Secondary 2 Streaming

[D3-n]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109563\" time=\"1685018813\" user_id=\"23814:

Hi experienced parents
Does anyone know what are the chances of successfully appeal for A math If school criteria is A2 for math but child gets B3 for math?

For my school's streaming exercise, we stick strictly to the criteria.

[phtthp]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109563\" time=\"1685018813\" user_id=\"23814:

Hi experienced parents
Does anyone know what are the chances of successfully appeal for A math If school criteria is A2 for math but child gets B3 for math?

No fixed rule.
Not standardized.
It varies, from school to school.

It all depends on your own Secondary's school that particular subject HOD, plus your school's VP (Academic).

Some HODs are kind.
They don't mind giving you a second chance. At least, they let you try out for Sec 3 one whole year in that A-Maths subject first,
then
re-assess one more time, towards the end of Sec 3, whether u should drop A-Maths or continue with A-Maths, when u move up to Sec 4.


However,
there are also some other Secondary schools' HOD, who are rather mean (strict). They stick closely to their book of rules. Of course, besides looking at your Sec 2 Maths grade, they will also look at how u perform, in rest of your other core subjects, too.

===========================

What happen,
if let's say that Secondary school of yours, that Maths HOD is very strict, go by the book rule that kind of person?

If this is the situation u are in, caught in a dilemma, you can actually call up those Secondary schools that u are interested in, ask to speak to either Principal or VP (Academic) directly,
ask them

can your kid possibly seek Transfer into their school, to do A-Maths ?

Some Secondary schools' Principal don't mind. They will accept your child, for transfer.
As u know,
at end of Sec 2,
there is a lot of Transfer movement going on, amongst many Secondary schools in Singapore. So, just proceed to seek Transfer, if A-Maths is what your kid really want.

At end of Sec 2,
three types of seeking Transfer to schools, can take place. Common !

For Non-DSA students, only :-
=======================

1) Transfer taking place , from one O-level school X to another O-level school Y

2) Transfer taking place, from one O-level school X to another IP school Z

3) Transfer taking place, from an IP school, back to O-level track

[Blissedsher]

Thanks for your quick replies. I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science . If we don’t get Amaths we cant take pure science. It’s detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it’s too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

[bbbay]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies. I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science . If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

Sharing my perspective:

There are Art stream in JC too. Art stream is not considered inferior, just that they are less popular than Science stream thus the higher COP. They are less popular because all the buzz on IT/ tech startup/ AI etc, implying everything is about science. we often overlook our leaders are mostly from humanity majors, so Art (humanity) is an important stream too. If your child is very keen in Science then be it. Else don’t rule out Art stream.

I recently attended a future job seminar organised by my child school. A professor researching on what the employers are looking for, shared that tech companies are looking for all type of people, not only tech people. They need marketing people, chief listening officer, to help bring their products to the mass market. These are Art stream people.

So we should not restrict our child selection based on media buzz.

To me, hybrid stream is ideal, like: Physic/Bio, Chem, Econ History/literature. Background to understand tech and able to understand the needs of people too.

[Blissedsher]

I maybe wrong but seems art stream also needs Amath for H1 or H2math ?

[sharonkhoo]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies. I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science . If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

At 14yo, you and your child should already have a fair inkling whether she is likely to want to pursue a very \"science\" course or career. If she does, then she really needs to work on her maths if she wants to go the JC route. There is also the alternative of going through the poly route which may not require such good grades.

Chances are, if she is weak in maths, she may not really be that interested in the sciences? Try to get beneath the \"smart kids do science\" or \"science is more prestigious\" or \"there is no future in arts\" sort of thinking, and ask her what really excites and interests her. There are many worthwhile careers that do not need much science or maths.

[sharonkhoo]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109595\" time=\"1685060214\" user_id=\"23814:

I maybe wrong but seems art stream also needs Amath for H1 or H2math ?

That may depend on the JC. As far as I know, there is no need to have done A Maths to take H1 maths.

[phtthp]

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies.

I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science .

If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

For JC, Yes, if you are an Arts stream students, still need to take either H1 or H2 Maths.

But, if you are a Science stream JC student, often, u will take H2 Maths.

What happen,
if say, a Sec 4 students only take E Maths, never do A-Maths (O-level), but want to do H2 A-level Maths, in JC ?

In some JCs,
if u score well in E-Maths (O-level), they let u take an entrance admission test first, in Maths.
If u can pass this entrance test, they will let u take H2 Maths. But, even then, can be a struggle along the way, because of your lack of A-Maths (O level ) foundation / background.

So, what happen,
if say, your kid really want to study A-Maths, but your school Maths HOD is very strict, don't allow ?

Alternatives
==========

1) consider, seeking Transfer into another Secondary school at end of Sec 2, that can help u overcome this problem.

Or

2) stay, remain inside back the same school. But, take private tuition on your own, for A-Maths.


Then,
during the interim regular Term time check point exams
eg,

say,
during Term 1 or Term 2 or Term 3 or Term 4 WA tests, (Weighted Assessments),
take your own school's Sec 3 A-Maths exam papers. If your child can pass well in these papers, your school will let your kid continue to take A-Maths subject, all the way to Sec 4, provided u pass their tests. This way, you have become an overcomer.

However,
between above options (1) and (2),
I would much prefer option (1).
Just try to seek Transfer into another Secondary school, that permit u to do A-Maths and start afresh your final last lap, your final last 2 years for O level steady preparation.

What u can do is ,
perhaps,
check into each Sevondary school's website or better still, call up the school directly, ask to speak to the VP (Academic) or the Maths HOD -

see which school allow end of Sec 2 students to take up A-Maths subject, with say,
a B3 or a B4 grade acquired, at end of their Sec 2 Maths grade.

Because

Without a SOLID foundation
in A-Maths (O-level),
even if
your kid managed to pass the admission entrance tests in JC (1), because your kid happen to do well in Elementary Maths (O-level),

he (she), the pupil, may still struggle with A-level Maths in JCs. In the end, may affect her (his) rank points score into universities choice of faculties, chosen.

From year 2026 onwards, the maximum Rank points is upon 70, no more upon 90.

===========================

Edited :-

above,
apply to students,
who do Not face learning difficulty in Maths.

[sharonkhoo]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2109599\" time=\"1685063410\" user_id=\"35251:

Without a SOLID foundation
in A-Maths (O-level),
even if
your kid managed to pass the admission entrance tests in JC (1), because your kid happen to do well in Elementary Maths (O-level),

he (she), the pupil, may still struggle with A-level Maths in JCs.

Just to add that some kids may take A maths and still struggle with H2 maths. So before deciding to try so hard to have your daughter take A maths, with the possibility of struggling with H2 maths at JC, do check if she really has interest, aptitude and ability in both maths and sciences.

[phtthp]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2109600\" time=\"1685063799\" user_id=\"28674:

Just to add that some kids may take A maths and still struggle with H2 maths. So before deciding to try so hard to have your daughter take A maths, with the possibility of struggling with H2 maths at JC, do check if she really has interest, aptitude and ability in both maths and sciences.

Yes, of course. A word of caution.

Parents should exercise discernment, wisdom,
whether
a child ought to pursue A-Maths (O level), or not.

If a child has learning difficulty, please do Not push the pupil into learning something, beyond what the child can cope.

Parents, you know your own kid, best (well).

Thank you, for the important reminder, which I have over looked. Sorry, about it. Thank you, that you raised this up, in time. Much appreciated. Thank you.