Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)

[fruitplus]

Polar bear:

Hi, I am just curious here. I am wondering if it is compulsory to go for Outward Bound Singapore in Secondary Three, especially since I don't think I would enjoy it much. Please help, I am so anxious, I don't think I want to go!

Hi Polar bear,

I think it is compulsory! My daughter sprained her ankle on the 1st day (after doing all the hardwork!!) and she felt so disappointed that she was not able to join in all the fun.

Oh, please make sure you put on enough sunblock (and re-apply when needed), 1 of my daughter's classmate got a 3rd degree (or it is 2nd degree:? ) sunburn b'cos she didn't put enough sunblock (they were out for cannoning for the whole day).

[LipTong]

fruitplus:

Hi mathspark,


So the Math textbooks no need to buy. Thanks! So the Maths teacher gave out notes to the Sec 1?

I wonder is there any changes in the booklist for Sec 1 next year? I was thinking of getting the textbooks early, then get my not so hardworking son to go thru some topics early. I've copied down the booklist you posted in Dec last year Very helpful indeed, I found out that my Sec 3 girl can pass some of her old text books to DS. We can save a bit of $$, thank you!

How is your son coping? Is he enjoying his lessons in school ?

Is there a lot of project works in 1st year? What kind of project work is it?

Oh, is there a need to buy notebook for DS? Do they use computer to work on project very regularly?

Is RI a 'Future school' ? Some Sec schools are using the Fujitsu Tablet PCs b'cos they are the 'Future school'. The tablet PC is so costly ($3k+) and heavy!

Thank you in advance!

Hi fruitplus!

In Raffles Institution (Math Dept), we review our recommended textbooks yearly (i.e. batch after batch) with the enitre department of teachers.

The textbook recommended (Shinglee) is meant to be a supplement to the school materials. The IP syllabus in RI (a.k.a. Raffles Programme in short RP from here onwards) is fast-paced, rigorous and conceptually challenging for the boys. In the RP syllabus, the boys are provided with a couple of materials.

1. Worksheets. This is the main teaching material used in school (some students called it the textbook for math used in school). Concepts are introduced while we go through the materials in the worksheets. The content is comprehensive and some practice questions are also included. The boy should revise this fundamental course materials in order to grasp concepts. One topic is usually sub-section into several worksheets. There are blanks to fill in and worked solutions to copy while we teach.

2. Assignments. These are the homework assigned to the boys after each topic (or after a specific section of a topic). Depending on the teacher, it could be collected for marking or some teachers may go through the questions in class (i.e. self marking). Questions are usually tagged with a mark to provide the boys with a mark allocation for a specific question or part-question.

3. Supplementary Worksheets. As known as the ten-year-series for the RP syllabus. These are a compilation of the past years Common Test (CT) questions from RI (sorted according to topics). These are self-revision questions provided for your own practice. For my classes in RI, I will sometimes used those questions for revision before a class test or major exam. Most teachers will not go through the questions in this handout. Rather the onus is on the boy to work on these questions himself for his self-revision. Also a quick check for boy if he understands the content. Numerical answers are provided in the supplementary worksheets for the boys to cross check their answers. Note: I emphasize that this is a mere compilation of the past years CT questions from RI. As such, for some topics, you may find 30 (or more) questions per topic.

4. Revision Worksheets. These are a compilation of the past years exam (End of Year, in short EOY) questions from RI. Again for self practice. This is usually given at a later stage, a couple of weeks before a major exam (i.e. Mid Year Exam or EOY Exam). The materials are sort according to topics for easy reference and revision. One revision worksheet per topic. In all, the boy may receive >200 questions from all the revision worksheets before a major exam for their self practice.

In short, the materials provided in the RP should suffice. It should be the main revision materials before an exam. The topics covered in RP bridges across different sections in the mainstream school curriculum (i.e. O Level syllabus). For this reason, the school will sometimes recommend textbook across different levels (i.e. Sec 1 and 2 book for Year 1 RP). We will hardly or almost never use the textbooks in class itself. (For me, I never use the book in my classes. The materials in the RP programme is really very comprehensive and should suffice for most of the boys). The book is a supplement to the Raffles Programme (i.e. should the boy need additional understanding for a specific topic or need additional revision exercises for his own practice), the book will come in handy. The topics that we cover in the Year 1 RP syllabus are found in the Sec 1 and 2 Shinglee text. For me, I will insist that the boys purchase a copy of the Shinglee text. It is the best textbook thus far after many years of review (every year, RI math dept will do a review. For many years, the teachers chose Shinglee year after year). True enough, the boys will rarely use it and the teachers will hardly use it in school as well, but the book (in mint condition) in the bookshelf will come in handly if he needs help in understanding a topic. Especially so, nearer to exams (i.e. no last minute panic, looking for explanations the day before the exam). Furthermore, should the boy be absent from school for some reasons (i.e. MC, competition, etc), the textbook may come in handy as his worksheets will be empty (do copy from peers though).

Hope this clear your doubts. An important side note, the above content is valid for the RI RP Math syllabus. Not sure for the other subjects, because the different depts run our programme differently in RI.

Ex-teacher and trainer for International Math and Science Olympiad in RI

[fruitplus]

Hi LipTong,


Thank you for your clear and comprehensive reply, this clear all my doubts. So the Maths textbooks are used as a supplement to the Raffles Programme .

I think DS is quite used to this form of teaching as the GE classes also use worksheets as their main teaching materials.

Thank you very very much!

[MYB]

Hi LipTong,


You had elaborated the system very well. thank you.

[kiasuson]

Hi LipTong,


Do you know if the science teachers adopted the same method and concept?

[Polar bear]

Hi, I have an aggregate score of 262 and I am going to appeal to Raffles Institution since Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) accepted me under the Direct School Admission Exercise. Can someone tell me if I stand a good chance with this score. Thank you, all replies are greatly appreciated.

[kiasuson]

Polar bear:

Hi, I have an aggregate score of 262 and I am going to appeal to Raffles Institution since Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) accepted me under the Direct School Admission Exercise. Can someone tell me if I stand a good chance with this score. Thank you, all replies are greatly appreciated.

Did you apply to RI DSA?

[Polar bear]

yes, but I did not get in

[MdmKS]

Polar bear:

yes, but I did not get in

Wonder how many vancies RI left after DSA this round ? This year papers are not difficult and no complain in general. It seems there are lots of tie in terms of T-score. Can we estimate RI cut-off this time? Someone feedback in another thread that CHS primary alone has > 28 pupils got 260 and above. We can perhaps total up the estimated number of boy > 260 vs vancies left at RI to if RI COP will fall below 260 this year.

[wonderm]

MdmKS:

Polar bear:

yes, but I did not get in

Wonder how many vancies RI left after DSA this round ? This year papers are not difficult and no complain in general. It seems there are lots of tie in terms of T-score. Can we estimate RI cut-off this time? Someone feedback in another thread that CHS primary alone has > 28 pupils got 260 and above. We can perhaps total up the estimated number of boy > 260 vs vancies left at RI to if RI COP will fall below 260 this year.

Vacancies in RI after DSA is roughly 50% of their Sec 1 intake, i.e. about 225. Don't think it is appropriate to assume all the boys who score above RI COP will choose to go RI. For example, last year RI COP was 259, and that is very close to the median score of some of the top IP schools. For example, median score for HCI, NJC and Dunman Higher were 261, 260 and 261 respectively. I am sure there are also many who scored higher than RI COP and chose to go ACSI and NUSH.