NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)

[DVL]

vlim:

Oh that is a chemical name right .....

Yeah, chemical name for common salt. Not sure how many primary school kids know. Couple years ago, there was a question about whether leaving nails exposed to the air would result in 1) increase in mass 2) decrease in mass or 3) no change in mass

[jtoh]

Don’t think that many primary school kids would be aware that NaCL is sodium chloride.

[matadorepy]

jtoh:

Don't think that many primary school kids would be aware that NaCL is sodium chloride.

Beside testing their analytical and interpretation abiltity in Maths & Science, the kids are also tested on how widely they read on the areas of Maths and Science. Those who are interested or have read more than their P6 science would definitely of heard of Sodium Chloride or common salt. It is very fair assumption that if you are \"science-oriented\" you should have some awarenesss of what is NaCL (where they are found eg beach and sea-water etc) or what are atoms and molecules existing in matter.

That's one criteria to select the potential 400 students out of the 2000 students for round 1 testing.

[Vanilla Cake]

matadorepy:

That's one criteria to select the potential 150 students out of the 2000 students in round 1 testing.

Pls advise if these numbers are correct for DSA year 1 intake:

Round 1 testing: Around 400 out of 2000+ applicants aka students.
Round 2 testing: 150+ out of around 400 applicants aka students.

[jtoh]

matadorepy:

jtoh:

Don't think that many primary school kids would be aware that NaCL is sodium chloride.

Beside testing their analytical and interpretation abiltity in Maths & Science, the kids are also tested on how widely they read on the areas of Maths and Science. Those who are interested or have read more than their P6 science would definitely of heard of Sodium Chloride or common salt. It is very fair assumption that if you are \"science-oriented\" you should have some awarenesss of what is NaCL (where they are found eg beach and sea-water etc) or what are atoms and molecules existing in matter.

That's one criteria to select the potential 400 students out of the 2000 students for round 1 testing.

I must be out of touch with what P6 students are aware of these days. But definitely students who are accepted into NUSH must have a very strong interest and aptitude in Science and/or Math. Given the accelerated programme they'll be exposed to they'll find it really tough going if their interest isn't sustained. It's good that NUSH has a stringent selection process because otherwise, students who aren't of that calibre or have the passion will suffer in Years 3 and up.

[matadorepy]

Vanilla Cake:

matadorepy:

That's one criteria to select the potential 150 students out of the 2000 students in round 1 testing.

Pls advise if these numbers are correct for DSA year 1 intake:

Round 1 testing: Around 400 out of 2000+ applicants aka students.
Round 2 testing: 150+ out of around 400 applicants aka students.

I think this is a fair approximation.

[PlatypusMeowMeow]

DVL:

vlim:

Oh that is a chemical name right .....

Yeah, chemical name for common salt. Not sure how many primary school kids know. Couple years ago, there was a question about whether leaving nails exposed to the air would result in 1) increase in mass 2) decrease in mass or 3) no change in mass

Hahaha, I do!! :laugh:

[krtc.031345marineparade]

DVL:

ngbrdad:

Hi need some clarification on the DSA test.

Does it consist of math and science papers only or is English included as well ?
And are the papers mainly olympiad/GAT type or usual exam type ?

In the past, Round 1 test consists of Maths and science questions. It is quite different from the GAT type. Emphasis is on Mathematical analytical skills (questions are similar to the Olympiad type) and on scientific principles (lower sec level). Not sure if the school would change it this year.

Hope it helps.

I guess students who are going for the NUSH test must be strong in algebra and perhaps already know about Pythagoras Theorem (which the GEP kids should know)

You can visit the link below which included a sharing of a Sec 3 student who had gone through all these DSA tests before:


http://krtc-marineparade.blogspot.com/2011/05/direct-school-admission-what-to-choose.html

[matadorepy]

krtc.marineparade:

DVL:

[quote=\"ngbrdad\"]Hi need some clarification on the DSA test.

