Hwa Chong Institution (High School)

[pinky88]

Hi…anybody’s DS in the SMTP? Pls. share abt tis special programme. Is it very stressful?

[lizawa]

pinky88:

Hi...anybody's DS in the SMTP? Pls. share abt tis special programme. Is it very stressful?

All the special programmes are not easy to cope with. DS is in CSE SMTP. To cope well, the child needs to be an independent learner, have self discipline, be initiative and must be able to manage his time well.

Besides the more demanding workload (all sciences and mathematics are taught at higher level, and they are expected to take the higher papers for all the sciences and mathematics at the end of the year), they are also put into a class with many foreign scholars. Some of them are way more advanced in mathematics and some of the science subjects. So our boys need to realize that “一山还有一山高” and not feel discouraged or lose self-esteem.

Some of the benefits. They learn the subjects more in-depth and they start to get a taste of what research is all about. They are expected to write a science research paper that counts into their grade at the end of the year. They learn to be more self-disciplined and better able to manage their time and resources. The class size is small, 23 for DS's case and the classmates are very close and helpful, although competitive. Surprisingly, the foreign scholars are the ones who offer to help the locals with mathematics. Maybe DS is lucky to be in such a class.

Overall, DS experience with the programme and class is very positive. Hope you find some of these information useful.

[concerned mom]

Hi my boy will be in Sec 3 next year. Can anyone share whether it is useful to take Biology - understand it is optional. Anyone in humanities SP or BSP? Can share how is pace n are your sons coping well? thanks

[wonderm]

concerned mom:

Hi my boy will be in Sec 3 next year. Can anyone share whether it is useful to take Biology - understand it is optional. Anyone in humanities SP or BSP? Can share how is pace n are your sons coping well? thanks

My ds1 is in CSE Humanities Prog. He takes Biology. Last year this time, I told him it was not necessary to take Biology but he still decided to take it. I suppose it is good to learn something if he is interested but really hard to say how useful it is.

The workload is much heavier than Sec 2 but they have very good teachers and classmates. He and most of his peers are coping well. Overall, it has been a very positive experience for my ds1.

Is your ds choosing HP or BSP?

[concerned mom]

Thanks for the response.He is still deciding. For Biology if they take subject is it up to Sec4 or do they have to take it all the way to jc?

[wonderm]

concerned mom:

Thanks for the response.He is still deciding. For Biology if they take subject is it up to Sec4 or do they have to take it all the way to jc?

Yes, only up to Sec 4. They are free to choose any subject combination in JC.

[lizawa]

concerned mom:

Thanks for the response.He is still deciding. For Biology if they take subject is it up to Sec4 or do they have to take it all the way to jc?

During DS year, we were told that if you decide to drop bio for no good reason after term starts in sec 3, some penalty will be imposed. Not sure if this still applies.

[MandyMummy]

wonderm:

concerned mom:

Thanks for the response.He is still deciding. For Biology if they take subject is it up to Sec4 or do they have to take it all the way to jc?

Yes, only up to Sec 4. They are free to choose any subject combination in JC.

Just to share, the standard of biology in HCI (JC) is very high. Their notes are of high quality and their assessments are pretty tough. Maybe because of this, they topped all JCs in A levels biology results.

[pinky88]

lizawa:

pinky88:

Hi...anybody's DS in the SMTP? Pls. share abt tis special programme. Is it very stressful?

All the special programmes are not easy to cope with. DS is in CSE SMTP. To cope well, the child needs to be an independent learner, have self discipline, be initiative and must be able to manage his time well.

Besides the more demanding workload (all sciences and mathematics are taught at higher level, and they are expected to take the higher papers for all the sciences and mathematics at the end of the year), they are also put into a class with many foreign scholars. Some of them are way more advanced in mathematics and some of the science subjects. So our boys need to realize that “一山还有一山高” and not feel discouraged or lose self-esteem.

Some of the benefits. They learn the subjects more in-depth and they start to get a taste of what research is all about. They are expected to write a science research paper that counts into their grade at the end of the year. They learn to be more self-disciplined and better able to manage their time and resources. The class size is small, 23 for DS's case and the classmates are very close and helpful, although competitive. Surprisingly, the foreign
scholars are the ones who offer to help the locals with mathematics. Maybe DS is lucky to be in such a class.

Overall, DS experience with the programme and class is very positive. Hope you find some of these information useful.

Thks for sharing, lizawa:)

[ApronMama]

lizawa:

pinky88:

Hi...anybody's DS in the SMTP? Pls. share abt tis special programme. Is it very stressful?

All the special programmes are not easy to cope with. DS is in CSE SMTP. l.

Hi Lizawa, is CSE basically SMTP plus a chinese studies of China ? Student can choose to do only SMTP only without CSE, am I right? Or are all the H, B, S classes CSE ? If so what additional criteria to do CSE? HCL A1 or overall msg 1.5 will do?