2011 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
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Nebbermind:
No lah, weak uni still got caveat mah... can transfer... hee hee. There is always hope. He is a brilliant kid. His IQ is 160+! Genius level, just a small obstacle, no big deal.2ppaamm:
I know someone from ACSI IB who did not like it, decided to take O levels last minute and then went to RJC. This is a GEPer who topped PSLE, who did not do well for O levels (but became a sports man to DSA to RJC), and also did not do well for A levels, so went to a weak uni overseas.
I guess there will always be a few of these cases everywhere...
but then again, that is just the beginning even if it's just a weak uni deg. ya? -
2ppaamm:
Ok, now I speak as a parent of an RI boy. RI's curriculum is 'interesting', interesting in that some people cope and some people don't, like in all cases. Who are the ones who cope? No necessarily the ones who do well for PSLE, to some extent. Hence, from what I notice and what the teachers tell me, anyone above 250 has an equal chance of success.jtoh:
[quote=\"Newlykiasu\"]Hi all, i need some serious advice. DS scored 255+2. Like many other boys, his dream sch has always been RI (i hope 2ppaamm, pen88 & a few othr like-minded ones are not rolling yr eyes already ^_^). We live in the east & VS is really close, but DS was fr CHS & he is really comfortable there. He was thnking of putting CHS as 1st choice, & hope to transfer to RI at yr 3 or 5. Btw, he prefers all boys sch and we consider HCI too far away. What do the experts out there think? I wld esp like to hear the measured response of 2ppaamm, pen88, jtoh & of course all other feedback wld b appreciated. Tk u.
I think if your son really likes CHS, he should stay there. A comfortable environment with familiar faces would allow him to develop his potential. You don't have to be in the best school to do well. It's about inner drive.
You can transfer to RI in year 3 via DSA but I think it's very difficult. I don't know how many places are offered but I think quite a few will be taken by China and Vietnamese scholars. The other option is to work hard at O levels, do well and apply for RI(JC) then. There'll be about 450 places available then. But you'll also have to compete with top O level girls as well at this stage.
Maybe other parents who have experiences at CHS, VS, HCI and RI can comment as well?
Now, my son. He is not a top scorer but he did very well in his first year. Exceptionally well, he did not study much, but he scored close to full marks for GPA. Very nice. But the second half of Sec 1, he lost interest, and then in Sec 2, he started forgetting tests dates and assignments. He did not like the school. He was picked for things he thought was senseless - holding a bottle and crossing the field (but the bottle was not opened), he wore unmatching shoes one day, he did his Maths using dots instead of brackets, because he was taught to do that in P5 when he was on a differentiated program. Now it was all ok, until the teachers started to tell him that his mum (ME!) is no professional in Maths (when I used to teach tertiary maths!) and he was the expert. My son had different ways of doing things, but the teacher would not listen, and knowing my son, he even challenged all the way to HOD. Not good lah. The principal subsequently apologized to me for that, but my son lost interest in Maths completely because of this one teacher. (He was the top Maths student for Prelim in P6). We always thought he might be happier in ACSI, where all his friends went. At every competition, he would be the only all-white sitting amongst the white and blues. My son is now in his final year in the uni.
Another boy. This boy is the top boy. His score was way above the average. In Sec 1, he lost interest in everything, does not want to study, does not want to talk much. He went into hibernation. I think he was burnt out. I think he has not recouped from the 'always on the go'.
Yet another boy. Struggled like crazy through RI, now in year 5. He wanted to go to Sports School, top sportman. Barely makes in every year, tons of tuition. Parents want him in RI. Tense, very quiet, always very stiff. Hm... how to loosen him up.
The RI curriculum is over-pitched. Too crazy for my liking. I often wonder why pitch so high. But all the top schools here are like that! Consequently, our top students' GPA becomes too low to be admitted to overseas universities that look at them, local unis don't. So even students who score perfect scores for SAT (2400), they cannot get into Ivy Leagues. By the time these students realize, it is game over. I receive many letters asking for help, I cannot help.
Good side of RI, there are a plenty, and I believe many parents have already sung all the praises. I received a good education as a Rafflesian, I believe my son did as well, but he had no close friends from the school, he remains good friends with his primary school mates and uni classmates. Maybe he is just different, he is funny, playful and have tons of fun and fight back when he truly believes in something. The RI English teacher/Year Head loves him and still talks about him to other students.
That Maths teacher hates him. He also have some teachers he loves and hates. So just like another school.
RI is no heaven, neither is it hell. It is just another school, and yes, it makes mistakes, huge ones as well, despite all its successes.[/quote]
Hi 2ppaamm, tk u for responding to my call for help. Yr examples hv given me hope & reassurance(DS is far fr being burnt out), as well as bring hm the point once again that RI is not the ultimate sch & neither is it the best fit for all its students. -
In a way Iām glad that my P4 DS2 has declared that he wants to go to a secondary school as close to home as possible so that he can have more sleep.