Does it consist of math and science papers only or is English included as well ?
And are the papers mainly olympiad/GAT type or usual exam type ?

In the past, Round 1 test consists of Maths and science questions. It is quite different from the GAT type. Emphasis is on Mathematical analytical skills (questions are similar to the Olympiad type) and on scientific principles (lower sec level). Not sure if the school would change it this year.

Hope it helps.

I guess students who are going for the NUSH test must be strong in algebra and perhaps already know about Pythagoras Theorem (which the GEP kids should know)

You can visit the link below which included a sharing of a Sec 3 student who had gone through all these DSA tests before:


http://krtc-marineparade.blogspot.com/2011/05/direct-school-admission-what-to-choose.html[/quote]Ha ha. Another tuition centre trying to market their testing kit for NUSH DSA.

My DD took the NUSH DSA test last year. She was from GEP and GEP does not cover Algebra in their math curriculum.

Mathematically-wise she does understand a little of Algebra operations. However she does not know anything about Pythagoras theorem. The NUSH maths/ science testing IMHO, is not about what the kids should know or what they have'nt know. That's why there is no special preparation required.

It is basically a testing of the child's ability to understand scientific concept and maths theorems (which they probably have never been exposed to). More importantly is the testing of the kid's ability to interpret or make inference of information from these concepts and theorems. My DD shared that actually the Maths is easier than her GEP testing.

[krtc.031345marineparade]

matadorepy:

krtc.marineparade:

I guess students who are going for the NUSH test must be strong in algebra and perhaps already know about Pythagoras Theorem (which the GEP kids should know)

You can visit the link below which included a sharing of a Sec 3 student who had gone through all these DSA tests before:


http://krtc-marineparade.blogspot.com/2011/05/direct-school-admission-what-to-choose.html

Ha ha. Another tuition centre trying to market their testing kit for NUSH DSA.

My DD took the NUSH DSA test last year. She was from GEP and GEP does not cover Algebra in their math curriculum.

Mathematically-wise she does understand a little of Algebra operations. However she does not know anything about Pythagoras theorem. The NUSH maths/ science testing IMHO, is not about what the kids should know or what they have'nt know. That's why there is no special preparation required.

It is basically a testing of the child's ability to understand scientific concept and maths theorems (which they probably have never been exposed to). More importantly is the testing of the kid's ability to interpret or make inference of information from these concepts and theorems. My DD shared that actually the Maths is easier than her GEP testing.

Please do not be mistaken, Krtc@Marine Parade does not offer DSA preparatory courses. This is, albeit several requests for us to start a lesson.

Just like you, I am sharing this information as a parent that have also gone through this stage of \"anxiety\" and hoping to find out more from others who had the experience. In fact I have a child who had sat for the NUSH paper and was accepted in after the selection camp.

Interestingly, I have students who have sat for the NUSH DSA paper and they have told me about different styles of questions in the paper. From what I hear, it seems like the same question can be solved by different methods.

Just an example, a Geometry Question can be solved very quickly using the Pythagoras Theorem but if a student is not aware of that method, he/she may choose to use a longer method to solve the question. In the process that student may have less time to attempt other questions. Similarly, the famed Gauss-inspired question (1+2+3...+99+100) can be very well solved by manually adding the numbers up. However, if the student was exposed to such questions before, they would know the pairing method of solving such a question!

As for the Science portion of the paper, from what I have been told, there are Data-based questions as well as questions needing prior knowledge of scientific concepts beyond their Primary syllabus. For example, the difference between weight and mass, the particulate theory of matter and others.

Generally, NUSH is looking for students with a deep interest in Maths and Science and those who have read widely, beyond what they are expected in PSLE, hence a separate DSA paper. Even in the selection camp, many will be amazed by the expectations NUSH has for the students. There they are tested on concepts such as difference Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative bacteria. Having said that, the teachers and seniors facilitating the camp they are not focusing a lot on the students knowledge of such concepts, but on other qualities the student possess. Hopefully, we will have a chance to share with you when the time comes.