2 E Math
R3 Pure Science Chemistry
R4 A math

Does the child qualified to study science stream in XXJC considering the child does not take pure Physics

And the JC’s reply:

Thank you for your email. We would like to update you that due to the recent policy change, all schools are still working out the guidelines.
Once the guidelines have been in place, we will update our college website to be ready for the 2028 intake.

[zac's mum]

@bbbay Thank u for writing to them to ask.

Hopefully they will agree on their finalized stance quickly, as the current sec 2 batch will be choosing their subject combis by November (and the secondary schools need to hold briefings way before school closes).

[SG_KP1]

IMO, not much has changed with MT/HMT and it being an exploratory subject. Many kids already know it is unlikely to go in the calculation (either HMT as L1 or MT as R4/R5); they are just doing what they need to do to pass it and meet the university requirement.

As people have said, the key is whether kids are both encouraged and able to take additional subjects or whether the targeted/recommend/allowed load also shrinks. FWIW, the latter is what’s happened along with the movement that assumes courseload = stress (likely not the case but we are moving in whatever direction we are moving). As mentioned, I think it is virtually impossible to take 10 subjects these days and even nine is extremely restricted in a number of schools (to the best of my knowledge).

Lastly, I would consider the O Level changes (L1R5 to L1R4) to be slightly better than the A Level changes (RP 90 to RP 70). The former likely just requires the JCs to give students more flexibility in taking H2 (or H1) subjects. Some of them already do this, and the reality is most students who don’t take something at upper sec are unlikely to suddenly want to take that subject in JC (think A Math and H2 Math or only Chem and then suddenly interested in Physics).

For the A Level or kids intending to go to university, they should be able to handle a contrasting subject and have it graded/used in the calculation. University studies and work rarely require you to be singularly focused on just one aspect. IMO, GP and the contrasting subject (especially for science kids) are just as relevant as the 3H2 Science stream subjects. The JCs don’t release A Level results info any longer (which is fine), but if you look back, the 4H2 distinction rate often exceed the GP distinction rate. One could ask whether that’s a good thing and if dropping the contrasting subject from the A Levels / limiting the number of humanities (via the number of total subjects) in upper secondary school is really helping.

Good thing is there’s many ways to independently learn stuff these days. Still, my personal belief is that these individual activities don’t always completely make up for in class learning with peers though.

[sharonkhoo]

@zac-s-mum said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

With 1-2 subjects less, the school day can end earlier (or the students have a few more free periods per week), and also fewer papers to study for every term. My son has more free time than the triple science students. He uses his free time at home to learn German & Bahasa Indonesia online, draw anime on his PLD with stylus, and play around with BandLab compositions. Plus watch History documentaries during hols.

That’s great for kids who have the means, support and initiative to explore beyond school. But on a nation-wide perspective, it would probably be better for the population as a whole for at least some to be provided in school for those who would otherwise not be able to access these extras.