Secondary School Selection 2012

[Crester]

mummy so kiasu:

Cedar Girls' is a good school. Aggregate range of 2010 PSLE pupils posted to Cedar Girl's is 248 - 269. 2011 COP is 250. The school standard is high & it's students are among the top 10% in PSLE. The child has to be prepared to study very hard in such competitive environment. Especially those who just meet the COP or appealed to get in. Parents need to take this into consideration when it is time to select sec schools for their own kids.

Yes, agreed that those who just met COP must work hard.
Just to share: my niece graduated fr St Nicholas Girls' last yr.
Coming back to my niece, she got into SNG with affiliation points(220+) n was always in the last 2 class in her Sec sch days.
Those yrs in SNG was really tough for her. She had to keep up with her peers( those fr own SNG Pri with scores 230+ n non Feeder girls with 249 onwards).
She would always fail some subjects during CA n just passed her End Of Yr Exams each yr. Demoralising I heard.
Luckily, St Nicks has wonderful, caring teachers who never give up on their girls. Those 4 yrs my niece stayed back in sch to ask teachers for help, remedial classes n night studies in sch...
The teachers constantly motivated her, even told her not to give up on her A Maths( A Maths is mandatory in SNG).
With all the coaching, my niece mgt to obtain a decent score of 12 points before 2 bonus points for her 'O' Level!
Bottom line is other than a Gd sch with dedicated teachers like St Nicks, parents must not give up on their kids as well.
So those fr struggling in Cedar Girls', never give up. Consult yr teachers if in doubt.
Tks for reading.

[magiccastle]

Crester

My friend told me when her girl was in sec 1 , the sch taught math topics that are from sec 2 topics. For science , some topics cannot be found in assessment books.Even for Chinese , her girl’s pet subject, (she scored distinction for HC in PSLE) , her mark range ard C5 n B4 . Her score in tests fluctuate , up n down.
Teachers wise, in general should be ok. No complaint from her. But i think the expectation on the students are high . Her teacher ever commented that not getting distinction for English at O level is not a norm . She said 90% of the students will get distinction for English.

[Flowermonaster]

magiccastle:

Crester

My friend told me when her girl was in sec 1 , the sch taught math topics that are from sec 2 topics. For science , some topics cannot be found in assessment books.Even for Chinese , her girl's pet subject, (she scored distinction for HC in PSLE) , her mark range ard C5 n B4 . Her score in tests fluctuate , up n down.
Teachers wise, in general should be ok. No complaint from her. But i think the expectation on the students are high . Her teacher ever commented that not getting distinction for English at O level is not a norm . She said 90% of the students will get distinction for English.

I am getting very worried. Is this healthy? Is this right? From P6 to Sec 1 is already a big jump, how can the school skip teaching Sec 1 stuffs & just jump to Sec 2? Who is responsible to fill in the gap? Parents? Tuition centres? It's one thing getting students to be independent learner but not teaching is definitely not acceptable! :frustrated:

[phtthp]

magiccastle:

Crester

My friend told me when her girl was in sec 1 , the sch taught math topics that are from sec 2 topics. For science , some topics cannot be found in assessment books.

which school is this that jump straight to Sec 2 topics ?
Cedar or St Nick ?

[magiccastle]

Sori. May be didnt make myself clear. I didnt say the teachers not teaching. But some of the topics covered in sec 1 could be from sec 2 topics as well. So they are covering more not less. In fact for sec schools, the sequence of topics covered varies from schools to schools . Some schools started topic 1 first while other schools could start from topic 5 .

[Crester]

Flowermonaster:

magiccastle:

Crester

My friend told me when her girl was in sec 1 , the sch taught math topics that are from sec 2 topics. For science , some topics cannot be found in assessment books.Even for Chinese , her girl's pet subject, (she scored distinction for HC in PSLE) , her mark range ard C5 n B4 . Her score in tests fluctuate , up n down.
Teachers wise, in general should be ok. No complaint from her. But i think the expectation on the students are high . Her teacher ever commented that not getting distinction for English at O level is not a norm . She said 90% of the students will get distinction for English.

