2011 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[tisha]

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

[2ppaamm]

ngbrdad:

Regarding HMT and 3rd language, must decide by next Wed right ?

And once decision is made cannot change right ?

Will the decision not to take up HMT and 3rd language (if eligible for both) affects one's chances of getting a place in a school in a borderline case ?

I believe you can still change and switch after the term is started if your child changes her mind, subject to availability.

[2ppaamm]

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

Then don't.

[Chenonceau]

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

I'm not sure I am entirely right 'cos my perspective dates from 30 years ago... The 3rd language enriches life but has no other practical purpose. It offers deep exposure to another culture that opens your mind to new possibilities. You learn to think differently from the normal Singaporean. You also make life long friends in countries that few have a chance to know simply because you know the language and others don't. Once in a while, depending on socio-economic and political opportunities, you might make that language count at work.

On the scholarship form, it adds coolness.

On a daily and weekly basis, it is very hard work. You need to spend time travelling to the language centre for your classes and when you have a lot to do (as is the case in many top secondary schools from which the nation picks 3rd language talent), even the 2 hours of travel time has high opportunity costs. Some secondary schools offer a mind boggling buffet of enrichment and developmental opportunities that have nothing to do with grades... and one might end up staring at them, unable to indulge because one has no time.

In my opinion, if you love languages then go ahead. Your DS must have scored really well in BOTH languages to be offered this. He has aptitude. But if he scored but hates them... and has no curiosity whatsoever about the different cultures, then it is likely he'll give up.

[711]

Aggregate 244. Can put Cedar as 1st choice?

[Snow Crystal]

random 99:

Blur Dad:

[quote=\"random 99\"]What are my chances of getting into RI with a score of 258 + i have already appealed?

May I know, have you put RI as 1st choice in your S1 posting form? Or you have accepted by another school via DSA and want to appeal to RI?

i will be putting ri as my first choice and i did not go for any other school's dsa.[/quote]So we assume you have no DSA CO and you are under S1 posting. 258 is just below past 3 years' COP and so considered risky. That's why you have gone to appeal at RI under suppl exercise. However, appeal route has even lesser vacancies than S1 posting and your competitors are the GEPpers and top scorers with COs from other schs eg HCI and ACSI wanting to trasnfer over to RI too. Past year appeal COP apparently higher than S1 COP. Thus if you can't get in via S1, your chance of gg in via appeal is low. Any talents to offer RI? CCA? If you have HCL, you will likely get into HCI with the bonus HCL points I assume you have min +1. Your 2nd choice is HCI?

[zeemimi]

711:

Aggregate 244. Can put Cedar as 1st choice?

can. but likely chances not very good. you can take a look at crescent girls too ....

[2ppaamm]

That third language thingy. My daughter was over the moon to do Japanese, but everything comes to a naught when the school was not supportive and she had to give up when she was asked to skip a few classes and her grades were affected and thus affecting her GPA. She gave up, but picked it up later outside the MOE.


My daughter now is literate (not proficient) in Japanese and Korean. She retained her passion without those courses and has so much more fun. I speak and write 7 languages, all because I love them, not because it was examinable. I made no use of them, except that my resume looks pretty interesting, and I can bargain using native language when travelling. If you have a love, you will blossom in that language. But if there is no love, why waste the time? From my experience, MOE teachers are not great in imparting that love for culture and language. My son, who took Japanese outside MOE, also became proficient in the language, better than many with MOE.

So, here is my experience. If your kid is not interested why bother? Do something else more meaningful!

[TheHamsterLover]

ksi:

Mdm KY:

Does anyone know whether HCL marks are included only when it comes to girls but not boys?

It is not gender dependent. It is based on the type of schools you want to choose in secondary. If you want to opt for a SAP school, then you can add the points to T-score to better the score for SAP school entry.
+3 points - Distinction
+2 points - Merit
+1 point - Pass

You only can add if you get top 30% in Singapore for PSLE.

[711]

Thanks. If crescent girl as 2nd choice, will she gets in also? I also considering tanjong katong girls, any advise on that?