Secondary 2 Streaming

[zeit.033699]

Have a doctor friend whose son wasn't required to have taken Bio to get into Medicine. So that's a consideration if you will...

https://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/docs/default-source/admissions/h1-h2-sdp.pdf?sfvrsn=c5567dcb_4
https://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/docs/default-source/admissions/h1-h2-mdp.pdf?sfvrsn=37d6b264_4

From my observation of ex-schoolmates who did 10 or even 11 subjects during the non-IP era, they were usually gifted in 1 or 2 subjects. They were able to breeze through with little time and effort.

For instance, I've had ex-schoolmates who were born/grew up overseas and needless to say, they were naturally proficient in the 3rd lang they had selected. So an A was not difficult to obtain, as compared to other Singaporeans who had no exposure to those lang since childhood.
There were some friends who were gifted in music and art, so getting A for MEP or AEP/Art back then was also a no-brainer.
Now I also have a girlfriend from a top girls SAP school who took ''Food & Nutrition'' (yea, they did offer this rare O level subject in those days). As she was/still is talented in cooking, she managed to score an A easily and today, she's a lawyer.
And then there were the school's MO talents who thought A/E math was a piece of cake, so that's easily 2 As in their pocket.
Don't forget some voracious readers and prolific writers who could easily score an A for E. Lang and E. Lit as well.
And the new immigrants from China, Taiwan and HK hardly needed to worry about CL/HCL/C.Lit in those days.

[SG_KP1]

zeit.\" post_id=\"2060786\" time=\"1646641282\" user_id=\"194295:

.....
From my observation of ex-schoolmates who did 10 or even 11 subjects during the non-IP era, they were usually gifted in 1 or 2 subjects. They were able to breeze through with little time and effort.

For instance, I've had ex-schoolmates who were born/grew up overseas and needless to say, they were naturally proficient in the 3rd lang they had selected. So an A was not difficult to obtain, as compared to other Singaporeans who had no exposure to those lang since childhood.
There were some friends who were gifted in music and art, so getting A for MEP or AEP/Art back then was also a no-brainer.
Now I also have a girlfriend from a top girls SAP school who took ''Food & Nutrition'' (yea, they did offer this rare O level subject in those days). As she was/still is talented in cooking, she managed to score an A easily and today, she's a lawyer.
And then there were the school's MO talents who thought A/E math was a piece of cake, so that's easily 2 As in their pocket.
Don't forget some voracious readers and prolific writers who could easily score an A for E. Lang and E. Lit as well.
And the new immigrants from China, Taiwan and HK hardly needed to worry about CL/HCL/C.Lit in those days.

This is a good comment. There's a difference between going 100 mph 24/7 to get A1 vs. just showing up for class, having all the material click in your mind, and knowing you can pass the exam no problem. For the latter, they are effectively taking fewer classes than stated...

[SG_KP1]

Just curious, at the two Raffles schools what would ten subjects typically look like? Assume you have:


English, MT, Math (2 units), Sciences (3 units) and then what? SS/Humanities, 1 Full Humanities, and something else?

For reference, at HCI I think the 10th subject can only be Third Language or AEP. I.e. the school won’t allow multiple "9th" subject electives together (Bio, Computing, China Studies, or Triple Humanities). Hence, I would guess there aren’t that many students taking 10 subjects there (although I’m sure there are some).

[Zeal mummy]

:goodpost:

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2060776\" time=\"1646638300\" user_id=\"28674:

I understand the situation! My daughter was rather that way too, not super brilliant at any one thing, but interested in plenty, and did fairly well across the board. In her case, she decided in the end to take triple science but only the standard no. of subjects because she wanted to reserve time for her CCA and anything else that might crop up (can't remember if there was, too long ago!). In JC, she made me rather fearful because she took on a heavy CCA and a few ad hoc things along the way, on top of extra work in 1 subject. We discussed the downsides with her, reminded her that her final grades were important, but worse come to worst, we were sure she would make it to university, though maybe her choices might be a little more limited. And at least she would know she had reached her limit. There were patches when she was really tired, and somewhat stressed, but I think she learned about her limits and grew through the experiences.

You, your son, and maybe his teachers, will be the best ones to make a final decision, weighing all the considerations. As I see it, if he doesn't think he needs to reserve time and energy for anything \"special\" along the way, and he seems to have the capacity, I would say let him try. Most things in life are not 100% certain, and there is always some risk. Weigh the main downsides - that he will not score As across the board? That he will miss out on something because he's already maxed out? That he may have to drop a subject? Nothing life-shattering, I would think. So if he thinks he can manage, let him try.

