Doing Well In JC

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:46:47 GMT

h2_biology — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:46:47 GMT

It is unfortunate that there are some who shun Bio at Sec, JC, IB, and higher levels because they thought that it is a subject done by blindly memorizing .

Memorization in H2 Biology should be avoided as far as possible, as it is unlikely that the question the student memorizes from notes/textbook will fit the answer word for word in the exams. From the increasing trend of thinking and synoptic questions, efforts should be funnelled toward understanding and application instead.

A good Bio Tutor will explain to students how memory theories, such as the Ebbinghaus experimental study of memory, can be adapted to help form efficient revision strategies to effectively recall the voluminous contents in H2 Biology.

The key is recognizing and addressing the student's learning needs and style. Such approach has helped many Biology students visualize key biological processes so that they are easier to understand and remember. See https://sites.google.com/site/jch2biologytuition/learning-model for further details.

The results? Even students without even sec sch combined Bio background is topping the JC1 promotional exam cohort, and scoring A in the final A Levels for H2 Bio!

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:55:43 GMT

Augmum — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:55:43 GMT

MandyMummy:
Augmum:
[quote=\"vanillabean\"]
PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved.
Yes, i have been hearing that PCME is the most popular choice.
is Biology really that terrifying ?? in what ways it is more stressful, very content heavy or what ?
can any1 pl enlighten me on this.... TIA

I think Biology is very content heavy, lots of memory work required. So students who do not have the mental capacity tend to avoid it.
Answering the biology essay question is also not easy.
Since biology is no longer the required subject for local medicine, a lot of students don't bother to take it unless they have plans to do medicine, biological sciences and biochemistry in university.
PCME is a more general subject combination since it allows one to pursue almost all disciplines in university including medicine. [/quote]thanks mandymummy for yr response....
that's what i heard that Bio is very content heavy, lots of memorising......
even in lower sec already can see the heavy content.
but am thinking that my gal preferred Bio to Physics,
think most gals are alike....( heard fr her frens and mummies with daughters)

yes, Bio is not a prerequisite subj even in medicine, but will do good with some Bio in-depth knowledge......

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:07:34 GMT

MandyMummy — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:07:34 GMT

Augmum:
vanillabean:
[quote=\"dert\"]
My subject combi is PCME btw.
PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved.

Yes, i have been hearing that PCME is the most popular choice.
is Biology really that terrifying ?? in what ways it is more stressful, very content heavy or what ?
can any1 pl enlighten me on this.... TIA[/quote]I think Biology is very content heavy, lots of memory work required. So students who do not have the mental capacity tend to avoid it.
Answering the biology essay question is also not easy.
Since biology is no longer the required subject for local medicine, a lot of students don't bother to take it unless they have plans to do medicine, biological sciences and biochemistry in university.
PCME is a more general subject combination since it allows one to pursue almost all disciplines in university including medicine.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:46:20 GMT

MandyMummy — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:46:20 GMT

daisyt:
dert:

I graduated from JC about 2 years back. Managed to get 3As but 1C for my 3 H2 subjects and H1 subject. Could make it to NTU and SMU business but NUS was too competitive. Consistency is the key to success. For H1 chinese, i think a pass or something is required to go to Uni. I can't really rmb but do not take it lightly and do your best for it no matter what. My combination was BCME with econs H1. I got a C for Chemistry but A for the rest. So that C grade kind of made a large difference to being accepted to NUS business. PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved. Wish you all the best for A levels. Study smart and keep recapping.
Why would a C in chem has effect to NUS business? Business course would look at Chem?

Maybe you would like to look up the Indicative Grade Profile for NUS.

http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/gradeprofile/sprogramme-igp.html

According to the table for 'A' level candidates, the 10 th percentile of students admitted to NUS business admin has a representative grade profile of AAA/B for 3H2/H1 subjects. This is assuming a C for GP
Vanillabean obtained AAC/A.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:52:10 GMT

Augmum — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:52:10 GMT

vanillabean:
dert:

My subject combi is PCME btw.
PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:22:19 GMT

daisyt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:22:19 GMT

dert:

I graduated from JC about 2 years back. Managed to get 3As but 1C for my 3 H2 subjects and H1 subject. Could make it to NTU and SMU business but NUS was too competitive. Consistency is the key to success. For H1 chinese, i think a pass or something is required to go to Uni. I can't really rmb but do not take it lightly and do your best for it no matter what. My combination was BCME with econs H1. I got a C for Chemistry but A for the rest. So that C grade kind of made a large difference to being accepted to NUS business. PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved. Wish you all the best for A levels. Study smart and keep recapping.

Why would a C in chem has effect to NUS business? Business course would look at Chem?

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:17:38 GMT

daisyt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:17:38 GMT

DMS Arc:

My advice to you will be to manage your time wisely. Make sure you are not lagging behind your tutorials and get ready for Project Work. It is where the nightmare begins.

Hi, do you mean, PW is a nightmare? PW is done at JC1 right?

