Secondary 2 Streaming
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Got curious as there never was a
pre-requisite all along and checked with my friend’s son in Sec 4 DHS now. Turn out I am correct. Current batch of Sec 4 IP students can still take H2 biology next year even if they did not take Biology in Sec 3 or Sec 4. Looks like the pre-requisite is only for the new JAE students as the document is dated January 2019. My guess is the school still need some form of results to gauge the ability to do H2 Biology and in this case O Level Biology results would be the best gauge. Also, it could be because there are some pull down topics from A Levels syllabus in maths and science in Sec 3 and 4 IP syllabus already so it would be relatively ‘easier’ for current IP students to cope with H2 biology. I did not ask for the list of pulled down topics though. Not sure if there would be any changes to the pre-requisite requirement for next year though. -
FantasyLandDreams\" post_id=\"1934719\" time=\"1568132669\" user_id=\"105816:
Since you confirmed that your friend's son at current IP4 now (2019) @Dunman High (IP) function in the same identical way as Hwa Chong (IP) students,
so it would be relatively ‘easier’ for current IP students to cope with H2 biology. I did not ask for the list of pulled down topics though.
Not sure if there would be any changes to the pre-requisite requirement for next year though.
ie. allow Year 5 IP students to take on H2 Biology inspite having not taken Bio at (IP3 nor IP4) before,
And the main reason provided why this was allowed was ,
\" because @Sec 3 and 4 : certain A-level topics were being pulled down and taught already in IP \" -
anyone can clarify or confirm,
does the same situation happen (apply) to five other IP A-level (JCs / High schools) as well, ie.
To IP4 students for H2 (Physics and Bio) at
River Valley High,
RI,
National Junior College,
Temasek Junior College
Victoria Junior College ?
Or
do these named five IP JCs, also follow JAE strict rule of admission (subject combination selection), which Eunoia Junior College (amongst IP JCs) is already following JAE style ? -
doodbug\" post_id=\"1934647\" time=\"1568102209\" user_id=\"13281:
Hi doodbug,
Most JCs will allow students who did not read Biology in Sec 3 and 4, to read Biology at Year 5, I thought?
I guess HCI (JC Section) must be quite unique in this regard.
The prerequisite to read Bio at Year 5 and 6 is a B3 in Chem.
How about Physics ?
If IP4 student @Hwa Chong did not take Physics before @IP (3 and 4) for two years, come to Year 5, allowed to take H2 Physics with zero background ?
because
this IP4 student is doing IP4 (double Science, double Humanities) subject combination and had chosen Bio instead of Physics, however at end of IP4, did not do well in Bio, so does Hwa Chong allow switching over to H2 Physics in Year 5, instead ? -
lee_yl\" post_id=\"1934716\" time=\"1568128429\" user_id=\"17023:
I don't understand this? Is the 65% referring to overall results? Or to a specific subject? And \"Sc at H1\" - does that mean she fears she will not be in the Science stream? Surely the criteria for choosing to take a particular science is dependant on the performance in that science (and maybe Maths), not the overall average?
My DD1 is worried if Yr3/Yr4 she does not hit 65% and above, she will only do Sc at H1 level and she will be finished!
I was too busy yesterday to respond, but I did read your questions about choosing between triple/double science and Hist/Geog. For the triple/double choice, it would depend on the child's ability to take that many subjects, and whether she can decide which science to drop.
Personally, I feel that students should take subjects they are interested in, given a choice, even if they don't seem to be doing that well. Interest will help them figure out ways to improve, but disinterest can mean that when the work gets harder (and it will), they may flounder later. All subjects are \"different\" in lower vs upper sec, and different again in JC, so early performance may not be a very good predictor of later performance. You have to assess whether she is not doing well because of less important factors (like fussy teachers) or that she really can't understand the work. But for the Hist/Geog choice, if she doesn't really care one way or the other, then other factors (like father's availability to coach) will come into play.
Again, personally, I found Geog easier to handle as it's less subjective. I love reading history, but refused to study it as a subject after Sec 2 (I had a really bad Hist teacher in Sec 2, and Hist wasn't offered to Science students in my time). I find that Geog has less memory work (no dates!) than Hist, and because it has more \"logic\" to it, I found it easier.
Just my opinion. -
Hi phtthp
I attended the Sec 2 HCI Subject Options talk, and this was in relation to choosing Sec 3 subjects.
It is compulsory for the whole of Sec 3 and 4 HCI to read Physics (no option given at all), hence there was no mention on what the Year 5 Physics H2 prerequisites are. What was made very clear to all students and parents is that for Year 5 H2 Computing and Biology, Sec 3 and 4 Computing and Biology are not a prerequisite respectively, though it will be an advantage.
