Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)

[kittycat01]

How about third language? Does third language help in total GPA?

[limpeh]

Subjects like PE, Philosophy and Research are graded (i.e. given a grade like A, B, C), but do not count towards GPA. For these subjects there are no exams but are graded according to tests, projects, etc.


For normal subjects there is a Mid Year Exam and End Of Year exam.

I’m not quite sure about promotion criteria but it is not difficult to pass everything so long as you work hard and don’t overstretch (in terms of other commitments like CCAs).

Third language may or may not help in GPA. The old formula takes the average of all subjects and the new formula takes the main few subjects (for upper sec I think it was 5) plus the next (3 for upper sec) best performing subjects. The higher one of the old and new formula is taken. For third language students take the O level in sec 4 unless they quit earlier.

[kittycat01]

limpeh:

Subjects like PE, Philosophy and Research are graded (i.e. given a grade like A, B, C), but do not count towards GPA. For these subjects there are no exams but are graded according to tests, projects, etc.


For normal subjects there is a Mid Year Exam and End Of Year exam.

I'm not quite sure about promotion criteria but it is not difficult to pass everything so long as you work hard and don't overstretch (in terms of other commitments like CCAs).

Third language may or may not help in GPA. The old formula takes the average of all subjects and the new formula takes the main few subjects (for upper sec I think it was 5) plus the next (3 for upper sec) best performing subjects. The higher one of the old and new formula is taken. For third language students take the O level in sec 4 unless they quit earlier.

Thank you.... So, is the child at a disadvantage if he doesn't take a third lang then?

[limpeh]

Whether there is a disadvantage depends. If the child wants a scholarship in future then taking Malay might help; if the child intends to go overseas to study or just wants to have something extra on his CV then a third lang would help; if the child is good with languages (even new languages) and bad at science/math then a third language may pull up the GPA.


On the other hand if the child cannot handle all the commitments then a third language would probably add too much pressure to him. Still, one can quit the third language at any time.

[kittycat01]

limpeh:

Still, one can quit the third language at any time.

But can one take it up later like in 2nd year? I doubt so. He would have missed one year and might not be able to catch up. Anyway, thank you very much for clarifying my doubts.

[limpeh]

No. Once quit, cannot go back. Another option is to take private classes which will cost money.

[iFirefly]

DS showed me his first Math Test yesterday, and I nearly fainted…

The test was upon 20 marks, and the boys had to complete it in 10 minutes (what a feat!)…
DS couldn’t complete all the questions, hence he performed really badly (weep weep)…
Any mummies had the same shock as I had?

[Verysuperkiasu]

firefly38:

DS showed me his first Math Test yesterday, and I nearly fainted..

The test was upon 20 marks, and the boys had to complete it in 10 minutes (what a feat!)..
DS couldn't complete all the questions, hence he performed really badly (weep weep)..
Any mummies had the same shock as I had?

Thankfully it's a math quiz, marks not counted. Although it's 8 questions, but each question has 2 or 3 parts right? How to finish in 10 mins? ds did badly. Due to time constraint, he rushed through and made many careless mistakes. Is it going to be like that for major tests and exams?

[iFirefly]

Verysuperkiasu:

firefly38:

DS showed me his first Math Test yesterday, and I nearly fainted..

The test was upon 20 marks, and the boys had to complete it in 10 minutes (what a feat!)..
DS couldn't complete all the questions, hence he performed really badly (weep weep)..
Any mummies had the same shock as I had?

Thankfully it's a math quiz, marks not counted. Although it's 8 questions, but each question has 2 or 3 parts right? How to finish in 10 mins? ds did badly. Due to time constraint, he rushed through and made many careless mistakes. Is it going to be like that for major tests and exams?

Maybe they are training the boys on 'speed & accuracy'.. My DS has 'accuracy' but not 'speed'.. DS says the teacher has assured them that it wouldn't be like that in the exam.. Phew!

[Verysuperkiasu]

firefly38:

Maybe they are training the boys on 'speed & accuracy'.. My DS has 'accuracy' but not 'speed'.. DS says the teacher has assured them that it wouldn't be like that in the exam.. Phew!

So glad to hear that....let's cheer our dses on towards better performance! :rahrah: