express or normal stream

[BlueBells]

My take is a little different. If my child is given a choice for Express or Normal, my consideration would be :


- the school culture
- the products of the school (we observe / ask around on the behaviour of the school’s students to determine if the character building and values are align to our expectations)

The fact that my child is given a choice means he borderlines the academically stronger pack or the weaker pack. And at an age where he / she is easily impressionable and where friends “比天大", I would much prefer to have my child in an environment where he / she is more likely to be influenced positively. So my decision would centre largely around this than whether he can finish the secondary school education in 4 years or 5 years.

[verykiasumummy]

Ceirelav:

I agreed with u. But when I look through the booklet to choose secondary school, I hv no idea what to choose. The choice is so limited. Anyone has any suggestion which schools can I choose ard hougang, amk and serangoon areas?

rains:

I'll choose Express for my child.

Among the parents who had this dilemma, the ones who chose Express were relieved that they made the right choice while the ones who chose Normal regretted their choice. The child may go to a better school but the child will ultimately be a product of the influence of his classmates in the Normal stream. Besides, as far as I know, the pace in Normal stream is much slower than Express. And they have to cross over the hurdle of N levels before they can take O levels. On top of that, the cross over from N to O level, I heard, is a big jump. I know of many who can't cope with the requirements of O levels after doing well in their N levels.

I know of many cases of those who chose Express stream and eventually did well compared to those who chose Normal. I'm not denying that there are such cases but they are much fewer. The environment and company the child has is so important to his view about studies, especially in his formation years. His peers' views will be his view whether you like it or not. When you want to excel and your friends don't, chances are you will start to 'relax' too.

If the child has shown that he has the potential to be in the Express stream, why do you want to slow him down?

hi ceirelav,

u can choose plenty around that area...

chong boon, xinmin, holy innocents, hougang sec, serangoon garden.... and many more in punggol / sengkang area right??

[mummy so kiasu]

Ceirelav:

I agreed with u. But when I look through the booklet to choose secondary school, I hv no idea what to choose. The choice is so limited. Anyone has any suggestion which schools can I choose ard hougang, amk and serangoon areas?

You can consider Montfort, St Gabriel & Holy Innocent. Their express stream COP < 220. If your son's T score is less than 200, you should consider normal stream.

[Ceirelav]

mummy so kiasu:

Ceirelav:

I agreed with u. But when I look through the booklet to choose secondary school, I hv no idea what to choose. The choice is so limited. Anyone has any suggestion which schools can I choose ard hougang, amk and serangoon areas?

You can consider Montfort, St Gabriel & Holy Innocent. Their express stream COP < 220. If your son's T score is less than 200, you should consider normal stream.

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks for the advice.

[mummy so kiasu]

Hi Ceirelav, It is not easy to find better schools with T score below 220 for express stream. Try to choose those schools that academic value addded & with N(T) COP above 100 & Express above 200. Go to the topic - Sec Schools around Ang Mo Kio to read others’ opinions on express or normal stream. All the best to your son’s PSLE. Hope he does well enough to proceed to express stream in a better school.

[pokomummy]

Definitely express, our poor sons cannot afford to lose 1 more year for nothing... NS already lose 2 years


But if results not so good, then bo pian!

Hope for the best!

[Flowermonaster]

Understand that if the kids did well in Normal stream, they can still be promoted to Express stream. I have friend who DS went to N stream due to PSLE result but was recommended to go E stream after his did well in Sec Two. He rejected the offer as he was more comfortable with Normal stream’s pace.

[Nebbermind]

slmkhoo:

pokomummy:

Definitely express, our poor sons cannot afford to lose 1 more year for nothing... NS already lose 2 years


But if results not so good, then bo pian!

Hope for the best!

Unless the family needs his income asap, the 'loss' of a couple of years can be a good thing. Students who are more mature generally have better discipline and study skills, have a better sense of what they want, and often achieve more than if they were younger.

Yes, not necessarily a bad thing. They may also end up having a better sense of where they want to be if they can think more maturely.
Someone I knew went into ns with just an o lvl. Did his a lvl n uni after that. Went into teaching n also did his masters.

[koguma]

pokomummy:

Definitely express, our poor sons cannot afford to lose 1 more year for nothing... NS already lose 2 years


But if results not so good, then bo pian!

Hope for the best!

My nephew's school has one student in Sec 1 NT, Sec 2 NA and then Sec 3 promoted to Express. So far he has been doing well.

My nephew was in Sec 1 NT, Sec 2 NA and has cleared his \"N(A)\" Level exam.

Hence there is nothing wrong to go normal stream in Sec 1.You need a overall score of 70% to promote from NT to NA or NA to Express. Since the criteria is already make known, parents and child should work hard and aim for it.

Doing 5 years instead of 4 doesn't means is a waste of time if the pace is just right for the student.

[keltong]

My issue is not more of whether better schools in NA or average school in Express. Rather, the immediate people that will surround him. Even in the better schools, in a NA class, there is a higher chance that he will meet people who are less interested to study compare to in a Express class. Or will a good school’s NA students who say avg 190-200 likely to have the same attitude compare to an average school’s express student who have any average of 200-220.


If a child scores 200 and is easily influence by friends, will going to Express help (to have better mix of friends but risk struggling) or going to NA help (by learning at a slower pace but risk having not so good influence).

BTW I not saying it is like that, but rather raising the possibility and wants to know from experience parents.