The Life Sciences Degree Programme at NUS (which is the undergraduate course for Biology and Biomedical Sciences) does not require Biology at H2 as a prerequisite. -
Hi doodbug
Thank you very much for the concise , useful explanation for Hwa Chong subject combination, as I am sure it will benefit many parents and students, making decision. Much appreciated, for your time
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I have another child moving to EJC and hence I am also concerned with the prerequisites for reading subjects at EJC…I’ll have to do more research. Thanks for sharing phtthp.
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slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1934740\" time=\"1568163483\" user_id=\"28674:
I see the comment about history and memorization a fair bit and just wanted to offer an alternative view.
I don't understand this? Is the 65% referring to overall results? Or to a specific subject? And \"Sc at H1\" - does that mean she fears she will not be in the Science stream? Surely the criteria for choosing to take a particular science is dependant on the performance in that science (and maybe Maths), not the overall average?lee_yl\" post_id=\"1934716\" time=\"1568128429\" user_id=\"17023:
My DD1 is worried if Yr3/Yr4 she does not hit 65% and above, she will only do Sc at H1 level and she will be finished!
I was too busy yesterday to respond, but I did read your questions about choosing between triple/double science and Hist/Geog. For the triple/double choice, it would depend on the child's ability to take that many subjects, and whether she can decide which science to drop.
Personally, I feel that students should take subjects they are interested in, given a choice, even if they don't seem to be doing that well. Interest will help them figure out ways to improve, but disinterest can mean that when the work gets harder (and it will), they may flounder later. All subjects are \"different\" in lower vs upper sec, and different again in JC, so early performance may not be a very good predictor of later performance. You have to assess whether she is not doing well because of less important factors (like fussy teachers) or that she really can't understand the work. But for the Hist/Geog choice, if she doesn't really care one way or the other, then other factors (like father's availability to coach) will come into play.
Again, personally, I found Geog easier to handle as it's less subjective. I love reading history, but refused to study it as a subject after Sec 2 (I had a really bad Hist teacher in Sec 2, and Hist wasn't offered to Science students in my time). I find that Geog has less memory work (no dates!) than Hist, and because it has more \"logic\" to it, I found it easier.
Just my opinion. Secondary school was a long time ago, but I think there's as much memorization in Geog as in History - just a question of remembering different things. History is about telling a story about events (e.g. what happened when the British came to Southeast Asia, how World War II started etc), so you need a basic grasp of what the events are, including when they happened, to be able to tell the story - just like you need a basic grasp of how different kinds of rocks erode at different rates to make sense of particular rock formations (sorry it's been a long time since I did physical Geog). Which is a long way of saying, one way of thinking about which subject to study is to pick the set of facts (historical, geographical, literary) that you're interested in explaining.
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hb\" post_id=\"1934751\" time=\"1568166670\" user_id=\"179788:
Totally agree! I just found remembering Geog concepts easier than telling the History \"stories\". And since I am really bad at numbers, dates just horrify me. Geog is easier for the numerically-challenged - you can round up numbers, use \"about\", \"greater/less than\" etc.
I see the comment about history and memorization a fair bit and just wanted to offer an alternative view. Secondary school was a long time ago, but I think there's as much memorization in Geog as in History - just a question of remembering different things. History is about telling a story about events (e.g. what happened when the British came to Southeast Asia, how World War II started etc), so you need a basic grasp of what the events are, including when they happened, to be able to tell the story - just like you need a basic grasp of how different kinds of rocks erode at different rates to make sense of particular rock formations (sorry it's been a long time since I did physical Geog). Which is a long way of saying, one way of thinking about which subject to study is to pick the set of facts (historical, geographical, literary) that you're interested in explaining. -
doodbug\" post_id=\"1934741\" time=\"1568164075\" user_id=\"13281:
Hi doodbug,
What was made very clear to all students and parents is that for Year 5 H2 Computing and Biology, Sec 3 and 4 Computing and Biology are not a prerequisite respectively, though it will be an advantage.
The Life Sciences Degree Programme at NUS (which is the undergraduate course for Biology and Biomedical Sciences) does not require Biology at H2 as a prerequisite.
since underlined part mentioned it is compulsory for All IP5 students to take H2
Physics, plus H2 Chemistry herself also compulsory,
does it mean that nobody in IP5 taking H2 Bio ? In other words, those taking H2 Bio in Hwa Chong JC1, are only from the JAE (OP) intake?
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