I am getting very worried. Is this healthy? Is this right? From P6 to Sec 1 is already a big jump, how can the school skip teaching Sec 1 stuffs & just jump to Sec 2? Who is responsible to fill in the gap? Parents? Tuition centres? It's one thing getting students to be independent learner but not teaching is definitely not acceptable! :frustrated:

It's quite common for renowned Sec Schs to preteach Upper Sec syllabus esp IP schools where students are expected to do more in depth independent learning.
Was told my niece fr St Nicks, it's a norm to fare average like getting only C in exams as sch std is higher. When it came to 'O' Level, the exposure to challenging questions in her sch had benefitted her to attain a value added 'O' Level results.
In fact, almost all her peers in her Sec 4 class(worst class) did reasonably well to qualify for JC. Very thankful to the coaching and support from St Nicks' teachers.
Cedar Girls' is a great sch, so the students are in Gd hands of the teachers when Upper Sec Maths or Sci syllabus are being taught.
But the road to success in these 2 Girls' schs isn't a smooth one all the time.
Perseverance is a must, I believe.

[kooky83]

HCI, must keep the bloodline running

[little kiasu]

Hi, as first time p6 mum, need ur advise.

If my ds can get DSA to RI, HCI, ACSI and NUSH. Which school should I choose for him? I don’t know whether my son independent learner, I don’t push he will get 70-90 range, I push he will get 80-100. He like to play a lot and competitive playing two sport. He like math n science, but I don’t think he is kinna too good as he never get sliver, gold… for NMOS, etc… he never train for it also. I think he is neither here nor there… and difficult time thinking for him… ask him which school he want …then he ask me back this stupid question, can I go to diff school for CCA and diff subject to study in diff school.?

[jtoh]

little kiasu:

Hi, as first time p6 mum, need ur advise.

If my ds can get DSA to RI, HCI, ACSI and NUSH. Which school should I choose for him? I don't know whether my son independent learner, I don't push he will get 70-90 range, I push he will get 80-100. He like to play a lot and competitive playing two sport. He like math n science, but I don't think he is kinna too good as he never get sliver, gold.... for NMOS, etc... he never train for it also. I think he is neither here nor there... and difficult time thinking for him... ask him which school he want ....then he ask me back this stupid question, can I go to diff school for CCA and diff subject to study in diff school.?

You applied to all four schools? Perhaps you should wait to see which schools offer your son a CO then cross that bridge when you come to it. Is he from mainstream and have his results always been stellar, assuming he applied via academic domain?

[little kiasu]

jtoh:

little kiasu:

Hi, as first time p6 mum, need ur advise.

If my ds can get DSA to RI, HCI, ACSI and NUSH. Which school should I choose for him? I don't know whether my son independent learner, I don't push he will get 70-90 range, I push he will get 80-100. He like to play a lot and competitive playing two sport. He like math n science, but I don't think he is kinna too good as he never get sliver, gold.... for NMOS, etc... he never train for it also. I think he is neither here nor there... and difficult time thinking for him... ask him which school he want ....then he ask me back this stupid question, can I go to diff school for CCA and diff subject to study in diff school.?

You applied to all four schools? Perhaps you should
wait to see which schools offer your son a CO then cross that bridge when you come to it. Is he from mainstream and have his results always been stellar, assuming he
applied via academic domain?

Yes, as little kiasu, applied to all four school. Yes, u r right I should be start think about when I get CO...... But can't help started thinking when other parent ask me which school he will go, when my ds got shortlisted... I know that still long way to go. He is from mainstream. His result is not so poor. Top 5% in normal school and got best in math award... and some gold, silver award for his math, sci project, etc..... UNSW he got D but not HD....that is the thing I m saying that he is neither here nor there, not so good, but not so bad. He applied DSA via sport to RI, HCI, ACSI.