And he's in an IP school, I believe? In which case, as long as he does well enough to get his preferred combination at JC, the grades really don't matter that much, do they? The whole point of IP is that the sec 4 grades don't matter as much, freeing kids to do more with their time because they prepare for a month or so for internal school exams rather than 4-6 mths for the O levels.

[Zeal mummy]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2060798\" time=\"1646646561\" user_id=\"188234:

Just curious, at the two Raffles schools what would ten subjects typically look like?

The girls typically have 6 core subjects,
1. EL
2. HMT/MT
3. Math 1
4. Math 2
5. I & A
6. Chemistry

Choose Elective subjects
7. Bio
8. Physics
9. Lit
10. Geography
11. History
12. Special program (SP)

The 10th subject has to be taken from the SP (3rd language/ MSP/ CSP/ MEP/ SAP).

[Zeal mummy]

The boys have 5 core subjects,

1. EL
2. HMT/MT
3. Math 1
4. Math 2
5. S & P

Choose Elective subjects
6. Chemistry
7. Bio
8. Physics
9. Lit
10. Geography
11. History
12. Special program (SP)

You may like to refer to this video posted by the school:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7bM2lAwr54

[blissful mummy]

Hello, I’m wondering if anyone could advise me. My girl in Sec 1 Express is doing well (A1) for all subjects except Chinese, which she has always been weak in. What’s the implications if I switch her to take Chinese Syllabus B instead, for her Sec 3 subject combination? She wishes to take Pure Biology in Sec. 3. Are students who take MT Syllabus B limited in the subjects that could take in Sec 3? Thanks in advance!

[SG_KP1]

blissful mummy\" post_id=\"2065338\" time=\"1650871374\" user_id=\"7966:[quote=\"blissful mummy\" post_id=2065338 time=1650871374 user_id=7966]
Hello, I’m wondering if anyone could advise me. My girl in Sec 1 Express is doing well (A1) for all subjects except Chinese, which she has always been weak in. What’s the implications if I switch her to take Chinese Syllabus B instead, for her Sec 3 subject combination? She wishes to take Pure Biology in Sec. 3. Are students who take MT Syllabus B limited in the subjects that could take in Sec 3? Thanks in advance![/quote]

Hi. One, does her current school offer Chinese B? If not, may have to travel to another school or language centre for lessons, and not sure if this causes any timetable issues (in addition to hassle). If the current school offers, I am not aware of any limitations Chinese B automatically imposes but best to check with the school.

You may also want to see if Chinese B has any implications for whatever is planned after Secondary School. JC still need to take and pass Chinese B, not sure about other paths.

The thread below has some info on the different weightings of components for the different Chinese subjects. Also see if others chime in here. Good luck!

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=33188&start=20

[zac's mum]

blissful mummy\" post_id=\"2065338\" time=\"1650871374\" user_id=\"7966:[quote=\"blissful mummy\" post_id=2065338 time=1650871374 user_id=7966]
Hello, I’m wondering if anyone could advise me. My girl in Sec 1 Express is doing well (A1) for all subjects except Chinese, which she has always been weak in. What’s the implications if I switch her to take Chinese Syllabus B instead, for her Sec 3 subject combination? She wishes to take Pure Biology in Sec. 3. Are students who take MT Syllabus B limited in the subjects that could take in Sec 3? Thanks in advance![/quote]

Just chipping in with my opinion here.

If she is scoring A1s for all her other subjects, is there a real need to downgrade her Chinese to Syllabus B?

Considering that for entry to JC, the L1R5 score does not need to count the Chinese grade at all. It will not drag down her total score. She just needs to pass it, the bare minimum to satisfy MOE pre-requisite for JC.

Unless her secondary school is gonna be counting her Chinese grade into their overall Sec 2 score, for selection into Sec 3 subject combis. This is a question that you need to ask her specific school. I highly doubt all schools include the MTL grade into their selection.

[emoh]

blissful mummy\" post_id=\"2065338\" time=\"1650871374\" user_id=\"7966:[quote=\"blissful mummy\" post_id=2065338 time=1650871374 user_id=7966]
Hello, I’m wondering if anyone could advise me. My girl in Sec 1 Express is doing well (A1) for all subjects except Chinese, which she has always been weak in. What’s the implications if I switch her to take Chinese Syllabus B instead, for her Sec 3 subject combination? She wishes to take Pure Biology in Sec. 3. Are students who take MT Syllabus B limited in the subjects that could take in Sec 3? Thanks in advance![/quote]

the purpose of doing Chinese B is usually to meet the minimum requirement of a pass in Chinese B for entry to JC as oppose to the minimum D7 (45%) for Express Chinese, there are people who would wait until Sec 4 then if still failing badly in Express Chinese (E8 40% and below) would consider taking Chinese B then, so I would think no hurry to make the decision that early to switch unless the school advises otherwise