christytion\" post_id=\"2131855\" time=\"1711969155\" user_id=\"204397:

Hi,

Is there anybody who can help with the guidelines for the secondary 1 Higher Mother Tongue - Higher Malay examination?

I need the guidelines and may be anyone can share the past year's paper, please?

Thanks in advance.

QueenB:

Thanks so much everyone! This is very useful information. I find that the HMT helps in my daughter's overall ability for the language. But it also has been a lot of hardwork! Therefore, am just re-evaluating if all that hardwork is worth the effort in the longer term. Tks for all the tips. Anymore insights, please add on.

jtoh:

My answers in blue.

Alarmchain:

Hope someone can help clarify the following:
a) Is it true that a child taking HCL does not seat for the normal chinese at \"O\" levels? (This is unlike primary school where a child taking HCL seats for both normal Chinese and HCL papers and as such gets grades for both subjects)

Not true. Students in O level schools generally take CL at O level in Sec 3, and if they do well in the CL exam, are allowed to take HCL at O level in Sec 4.

b) Though it is stated from the MOE website that a child is ALLOWED to sit for the \"O\" level normal chinese paper at end of Sec 3. however, how different is the syllabus between the two? Is it like in the primary school case, where the HCL is the normal chinese syllabus plus additional stuff? This is because I heard that HCL at secondary level does not examine the oral component (hence not taught) but the normal chinese does. Is this true?

Not sure of the differences, but format is different and there's no oral for HCL.

c) Also, I wonder if there are any instances whereby the school offering HCL does not cater / prepare students to take the \"O\" level normal chinese paper at Sec 3 first, since the MOE stance is \"ALLOWED\", not \"MUST\". Does anyone know anything about this?
As far as I know, all O level schools require students to take CL at O level in Sec 3, followed by HCL at O level in Sec 4. Some IP schools do not require students to sit for the O level CL in Sec 3. They just take HCL at O levels at Sec 4.


I have heard from some that because of the L1R5 requirement for JC admission (and I think some poly courses as well), they would rather the child not take HCL so that they can do better for normal chinese then struggle with HCL. That way, they can get a better grade for normal chinese to be used for the R5 component.

This is where my confusion lies. If the HCL is like in primary level, where the child takes both normal and HCL papers at \"O\" levels, then this issue of \"risk of lower grades in HCL\" affecting the L1R5 requirement won't be there right? That is assuming the child does take both papers at \"O\" levels and the schools do prepare the students for both. Hence the questions above.

Anyone can help clarify my confusion?


Thanks.

Alarmchain:

Hope someone can help clarify the following:
a) Is it true that a child taking HCL does not seat for the normal chinese at \"O\" levels? (This is unlike primary school where a child taking HCL seats for both normal Chinese and HCL papers and as such gets grades for both subjects)

Not true. Students in O level schools generally take CL at O level in Sec 3, and if they do well in the CL exam, are allowed to take HCL at O level in Sec 4.

b) Though it is stated from the MOE website that a child is ALLOWED to sit for the \"O\" level normal chinese paper at end of Sec 3. however, how different is the syllabus between the two? Is it like in the primary school case, where the HCL is the normal chinese syllabus plus additional stuff? This is because I heard that HCL at secondary level does not examine the oral component (hence not taught) but the normal chinese does. Is this true?

Not sure of the differences, but format is different and there's no oral for HCL.

c) Also, I wonder if there are any instances whereby the school offering HCL does not cater / prepare students to take the \"O\" level normal chinese paper at Sec 3 first, since the MOE stance is \"ALLOWED\", not \"MUST\". Does anyone know anything about this?
As far as I know, all O level schools require students to take CL at O level in Sec 3, followed by HCL at O level in Sec 4. Some IP schools do not require students to sit for the O level CL in Sec 3. They just take HCL at O levels at Sec 4.


I have heard from some that because of the L1R5 requirement for JC admission (and I think some poly courses as well), they would rather the child not take HCL so that they can do better for normal chinese then struggle with HCL. That way, they can get a better grade for normal chinese to be used for the R5 component.

This is where my confusion lies. If the HCL is like in primary level, where the child takes both normal and HCL papers at \"O\" levels, then this issue of \"risk of lower grades in HCL\" affecting the L1R5 requirement won't be there right? That is assuming the child does take both papers at \"O\" levels and the schools do prepare the students for both. Hence the questions above.

Anyone can help clarify my confusion?


Thanks.

jtoh:

from MOE website:

At the end of Secondary Three, a pupil studying HMTL will be allowed to sit for the GCE ‘O’ Level MTL paper. If the pupil is unable to cope with both English and HMTL, he will be allowed to switch to English and MTL.

jedamum:

Jtoh,

The same applies to IP IB? Is hmt a separate paper on top of mt or only one paper? Thanks. I find this the main pros of doing hcl as we are not aiming for sap school.

jedamum:

This is my understanding, correct me if I am wrong.

Benefit of taking higher mother tongue in secondary school is that if you attain a certain grade in hmt in olevel, you can skip mt exams in A level. Correct me if I am wrong. Wrt this, how does it work for IP stream?
Hence to qualify for hmt in secondary school, your kid has to be in top ten percent of psle cohort, or if she is top 11-30%, she need to have merit for psle hmt to qualify to take up hmt in secondary school. Right?