IP failures...has MOE been transparent?
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Chenonceau:
Just wondering: is there is a significant difference in A Level cohort size of the schs / JCs? Shouldn't this be taken into consideration as well?PSC 2011 Scholars
Raffles Insitution (JC) - 35 scholars
Hwa Chong Institution (JC) - 18 scholars
Victoria Junior College - 4 scholars
Anglo-Chinese Junior College - 1 scholar
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) - 4 scholars
Jurong Junior College - 1 scholar
Dunman High - 5 scholars
River Valley High - 1 scholar
National Junior College - 1 scholar
Source:
http://www.pscscholarships.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/D00B408E-7E00-46D9-BF05-EB62E48FAA1A/0/ListofScholars2011.pdf
Note that very few of the RI, HCI scholars hail from other secondary schools than RI, HCI, RGS, Nanyang.
Clearly, from these numbers, we can conclude that those who can make it into the top 4 schools are FAR more likely to get PSC scholarships. How much that is due to the opportunities provided by the school... and how much due to the fact that we are dealing with top brains who would get scholarships EVEN IF made to go to other JCs, is an open question.
In my personal opinion, opting for IP is dangerous for the bottom 25% of the intake into RI, HCI, Nanyang and RGS. These students (IF they were not self-motivated in PSLE, and were DRIVEN to succeed by parental pressure) would benefit from taking 'O' levels. The 'O' levels is a useful preliminary milestone that teaches some important lessons about life (diligence and self-drive) and exam/study techniques. These lessons will be useful when tackling the 'A' levels.
At the end of the day, 'A' levels is the ticket to university.
Those who were self-motivated at PSLE but received poor teaching at PSLE, and still made it to these top 4 schools, will thrive in IP because independent learning is key. With a bit of effort, they can manage the last minute dash towards competence in exam skills and study techniques. Those who scored in the top 25% the PSLE t-score for entrance into these schools MAY have the innate intelligence to pick up these techniques fast even if they goof off much of the time. As for the middle, it could swing either way.
I would have appreciated that my DD take 'O' levels. This would have prevented a fair amount of last minute scrambling for study and exam techniques to cope with the 'A' levels. For DS, if he cannot make a comfortable cut-off into RI/HCI, then I would seriously consider the 'O' level route if only to maximise his chances of acing the 'A' levels.
Sorry, I really do not know what is the cohort size of each of these schs / JCs, but maybe someone can provide an estimate to give a clearer picture of the achievement of the sch / JCs rather than depending on raw numbers alone. No doubt RIJC / HCJC may still be leading the pack overall....... -
Unless RJC has 35 times the cohort of NJC (which is unlikely), there is still over/under-representation?
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Dione:
the 17th ranked at the input (year 1) may end up as 1st ranked at the endo of year 6
I agree with you, Edureach. But, What do you think if one is able to embark on the IP route but she is at the bottom of the group? For i.e, the sch take in 20 students for IP, and she is the 17th.Edureach:
So many just think of nothing else but IP?
Here are the advantages of those who qualify for IP but choose 0-level route instead:
1. Increasingly, its easier to excel in 0-level due to decreasing no of high quality 0-level candiates especially in the nxt couple of yrs onwards.
2. Choice to opt to polys on scholarships if they can find a course that interest them and move on to unis from here. This will also position them well for the work place in future.
3. Opportunity to embark on a matriculation programme overseas in a good uni's preparation course vs- a-vs those on IP programme.
4. An excellent 0-level cert is well-recognised internationally whereas those who are unable to complete their IP hve nothing to show.
5. Even if unable to get a place in 1st tier jcs, still can proceed to top 2nd tier jcs as the latter also hve high proportion of students making it to local unis ie 85-90%.
A check with PSC and u will find there are a fair no of them winning OMS, SAFOS and even President scholarship. So opportunities abound, really doesn't matter whether studying in IP or non IP, RI/HCI.
