Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)
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naggo-nitemare:
I hv the impression from one of the talks tt approximately 20percent will take up RA subject(s).
Thanks naggo-nitemare...So is based on the y2 exams score and is there an entry test to every RA subject? -
Hi vlim, I unearthed the below info from pg 3. Hope it helps. I'm clueless n need to attend briefing next year regarding RA.
Hi Dharma
As requested, I’ve asked my son (now Year 4, RI) to give his take on your questions. I’ve also asked him to give an intro as to what RA (Raffles Academy) is about.
So here below are the unedited comments from my son (not to be mistaken for his P6 brother kohjl Jr who is now called PlasmaStorm in this forum.):
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Preamble:
In secondary 2, RI students can choose to try for the RA programme, a programme designed to stretch the capacity and thinking skills of students with a high aptitude in a particular subject. Students that apply for the subject have to have a minimum of 3.60 GPA (ie, above 70 marks on average for all subjects), as well as being in the top 15% of the cohort in that particular subject. This also means that the subject that you want to offer naturally has to be of at least a 4.0 grade (ie, greater than 80 marks). The subjects that you can choose to offer an RA for are biology, physics, chemistry, maths, geography, history and literature, up to a maximum of two RA subjects of any combination.
After meeting the basic criteria, you have to sit for a selection test and go for an interview with a teacher. If you pass both of these sections, you will be invited to join that subject’s RA. You can choose to try out for as many RAs as you like as long as you meet the criteria, but even if you are accepted for all, you will eventually be only allowed to take two.
As a last note, I know of a few people who do not have a 3.60 GPA on average and yet show extremely high aptitude and interest for the subject. They had appealed to take the selection test and have been offered the RA of their choice after attending the selection test and the interview. This is the exception rather than the rule. However, it is, of course, still better to maintain a high level of achievement for both the RA subject as well as for the rest of the subjects.
Q: How is the level of difficulty as compared to the rest of the subjects in RP? Is the workload very much more for RA?
A: The difference between Science RP and Science RA programme is in terms of the balance of O level and A level syllabus that is done in Year 3 and 4 (ie Sec 3 and 4). While Science RP students complete all of the O-level syllabus and study a few easy A-level topics, RA students complete the whole A-level syllabus for that subject by the end of Year 4. So yes, it definitely is much more difficult and challenging, and requires a lot more studying. Compared to RP, RA also gets higher-level projects to work on, a key example being the compulsory CHAOS project for all science RAs.
You can explore the website on CHAOS here for more info: http://www.gebsp.moe.gov.sg/CHAOS/index.htm
(Note: You will only be required to complete the section that you are doing RA in , i.e. chemistryRA students will complete the chemistry section, math RA students complete the math section, and students taking two science/math RAs have to – shudders – do two parts.)
Q: I understand that there are additional topics covered under RA. Does that mean that he sits for 2 exams per subject instead of 1?
A: Thank goodness no. The RA assessment plan is completely different from that of RP. This means that RA could have more or less or even no tests at all. However, in reality, the situation is that RA always has a far greater number of tests than RP. For example this year, the RPs have had (I think) about 2 common class tests throughout the year, whereas the RAs had 2 common tests, as well as 7 topical tests throughout the year. The only test common between RP and RA is the end of year paper, which is used as a tool to benchmark the RA students against the RP students.
Q: Is it compulsory to do SMP if one is selected for Science/Maths RA?
A: I do not think so. However, you are expected to do a research project that is related to one of your RA projects.
Hope that helps. :D[/quote] -
:thankyou: naggo-nite..for the info :snuggles:
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verykiasu2010:
Thank vk2010. I know abt the public transport but I was asking about school buses operating at RI.
Bishan MRT station (north - south line)Paddy Field:
Would like to find out if there is school bus transportation from the East to RI. My DS had CO from RI, HCI n ACSI n we r trying to decide which is most convenient for him. Don't see the need to spend so much time traveling.
