Secondary 2 Streaming

[sharonkhoo]

starlight1968sg:

I am not that 'happy' with Sc students can take up Humanities later but not the other way round. Well, i cant change the reality

From the schools' perspective, it will be hard to cater for the students who don't have the background unless they are separated from those who do. A possible way I can see to get around it is to have crash courses or required reading and a test over the year-end for those who want to take a science at A level which they didn't take at O level. But will students be willing, and who will run the courses and pay for them? And the sciences are more sequential than humanities too, so it is not usually possible to catch up \"along the way\".

[janet88]

Get it.

[TeaBoh]

MommyDearest:

Thank you slmkhoo, starlight1968sg, sieg and zbear for your sharings. Very helpful indeed !


@slmkhoo: My DD is in IP track, taking year 3 in 2016. Hence, only pure sciences are offered to her. She already has a targeted course to take at the uni and it seems like taking double sciences (without Biology) is the way to go for her because it's her preference. In addition, this will lead her to taking the JC subject combination of PCME (Physics, Chemistry, Math & Econs) which is the most versatile combination, leading to any courses in the local universities, including Medicine, Law, Engineering and Accountancy. This is a safe route, just in case she does not get into her targeted course in uni, at least she has a generic subject combination to land her in the next best course.

I agree with starlight196sg that science subjects do require foundation from Secondary level before one can elect them at JC level. My DS is currently in JC2 Science, sitting for A levels this year, so I know. In my DS's school, to qualify for H2 Sciences, student hv to offer a passing grade at O levels/IP Yr4. Those who took combined Sciences at O-Level, they must have obtained A1 or A2. In addition, those who wish to take up H2 Biology at JC level should preferably obtain a min. grade of B3 in English Language at O-Level or a D for Language Art for IP students.

Almost similar criterias applies to electing H2 Math at JC level. Arts students without A Math background will only be offered H1 Math. Bridging program will be offered to science students with no A Math background so as to be able to cope with the rigour of the subject.

However, Biology (as I realised recently) may be necessary if student wishes to pursue Medicine overseas as some universities abroad still insist on it.

Coming back to my initial question of whether to take double / triple pure sciences, my concern is on whether a student has added advantage over other applicants when applying for medicine course in LOCAL university if Biology is one of the subjects used in the application (in place of Physics), apart from Chemistry which is A MUST in the application. Can anyone advise ?
Note: My DD prefers Physics and Chemistry but doesn't mind taking up Biology if necessary.

Mind to enlighten me?

Are this subjects in Science stream or Art Stream? (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Econ)

[TeaBoh]

From MOE website, it stated cut-off point for L1R5 (with Bonus) for JC, does this means after deducting the bonus points for CCA and HMT or before deducting?


TIA

[MMM]

starlight1968sg:

May I ask if combined Sc is offered in sec schs?

It is not offered in all sec schools. Eg. in dd's school, no combined science is offered. Minimum is double science.

Meanwhile in ds's school, observed there is only 1 combined science class.

[MMM]

starlight1968sg:

May I ask if combined Sc is offered in sec schs?

It is not offered in all sec schools. Eg. in dd's school, no combined science is offered. Minimum is double science.

Meanwhile in ds's school, observed there is only 1 combined science class.

[zbear]

TeaBoh:

Are this subjects in Science stream or Art Stream? (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Econ)

These subjects are offered at A Levels -

Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Maths - Science subjects
Economics - Humanities subject

So if you take a combi like PCME or BCME, you are considered a Science student

But if you take a combi like ELL/E/H/M, you are considered a Arts student

The third alternative will be a Hybrid combi.

All students are required to take a contrasting subject for A levels.

[TeaBoh]

zbear:

TeaBoh:

Are this subjects in Science stream or Art Stream? (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Econ)

These subjects are offered at A Levels -

Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Maths - Science subjects
Economics - Humanities subject

So if you take a combi like PCME or BCME, you are considered a Science student

But if you take a combi like ELL/E/H/M, you are considered a Arts student

The third alternative will be a Hybrid combi.

