Higher Chinese in P5 - To opt or not

[all.013398in.013398one]

Yes, it's true. The compo writing technique taught in

much much more detail in HCL than CL.
Also gives very extensive pointers for HCL Oral exam.
All these can be use in the CL exam too.
So technically, can score higher in CL.

The only consideration is whether your child is above average
in CL already. Otherwise, it will be a big struggle.
Not forgetting the load for Math and Science.

:nailbite:

[keroppi]

Hifive, you can always try out HCL in P5 and if your DS cannot cope, just drop it. I feel that doing HCL will boost your CL provided your kid not already struggling with CL.


As far as I know, a lot of DD’s classmates dropped HCL in P6 when they felt they could not cope or failed to perform.

[wonderm]

all.in.one:

Yes, it's true. The compo writing technique taught in

much much more detail in HCL than CL.
Also gives very extensive pointers for HCL Oral exam.
All these can be use in the CL exam too.
So technically, can score higher in CL.

:nailbite:

There is no Oral test for HCL.

[mummyjoyce]

Hifive:

Dear Parents

Mummyjoyce, you mean we can pull out from HC if the children don't do well in P5 ? So for those who take Higher Chinese in Secondary school, they will not have to sit for Chinese in JC ? Pls advise.

Thanks

Yes, just write to the school and P6 she will attend the class without HC. Once you pass HC in Sec4; you dont need to take Chinese in JC. This is the advantage.

[all.013398in.013398one]

My memory must have failed me.

I will ask my ex-student again about the HCL oral part.

[caroline3sg]

No oral for HCL. It is total 100 marks.


If you get 75 marks & above for normal chinese, then you can continue HCL in P6.

P5/6 banding is different from P3/4.

P3/4 band 2 is 70 & above. So if get 70 to 74, teacher would ask you drop HCL.

[Hifive]

Thanks to all of you for your comments.


I have a better idea now and definitely in a better position to make the decision.

Thanks!

[diamond_shortcake]

hi,


my child is going to a sap sch next year. i would like to confirm that:

he will be taking hcl from p1 to psle? no need to make any options right?

[JonC]

Oh, missed this thread.


P1, SAP school teach just "CL", but in fact is HCL, at for least for my DS school. Because HCL need to learn more words, every year has a certain number of words to learn, so you cannot suddenly start to learn more words only from P5.

Its only officially in P5 that you can "opt" to actually start to do HCL. The decision is yours after you have your child’s P4 result, the school only can advise you against it if you are in below situation 3.

There are a few situation,
1. Your child’s CL result is good enough and also other subjects result are good enough to take HCL, and you also opt to take HCL.
2. Your child’s CL result is good enough and also other subjects result are good enough to take HCL, but you opt not to take HCL. Some KSP think max 3 PLSE points is not worth the time.
3. Your child’s CL result is not good enough and also other subjects result are / are not good enough to take HCL, but you opt to take HCL, teacher need to give the final blessing in this case, usually for those near miss case.
4. Your child’s CL result is not good enough and also other subjects result are / are not good enough to take HCL, and you opt not to take HCL.

But comes end of P5, the final decision will comes from school for your child to take or not to take in P6 based on your child’s HCL and CL results and also the other subjects result too. You actually have no choice to opt in if your child does not meet the critiria. But you can still opt out if your child qualifies to continue.

If you start P5 with HCL, you can drop anytime if you find you child cannot cope. But do be careful of the child’s ego.

HCL result counts only if you enter SAP schools. Pass is 1 point, merit is 2 points and distinction is 3 points. So max is 3 points.

HCL and CL syllabus are different. Exam format is also different, details you may check it out on MOE website.

Schools (you may check with your child’s school) mainly or only (my DS school, no CL books) teach HCL and your child is expected to take CA1, SA1, CA2 and SA2 for both HCL and CL, bearing in mind your child’s still need to take care of EL, MA and SC.

If your kids school teaches mainly CL (in term of exam format), then you can drop at some point, but if mainly and only teach HCL, you have a problem when you drop it.

[starlight1968sg]

My dd has opted to do HCL in p5 next year.


Her school booklist has a set of textbooks plus activity books for CL and another set for HCL. DH bought both sets. I wonder if this is correct.

I was told in for kids doing HCL in p5, it will be merely a few extra period of lessons per week and I wonder if this is sufficient.