GCE O-Levels 2009

[mrswongtuition]

Heard that pure Geog was quite tough.

[Philosophical_Anarchist]

I’ll have to disagree with English being easy. English is never easy. If English were easy, the national average for distinction would be much higher instead of a pathetic 23.1%.

[KSP]

ChiefKiasu:

James Ang:

Not much discussion on O levels these days as more emphasis placed on PSLE.




Ok let me start the ball rolling, based on students' feedback so far and the papers I have seen from the students.


E Maths Paper 1 easy, Paper 2 tough.
Add Maths Paper 1 and 2 both tough.
English is easy.
Pure Chemistry is easy, strange question on organic chem section.
Pure Physics is easy, much emphasis on electricity and electromagnetic induction (Lenz law and Faraday law), no optics.
Combined humanities easy.

That's probably because it is too hard for parents to understand the O-Level subject matter in order to discuss the tests

Probably after 10 yrs of Kiasu attitude, the parents also get tired and cool down liao. \"A\" level i think zero participation.

[father_of_3]

maybe kid is more grown up by O level that they do not need much hand-holding.

[tankee]

mrswongtuition:

Heard that pure Geog was quite tough.

I heard the same about geography

[tankee]

father_of_3:

maybe kid is more grown up by O level that they do not need much hand-holding.

true ...

and not as though the average parents are able to hand-hold except providing the moral support

[atutor2001]

James Ang:

hi Chief, PSLE is the \"new O levels\", the competition is stiff in the PSLE arena. Nobody talks about O levels anymore. In fact the newspapers give more coverage to PSLE than O levels now, compared to some 10-15 years ago.

Hi James

I think there is not much talk about O level because the \"top\" students are not taking it. Usually parents of these students are more vocal and concerned.

The amount of activities in the thread on GEP also highlight that this forum has lived up to its name - KiauParents.com. Maybe parents with kids taking O level are not as Kiasu which is why they are not \"here\".

[James Ang]

atutor2001:

James Ang:

hi Chief, PSLE is the \"new O levels\", the competition is stiff in the PSLE arena. Nobody talks about O levels anymore. In fact the newspapers give more coverage to PSLE than O levels now, compared to some 10-15 years ago.

Hi James

I think there is not much talk about O level because the \"top\" students are not taking it. Usually parents of these students are more vocal and concerned.

The amount of activities in the thread on GEP also highlight that this forum has lived up to its name - KiauParents.com. Maybe parents with kids taking O level are not as Kiasu which is why they are not \"here\".

The top 5% are in Integrated Programs, making O levels less competitive than before. PSLE is the \"new O levels\", where the best of crop is talent-spotted in the annual PSLE exams. I coach both IP and O levels classes, I can tell the marked difference between the two programs.

[lizawa]

Hi James,


What is the "marked difference" between the O-level and IP Program that you have observed ?

If a child cannot make it to an IP school after PSLE, do you think it’s worthwhile for him / her to try admission to IP school again at Sec 2, assuming his /her school results is good.

[James Ang]

lizawa:

Hi James,


What is the \"marked difference\" between the O-level and IP Program that you have observed ?

If a child cannot make it to an IP school after PSLE, do you think it's worthwhile for him / her to try admission to IP school again at Sec 2, assuming his /her school results is good.

marked difference as below;

Let's discuss a bit about O levels, the exam taken by Special/Express stream to get into JC using a criteria called L1R5. In L1R5, the student must include a first language (English or HMT) and a Humanity subject. If an O levels student chooses triple pure science, he/she will have only 1 humanity subject normally the combined humanities. The sole humanity subject will thus become the weakest link in the L1R5 score because it is compulsory to include the first language and humanity, no matter how good the triple science and double maths are (only 1 maths or science is compulsory for L1R5). Naturally, to mitigate the risk of getting a poor L1R5, the ideal O levels subject combination is double pure science, double maths (to learn as much maths and science as possible), double humanities (to mitigate poor humanity outcome) and double first language (to mitigate poor first language)

In the Integrated Program there is no such risk. I suggest that IP students learn triple pure science to gain more knowledge and build a strong foundation in science as well as increase future career options involving science including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, life science, even engineering! (many O levels students are actually avoiding Physics by choosing Pure Chem and Pure Bio double science combination, so how can they become an engineer if without a basic grasp of Physics? ).