Very sensible choice I think. -
ngbrdad:
He is a clever boy. Also, even after all I've said, I still believe in getting him into a good school as near as possible. The cohort is something to think about as well. I think the top 10-20 schools are all good if the child is academically capable, or the same school as his brother, so that you have less to worry about logistically.In a way I'm glad that my P4 DS2 has declared that he wants to go to a secondary school as close to home as possible so that he can have more sleep.
Very sensible choice I think. -
baoguo747:
hi, I scored 246 for psle ,I lived in Tanah Merah MRT nearby,What schools would you recommend?I really wants to go victoria sec school, but I am just on the cop of V.S. 2010.very worried, could anyone advise? Thanks.
Since the VS IP programme will be introduced next year, quite high chance the O Level Track COP will go up too in my opinion (coz if u do well u can transfer into the IP, I think?). But if u really like the school then no harm putting it as first choice and hope for the best :xedfingers: ... After all, if u don't get in u can always appeal after the posting results are released. Just make sure your other choices are safely within the reach of your T-Score
.
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Helping--Hand:
If I were u I would most likely put Nan Chiau as first choice coz it's quite a new sch and it seems to be making very good progressUhh.... still didn't get sufficient replies.. :sad:
Chung Cheng High Main V.S. Tanjong Katong Girls School V.S. Nan Chaiu High School V.S. Tanjong Katong Sec School
I can have the opportunity to chose 4 of them.
Please help me. I am really dunno which is a better school. :gloomy:
. If u prefer girls sch then put TKGS next maybe. Chung Cheng High Sch Main also seems like quite a good sch if u don't mind co Ed schools tho I donno much about Chung Cheng High Sch Main or TKSS. Sorry!
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Anybody can advise on St Patrick School in terms of students characters and academic performance.
My boy scored 224, not many choice in the East and Hougang area???
Please advise. Thanks.
ja -
Edureach:
jtoh:
[quote=\"Newlykiasu\"]Hi all, i need some serious advice. DS scored 255+2. Like many other boys, his dream sch has always been RI (i hope 2ppaamm, pen88 & a few othr like-minded ones are not rolling yr eyes already ^_^). We live in the east & VS is really close, but DS was fr CHS & he is really comfortable there. He was thnking of putting CHS as 1st choice, & hope to transfer to RI at yr 3 or 5. Btw, he prefers all boys sch and we consider HCI too far away. What do the experts out there think? I wld esp like to hear the measured response of 2ppaamm, pen88, jtoh & of course all other feedback wld b appreciated. Tk u.
I think if your son really likes CHS, he should stay there. A comfortable environment with familiar faces would allow him to develop his potential. You don't have to be in the best school to do well. It's about inner drive.
You can transfer to RI in year 3 via DSA but I think it's very difficult. I don't know how many places are offered but I think quite a few will be taken by China and Vietnamese scholars. The other option is to work hard at O levels, do well and apply for RI(JC) then. There'll be about 450 places available then. But you'll also have to compete with top O level girls as well at this stage.
Maybe other parents who have experiences at CHS, VS, HCI and RI can comment as well?
In CHS, rarely the top boys ask to be transfered to RI after sec2. Vast majority try to ace their O-level and proceed to jc of their choices. Is better to stay put and continue with their good progress since already half way thru might as well finish it.[/quote]Hi Edureach, this is new to me. I heard only that a gd number of the boys eventually do well enough to gain places in top few JCs. That's why we are deliberating between CHS & VS IP. -
ngbrdad:
Yes, distance, travelling time and usual traffic condition near the sch of choice are impt factors to consider. Yr DS2 is indeed wise :salute:In a way I'm glad that my P4 DS2 has declared that he wants to go to a secondary school as close to home as possible so that he can have more sleep.
Very sensible choice I think. -
jennyaw:
Anybody can advise on St Patrick School in terms of students characters and academic performance.
My boy scored 224, not many choice in the East and Hougang area???
Please advise. Thanks.
ja
Hi Ja
U are lucky with a 224 score, mine is 201 its a :slapshead: for me. I live in hougang too but ds1 attends st pats. New principal coming in 2012 from St Gabriel's and hopefully will control the discipline area there because one can get goosebumps when listening to stories of gangster and bullying in st pats. So far ds1 has had no issues as we ensure we drop and pick him up from sch daily and try to stay intouch with teachers. But riots and distraction in class is something the teachers should handle.Well as they say new broom sweeps well, we shall see what the new Principal has in store.
Academically, i can say NEED ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
with 224 u have many options:
bedok south 211
bedok view 218
bowen 222
good luck
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