Secondary 2 Streaming

[wanzchan]

Please advise, my boy is in sec 2 this year. so far sci is his stronger subject, Last year form teacher says to push him a little in Sec 2 and he stays chance to take triple sci, but my friend advised to take double science instead of triple. She says its a waste of time and effort to take triple sci. My boy has intention to take biomedical in poly after his O level, but I would prefer JC as I heard people saying it will be easier to get into U from JC than poly. If my boy’s interest is in virology, which path should he choose? triple or double sci? poly or JC? Any experience parents can help? I’m really clueless in this. Thank you in advance.

[sharonkhoo]

wanzchan:

Please advise, my boy is in sec 2 this year. so far sci is his stronger subject, Last year form teacher says to push him a little in Sec 2 and he stays chance to take triple sci, but my friend advised to take double science instead of triple. She says its a waste of time and effort to take triple sci. My boy has intention to take biomedical in poly after his O level, but I would prefer JC as I heard people saying it will be easier to get into U from JC than poly. If my boy's interest is in virology, which path should he choose? triple or double sci? poly or JC? Any experience parents can help? I'm really clueless in this. Thank you in advance.

If your son is strong in science and is interested, and his teachers think he can handle it, let him take triple science. What is your friend's experience? Is she a teacher? Or is she basing her advice on her own children? My daughter took triple science and enjoyed it even though she isn't doing science in university. Her reason was that she couldn't decide which to drop in upper sec. It's true that they have to drop one eventually (you can only take 2 at A levels), so it can seem like a \"waste\", but at least they have some foundation in the 3rd science. I would think that is important for someone who wants to pursue a scientific career.

If your son is a strong student, and he wants to go into university, JC is usually a surer way as only the top poly students get into university, and it depends on whether the \"poly\" style of learning works for him. You need to understand what his studying style is like - more hands-on or by bookwork, more group vs individual etc.

[deardear07]

hi, when u mean top poly students, what is the percentage of this group of students taking up uni courses locally? those who get a GPA of 3.5 and above?

[anxious.01501dad]

For the poly GPA requirement to enter the local unis, perhaps you may like to refer to the IGP guides of the various local unis. For NUS, other than nursing, the 2018 10th percentile GPA are in fact above 3.5 with many of the them >3.7. For NTU, the 2018 10th percentile GPA ranges from 3.26 to 3.83. I could not find the IGP for SUTD, SIT and SUSS.


NUS http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/gradeprofile/sprogramme-igp.html
NTU http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/oad2/website_files/IGP/NTU_IGP.pdf
SMU https://admissions.smu.edu.sg/admissions/indicative-grade-profiles-igp

[janet88]

deardear07:

hi, when u mean top poly students, what is the percentage of this group of students taking up uni courses locally? those who get a GPA of 3.5 and above?

son hopes to enter NTU school of EEE...stressful keeping a 3.7 GPA.

[phtthp]

janet88:

son hopes to enter NTU school of EEE...stressful keeping a 3.7 GPA.

For EEE, go NUS or NTU, better ?

[qms]

phtthp:

janet88:

son hopes to enter NTU school of EEE...stressful keeping a 3.7 GPA.

For EEE, go NUS or NTU, better ?

:offtopic:

[lee_yl]

Time is running short for me as DD1’s first graded test is on 29th Jan :imdrowning:


This morning, we had a short discussion regarding sec 3 subject combinations with both girls. DH suggested taking History (for Humanities) and Chemistry (for Science) as he scored well for these 2 subjects.

@Janet, with a GPA of 3.7, is it 100% guarantee that your son will get a full-time EEE course in NTU/NUS?

[lil_jade]

lee_yl:

Time is running short for me as DD1’s first graded test is on 29th Jan :imdrowning:


This morning, we had a short discussion regarding sec 3 subject combinations with both girls. DH suggested taking History (for Humanities) and Chemistry (for Science) as he scored well for these 2 subjects.

@Janet, with a GPA of 3.7, is it 100% guarantee that your son will get a full-time EEE course in NTU/NUS?

Hihi! Can I suggest on the subjects to take? Definitely take chemistry as it's increasingly a prerequisite for many university courses, even engineering based which used to require physics. Now, it's chemistry. As for the other science subject to take, physics or biology, it depends on interest and aptitude. Hope this helps!

[phtthp]

lee_yl:

DH suggested taking History (for Humanities) and Chemistry (for Science) as he scored well for these 2 subjects.

Hi Lee,

For Science students, whether IP or O-level, Chemistry is compulsory (cannot choose).

For Sec 3 Science students
- can consider choose, either Physics or Bio.