Any info will be appreciated.
Bishan MRT station & Marymount station (both on Circle line) Bishan is nearer to Raffles Square (sec 1 - 4) and Marymount is nearer to JC (year 5 & 6)
and bus route planner below :
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/journeyplan/overview.aspx -
vlim:
Ya .. The culture is really different. And DS has not decided on the school he wants. So we r just trying to work out the journey n see which is best in terms if traveling time
But these 3 sec schools have pretty different culture le ... :roll:Paddy Field:
Would like to find out if there is school bus transportation from the East to RI. My DS had CO from RI, HCI n ACSI n we r trying to decide which is most convenient for him. Don't see the need to spend so much time traveling.
Any info will be appreciated. -
Paddy Field:
Thank vk2010. I know abt the public transport but I was asking about school buses operating at RI.[/quote]sorry to misread your question
Bishan MRT station (north - south line)verykiasu2010:
[quote=\"Paddy Field\"]Would like to find out if there is school bus transportation from the East to RI. My DS had CO from RI, HCI n ACSI n we r trying to decide which is most convenient for him. Don't see the need to spend so much time traveling.
Any info will be appreciated.
Bishan MRT station & Marymount station (both on Circle line) Bishan is nearer to Raffles Square (sec 1 - 4) and Marymount is nearer to JC (year 5 & 6)
and bus route planner below :
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/journeyplan/overview.aspx
may be i am blurr but have not noticed any school bus in the morning dropping the students at RI -
verykiasu2010:
sorry to misread your question
Thank vk2010. I know abt the public transport but I was asking about school buses operating at RI.Paddy Field:
[quote=\"Paddy Field\"]Would like to find out if there is school bus transportation from the East to RI. My DS had CO from RI, HCI n ACSI n we r trying to decide which is most convenient for him. Don't see the need to spend so much time traveling.
Any info will be appreciated.
may be i am blurr but have not noticed any school bus in the morning dropping the students at RI[/quote]I have seen smaller vans, but very few of them. I think it is not that common. The best is to call up RI General Office and ask for school bus info. -
Thank you vk2010 & Mandymummy. My DS senior (2 yrs older) goes to RI via school bus from the east. Just my bad that I’d lost their contact. Guess I’ll have to call up all the 3 schools to check which is most convenient.
Another question - for RI students taking 3rd language, do the pupils make their own way to moelc? How far is it from school? -
Paddy Field:
they walk from RI to Bishan MOELC....not far enough to take a bus....the whole gang of them walking there every tuesdayThank you vk2010 & Mandymummy. My DS senior (2 yrs older) goes to RI via school bus from the east. Just my bad that I'd lost their contact. Guess I'll have to call up all the 3 schools to check which is most convenient.
Another question - for RI students taking 3rd language, do the pupils make their own way to moelc? How far is it from school?
they could lunch in school, then go, or walk to J8 and eat there on the way to MOELC, or go straight to MOELC to eat at their canteen....or rotate it weekly basis -
verykiasu2010:
I think there is bus service 410 that goes from RI to Bishan Stadium (near
they walk from RI to Bishan MOELC....not far enough to take a bus....the whole gang of them walking there every tuesdayPaddy Field:
Thank you vk2010 & Mandymummy. My DS senior (2 yrs older) goes to RI via school bus from the east. Just my bad that I'd lost their contact. Guess I'll have to call up all the 3 schools to check which is most convenient.
Another question - for RI students taking 3rd language, do the pupils make their own way to moelc? How far is it from school?
they could lunch in school, then go, or walk to J8 and eat there on the way to MOELC, or go straight to MOELC to eat at their canteen....or rotate it weekly basis
MOELC). The bus journey is quite long because it goes to Upp Thomson Rd, Sin Ming Ave, then loops back to Bishan St 22, then to Bishan Stadium. So
maybe students prefer to walk there as it is faster.
It is a good 15 min walk from RI.
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