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:55:48 GMT

lobo — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:55:48 GMT

If do ok in the JC1 promo exams, it means that you’re prepared for 50% of the GCE ‘A’ Level syllabus already, right?

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:15:24 GMT

vanillabean — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:15:24 GMT

dert:
As above,I've just started my first year in junior college with hopes of doing well or at the very least get promoted however i have heard many horror stories of students who despite their good O-level results struggle to do well or even manage a pass in their tests/promos.Granted that i have already started doing topical practices and try to resolve uncertainties/understand the topics that i've been taught,i really don't know if im on the right track.

With the first few topics of my subjects being quite easy since i can still use my secondary school foundation/concepts and i havent't had any tests as of yet so i wouldn't feel the pinch of JC life yet,any shared experience or advice would be appreciated.

My subject combi is PCME btw.

Hi!
the reason why there are horror stories of students who struggle to do well in A levels despite good O level results is mainly because they do not change their studying methods. A levels is about consistency and a student will do well if he or she makes sure each topic is understood well and well practiced before moving on to the next. And recapping of topics is a must. It is a must to study smart. The current A levels test on application of knowledge. Whereas O levels is about whether you studied or not. Thus, you have to study, memorise and practice application of what you learnt for A levels.

I graduated from JC about 2 years back. Managed to get 3As but 1C for my 3 H2 subjects and H1 subject. Could make it to NTU and SMU business but NUS was too competitive. Consistency is the key to success. For H1 chinese, i think a pass or something is required to go to Uni. I can't really rmb but do not take it lightly and do your best for it no matter what. My combination was BCME with econs H1. I got a C for Chemistry but A for the rest. So that C grade kind of made a large difference to being accepted to NUS business. PCME is a common subject combination and it is known to less stressful as there's no Biology involved. Wish you all the best for A levels. Study smart and keep recapping.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:39:56 GMT

DMS Arc — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:39:56 GMT

Based on what was posted online, H1 MT can be used in the overall Uni application scoring.

Source http://www3.moe.edu.sg/cpdd/alevel2006/faqs.htm#Q28

But it seems likely the H1 MT score is used only when you apply for MT related courses and will allow you to get bonus points if you have an A for MT. There are other subjects that allow you to get bonus points but only if you are keen to pursue a course in the MT related field.

There is a Uni admission requirement to sub-pass H1 MT though.

Source http://admissions.nus.edu.sg/doc/NUS1.pdf

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:51:31 GMT

dert — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:51:31 GMT

Thanks for the two insightful replies!

With the poster above mentioning that H1MT ( Chinese for me) does not count in my uni admission,i was wondering what are the merits of doing well in the H1MT A levels ( A or maybe B) since i would consider my prospects of doing well in H1MT to be slim and if so is an upheaval task since my chinese foundation is really weak.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:51:50 GMT

DMS Arc — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:51:50 GMT

The local Unis A level grades requirement are your PCME grades + PW + GP.

Though PW and GP are only H1 subjects, they are used in the Uni application scoring system.

Though it is not wise to emphasis this but just for your info, H1 MT grade are not considered. A pass will be sufficient for Uni admission criteria.

The A level curriculum are much more heavier in content than O level. As a tutor, I find it quite a feat to cover all the topics in a span in 1.5 years. Some JC 1 students may be too focus on their PW and neglected their other subjects. They thought that they will be able to cover the neglected topics in JC 2.

If it is possible to teach the JC curriculum in a few weeks, why do we need 2 years for JC? Most JCs could only complete the syllabus only several weeks before the A levels examination. It is not possible to re-teach the whole JC 1 syllabus in 2 months.

My advice to you will be to manage your time wisely. Make sure you are not lagging behind your tutorials and get ready for Project Work. It is where the nightmare begins.

Reply to Doing Well In JC on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:30:35 GMT

Quintessential Mum — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:30:35 GMT

dert:
As above,I've just started my first year in junior college with hopes of doing well or at the very least get promoted however i have heard many horror stories of students who despite their good O-level results struggle to do well or even manage a pass in their tests/promos.Granted that i have already started doing topical practices and try to resolve uncertainties/understand the topics that i've been taught,i really don't know if im on the right track.

With the first few topics of my subjects being quite easy since i can still use my secondary school foundation/concepts and i havent't had any tests as of yet so i wouldn't feel the pinch of JC life yet,any shared experience or advice would be appreciated.

My subject combi is PCME btw.

Well, if you have a strong foundation in your PCM subjects at O's, it will help in A's. However, if you have a weak/average foundation in your PCM subject at O's, it may be more challenging at A's. The problem is that for O's, you can get an A1 once you hit say 75 for instance and the other student who gets 100 also gets the same A1. Obviously, there is no distinction between a weak A1 or a strong A1 for O levels. However, at A levels, the weak A1s will likely struggle as they may have a weaker foundation and not able to grasp or understand the subject that is taught at a higher level. So it is not surprising that they do not do well at A levels despite tuition.

Which JC are you in? This will help in determining your approach towards your study program. It is heartening to know that you have got down to work already. Many i believe are still in their honeymoon period! :lol: BTW, some JCs have already started on Tests fyi.