Agreed with jtoh that parents must be sure that their kids can excel in IP before embarking upon it.
Do you reccommend her to join IP?
who is to judge that the respective ranking will stay forever ? smart guys may slacken and slide, consistent worker will move up with maturity as well
in the IP route, everyone has the same starting point and equal opportunity to prove one's ability -
Chenonceau:
Unless RJC has 35 times the cohort of NJC (which is unlikely), there is still over/under-representation?
NJC has been severely disadvantaged in the last couple of years because the IP through-train program of other schools that have traditionally been strong in sec 1 - 4 have grabbed away almost all the top PSLE students from them when NJC did not have its own sec one intake...by the time NJC started its sec 3 three level, it is too late. And now then started with sec one, again been labelled as lack of track record for its IP......
NJC has been a late starter to the IP train, hence disadvantaged from the perspective of students intake -
verykiasu2010:
the 17th ranked at the input (year 1) may end up as 1st ranked at the endo of year 6
I agree with you, Edureach. But, What do you think if one is able to embark on the IP route but she is at the bottom of the group? For i.e, the sch take in 20 students for IP, and she is the 17th.Dione:
[quote=\"Edureach\"]So many just think of nothing else but IP?
Here are the advantages of those who qualify for IP but choose 0-level route instead:
1. Increasingly, its easier to excel in 0-level due to decreasing no of high quality 0-level candiates especially in the nxt couple of yrs onwards.
2. Choice to opt to polys on scholarships if they can find a course that interest them and move on to unis from here. This will also position them well for the work place in future.
3. Opportunity to embark on a matriculation programme overseas in a good uni's preparation course vs- a-vs those on IP programme.
4. An excellent 0-level cert is well-recognised internationally whereas those who are unable to complete their IP hve nothing to show.
5. Even if unable to get a place in 1st tier jcs, still can proceed to top 2nd tier jcs as the latter also hve high proportion of students making it to local unis ie 85-90%.
A check with PSC and u will find there are a fair no of them winning OMS, SAFOS and even President scholarship. So opportunities abound, really doesn't matter whether studying in IP or non IP, RI/HCI.
Agreed with jtoh that parents must be sure that their kids can excel in IP before embarking upon it.
Do you reccommend her to join IP?
who is to judge that the respective ranking will stay forever ? smart guys may slacken and slide, consistent worker will move up with maturity as well
in the IP route, everyone has the same starting point and equal opportunity to prove one's ability[/quote]Oh, thank you very much for sharing this with me. Its true, I've seen people improving tremendously... -
My DD missed IP by just a few points few years back, but she’s doing well in a Band 1 sch and even been offered to do IP electives at VJC. So she can grad with a O lvl cert and enjoy some advantages of IP at the same time even though she is not in IP.
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It all boils down to how much parents know their kids. They are students wanting to appeal to RI desperately with low 260s and others with high 260s opted for other good schools.
Some value prestige over time ie preparing to travel all the way to Bishan even if ACS/VJ/NJC are just a stone throw away. Was their decisions correct? I really don’t know.
As far as the top 5% of RI/HCI is concern, an ordinary good student cannot just work hard to be on par with this grp. One needs innate talents! We are talking about potential top scholarship recipents in this instance. This group is expected to attend selection tests during early cycle unlike the others.
Personally, i do not see a difference btw having an IP education as opposed to the O-level track in a top school. Good students excel in either track. But for a student truly gifted or excellent all rounder, a place in RI/HCI is highly desirable due to distinct advantage as discusssed earlier.
For the vast majority ie 97% of the cohort, it is not so clear. -
I have a child in the o level route and one in the IP and I must say the types of programmes and exposure and opportunities available to the IP students far far exceeds those in normal o level schools. Having said that the child must be self motivated and driven else if he or she chooses to pass over each of these opportunities then it is a waste. Also. Without having to focus on another national exam within the 6 years means more time for a more interesting curriculum.
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