All students are required to take a contrasting subject for A levels.

Hi zbear

Thank you for sharing such info.


Warmest regards
TeaBoh

[MommyDearest]

slmkhoo:

MommyDearest:

Coming back to my initial question of whether to take double / triple pure sciences, my concern is on whether a student has added advantage over other applicants when applying for medicine course in LOCAL university if Biology is one of the subjects used in the application (in place of Physics), apart from Chemistry which is A MUST in the application. Can anyone advise ?

Note: My DD prefers Physics and Chemistry but doesn't mind taking up Biology if necessary.

If your daughter hasn't targeted Medicine as her course of choice, does it really matter? I don't think it can realistically be considered a 2nd choice! Of course, there is the concern that she may change her mind.

I haven't heard, though I haven't really asked around much as my daughter isn't interested in Medicine, that not taking Bio is a definite negative for applying to Medicine. However, if I were interviewing, I would be interested to hear the student's explanation as to why Bio is not one of the subjects. If the student shows a disinterest in Bio, then that may be a negative factor. Maybe others can shed light?

My DD has been working hard to realise her dream to be in the medicine course at a local uni since her primary school days. She knows clearly what she wants in life and always works hard to achieve her goals. And since medicine is her targeted course in uni, so YES it does matter to choose her subject combination carefully at this stage as it will affect her subject combination in JC/ A levels. Hence, I would greatly appreciate if there are parents of any medical students here or even medical students who are reading this thread to offer your comments from your own experience

By the way, the interview for applicants of the medical course in uni is not so into academics but more on evaluating a student's worth in terms of life experience via exposure to needy people around and etc. Hence, good grades and volunteer work in the healthcare sector is a necessity and they work hand-in-hand to determine the student in such an application. This is not my assumption but based on facts.

[wonderm]

MommyDearest:

slmkhoo:

[quote=\"MommyDearest\"]Coming back to my initial question of whether to take double / triple pure sciences, my concern is on whether a student has added advantage over other applicants when applying for medicine course in LOCAL university if Biology is one of the subjects used in the application (in place of Physics), apart from Chemistry which is A MUST in the application. Can anyone advise ?

Note: My DD prefers Physics and Chemistry but doesn't mind taking up Biology if necessary.

If your daughter hasn't targeted Medicine as her course of choice, does it really matter? I don't think it can realistically be considered a 2nd choice! Of course, there is the concern that she may change her mind.

I haven't heard, though I haven't really asked around much as my daughter isn't interested in Medicine, that not taking Bio is a definite negative for applying to Medicine. However, if I were interviewing, I would be interested to hear the student's explanation as to why Bio is not one of the subjects. If the student shows a disinterest in Bio, then that may be a negative factor. Maybe others can shed light?

My DD has been working hard to realise her dream to be in the medicine course at a local uni since her primary school days. She knows clearly what she wants in life and always works hard to achieve her goals. And since medicine is her targeted course in uni, so YES it does matter to choose her subject combination carefully at this stage as it will affect her subject combination in JC/ A levels. Hence, I would greatly appreciate if there are parents of any medical students here or even medical students who are reading this thread to offer your comments from your own experience

By the way, the interview for applicants of the medical course in uni is not so into academics but more on evaluating a student's worth in terms of life experience via exposure to needy people around and etc. Hence, good grades and volunteer work in the healthcare sector is a necessity and they work hand-in-hand to determine the student in such an application. This is not my assumption but based on facts.[/quote]I had personally known a few who applied for medicine in local uni this year. Based on this small sample, it doesn't seem to matter. For the few who got in with PCME course combination, none of them was asked why he/she didn't take biology. I think since it is not a prerequisite, they shouldn't be questioned as though biology is an expected A Level subject.