Choose Secondary school for 2010

[turquoise]

Dharma:

turquoise:

Hi Dharma,

So you just need to score a credit for HMT at O levels to be exempted from MT at A levels? No need for distinction? What if you pass but do poorly? Do you need to take some basic MT course? I thought I heard something about this but am not sure about the details.
Thanks!

Hi turquoise,

This extract from RI(JC) Website.

Prospective Students / FAQ for Raffles Programme Year 5 Students

1. I am currently offering Higher Mother Tongue at ‘O’ level. Do I need to offer Mother Tongue again at RJC?

If you have attained D7 or better (i.e. A1 to D7) in the ‘O’ level Higher Mother Tongue Examination, you do not need to offer Mother Tongue at H1 level. However, we encourage students to obtain at least a pass (C6 and above) in HMT at ‘O’ level before requesting for an exemption.

Thanks, Dharma!

[karmeleon]

Fairy:

I met a mother who told me the standard for H Chinese in RI is very high, higher than HCI's (according to her - not sure if it is true).

:

My son's CL tutor says that the curriculum in RI is way more stressful than in HCI - really, ah?

And a little friend of mine who's in sec 1 says DHS is a lot more fun n less stressful than NYGH.

Any views/experience on this?

[tutormum]

Hi Fairy,

Do all students have to take HCL in RI? If so, my son die liao. :sick: I really hope that he can score well for his PSLE. He has a very good Chinese teacher this year who has pulled up his grade - from the usual 65 - 75 to 75 -85 range. This fantastic teacher made the class memorise passages and passages of stuff for their oral and compositions. He built up my son's interest for the language so much so that he doesn't feel it a chore to learn. My son was also lucky when his teacher predicted some of the stuff which came up in the exams. Though he said that my son should have no problem in getting a high A, I'm still worried esp reading the posts about min score of 82 marks to get high T score. :!:

[fxchow]

daisyt:

fxchow:

Hi daisyt, fairy & crazy dad,

Thanks for your sharing.

In fact, I also wish my girl can go into RVHS as she only needs to take about 10 minutes to travel there and of course the new building.

Now, the problem is she does not like RVHS (don't know why) and prefers to go Nan Hua if she can not go into her dream school - NUSH.

hi fxchow, did you find out from her, why she does not like RVHS ?
Yes, the new campus is super cool ! Officially they are moving there on 1st Dec.

Hi daisyt & crazydad,

She doesn't like the RV uniform and Chinese culture there.

After I've talked to her again and again, now she finally considered to go RV

[CrazyDad]

fxchow:

daisyt:

[quote=\"fxchow\"]
Hi daisyt, fairy & crazy dad,

Thanks for your sharing.

In fact, I also wish my girl can go into RVHS as she only needs to take about 10 minutes to travel there and of course the new building.

Now, the problem is she does not like RVHS (don't know why) and prefers to go Nan Hua if she can not go into her dream school - NUSH.

hi fxchow, did you find out from her, why she does not like RVHS ?
Yes, the new campus is super cool ! Officially they are moving there on 1st Dec.

Hi daisyt & crazydad,

She doesn't like the RV uniform and Chinese culture there.

After I've talked to her again and again, now she finally considered to go RV :D[/quote]Ha ha, same here. My kid told me he does not like Chinese Culture as well. But after some probing, it is the HCL itself that deter him. :?

[CrazyDad]

tutormum:

Hi Fairy,

Do all students have to take HCL in RI? If so, my son die liao. :sick: I really hope that he can score well for his PSLE. He has a very good Chinese teacher this year who has pulled up his grade - from the usual 65 - 75 to 75 -85 range. This fantastic teacher made the class memorise passages and passages of stuff for their oral and compositions. He built up my son's interest for the language so much so that he doesn't feel it a chore to learn. My son was also lucky when his teacher predicted some of the stuff which came up in the exams. Though he said that my son should have no problem in getting a high A, I'm still worried esp reading the posts about min score of 82 marks to get high T score. :!:

Same thing happen around my neighborhood as well. If a kid is not going to RI/HCI, it is considered a failure. What a SAD :x social pressure.

Every year there are only 5% of students go to top 4 or 5 secondary schools where they have \"Specially\" program specially design for those kids who happen to develop much earlier. They do sec 3 stuff in sec 2, so that they can learn other stuff without stretching beyond their capability.

Parents need to know having T score of 225 is already not easy, because this is above average kind of score. Not only above average, you need 4-As to get 225 and above. Strange society

I know my kid is above average but not special. Even if he LUCKILY get a 262, I will not allow him to go to RI. Because he will be the worst student in the whole school. He will not get to represent the school for anything at all. How would the self esteem develops?

:stupid:

[CrazyDad]

Jenn:

tutormum:

Hi CrazyDad,

My son passed the selection test at NUSH but still can't get in after the selection camp.: They have allocated only 80 places for the DSA exercise - I think it's 20% of total intake. However, he was encouraged to apply with his PSLE results and in a way, they would give him priority due to the fact that he has had expressed interest.

I am not sure about this year but in the past, NUSH had accepted 80% of their total intake thru DSA. They have a intake of about 170 students so about 140 are admitted thru DSA.

Anyone still keen can apply directly after PSLE for the remaining places. To apply, you need to have PSLE score of 250+ and A* in both maths and science. In the past the PSLE COP had been 260+. Even students who have accepted another school DSA offer can apply if this is their preferred school.

Looks like it is true that NUSH does not care much about languages. But I still prefer my kid to go to schools with longer history where they will have senior or alumni to take care of them in the working world. And during school life, they can enjoy cheering for their school team. That kind of normal life style which I used to enjoy.

[traineeks]

CrazyDad:

Looks like it is true that NUSH does not care much about languages. But I still prefer my kid to go to schools with longer history where they will have senior or alumni to take care of them in the working world. And during school life, they can enjoy cheering for their school team. That kind of normal life style which I used to enjoy.

These guys are suppose to be the cream of the crop. They do not need alumni to take care of them in the working world. If they need that, then the school have not trained them well. In the real working world it does not work that way, only the fittest survive - alumni has little or no impact.

I can understand if they need guidance and seniors to care for them during their school life. Comparing HCI/RI/NUSH, HCI is perhaps the best known in this aspect.

[daisyt]

fxchow:

Hi daisyt & crazydad,

She doesn't like the RV uniform and Chinese culture there.

After I've talked to her again and again, now she finally considered to go RV

hahaha ... yes, my girl also did not like the RV uniform initially. BTW, this whole piece buttons uniform would be worn from year 1 to year 3. From year 4 to year 6, the girls would change to two pieces. A white collar shirt and dark blue skirt.

[lizawa]

I hear many parents are worried that their children cannot handle HCL in Secondary schools. In my opinion, if you think your child can make it to top schools like RI /HCI/ RV / DHS etc, I do not think they will have problem with HCL. Their foundation in Maths, English and Science must have been good in the first place. In Secondary schools, all subjects are taught in English, except for CL. You never know if they can cope with it or not, unless you give them a chance to try out. Many of the subjects will be new to them, anyway, so what’s another HCL, given their ability ? There are some who will take up another 3rd language, so isn’t that more difficult to cope than Chinese ?


I notice that secondary CL lessons can be more engaging and fun than primary CL lessons. It could be a chance for the child to switch from "dislike the subject" to "like the subject". No doubt there will be many more ciyu and chengyu to learn, but if the child likes the subject, there will be no complaint.

Just my opinion.