Secondary 2 Streaming

[sharonkhoo]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976429\" time=\"1589730760\" user_id=\"5559:

Just asking if it is better to take double pure Science and 1 combined humanities and 1 pure humanities

or

take triple pure Science and 1 combined humanities ?

There are pros and cons either way, and a lot depends on the student's interests, abilities and aspirations.

Although he can only take 2 sciences at A level, if he doesn't know which 2 sciences he would eventually want to take, he may not want to drop one yet. That was my younger girl's dilemma, so she took triple science. We knew she could pick up a humanities subject at A level even if she hadn't taken it in sec school. She didn't like having to take only 1 humanities subject, but had no choice.

But for a student who is not so interested in sciences, or has already decided which science he has no interest in, then 2 sciences is fine. Also, some students like to have an extra humanities subject \"just in case\" for purposes for the 6-subject score. My older girl didn't take O levels as she was overseas, but if we had had to choose, we would have definitely have chosen only 1-2 sciences at upper sec and more humanities, because she was clearly a \"non-science\" student even at that age.

[zac's mum]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976429\" time=\"1589730760\" user_id=\"5559:

Just asking if it is better to take double pure Science and 1 combined humanities and 1 pure humanities

or

take triple pure Science and 1 combined humanities ?

Which school(s) have this combi of triple pure Sciences + 1 combined humanities?

Please enlighten me cos I thought it would be very rare.

[floppy]

qms\" post_id=\"1976455\" time=\"1589752874\" user_id=\"5718:

phtthp\" post_id=\"1976447\" time=\"1589734283\" user_id=\"35251:

is your child taking MEP (Music Elective programme) or AEP (Arts Elective pgm) ?

if Yes, can take this MEP or AEP to combine along with Social studies, no need to study further Humanities subject, taking up so much precious time. Go A-level JC, can continue with H2 MEP / AEP.

Normally, students take 8 subjects.
But if incude 3rd foreign language, become 9 subjects

In one of the schools I know of, students taking AEP need to take it as a Pure Humanities. Hence, these students are only allowed to take Double Science, Double Humanities. I don't think you can combine AEP with Social Studies to form the Humanities subject.

AEP / MEP is never allowed to be combined with social studies. It IS a stand-alone subject, which has the added benefit of being used in place of a pure humanities.

[MerlionInGermany]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1976479\" time=\"1589763600\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1976479 time=1589763600 user_id=53606]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976429\" time=\"1589730760\" user_id=\"5559:

Which school(s) have this combi of triple pure Sciences + 1 combined humanities?

Please enlighten me cos I thought it would be very rare.

Many schools have this 3 Sc + 1 combined Humanities for their o level class. The reason, I think, is because for regular O level students, they must have one combined Humanities (Social Studies + elective His/Geo/Lit). They have to study Social Studies.

KCPSS has this 8-subject combi (3 Sc + 1 combined Humanities). Prob those that dont have this, are schools that have lower COP, that they think it is better to have a 2 Humanities subject, for securing their L1R5, cos general perception (doesnt mean I agree), is that 3 Science is for stronger students. But then again, having the option does not mean there will def be a class. KCPSS has a sec 2 results prerequisite, so doesnt mean all who qualify would want to take or all who want to take will qualify.

And to add, MEP and AEP has always been one subject, never part of the combined Humanities, so funny.

And to answer another question, elective History is half of pure History.

And also for POA, schools have it to cater to those who dont qualify for anything else, eg not making the prerequisite of taking A Maths. :siam:

[floppy]

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1976492\" time=\"1589768379\" user_id=\"2964:

...

And also for POA, schools have it to cater to those who dont qualify for anything else, eg not making the prerequisite of taking A Maths. :siam:

Some people need some “neutral” subjects to score. Otherwise, can’t form the L1R5 or L1R2B2.

POA / D&T / F&A are good subjects to consider because none of the top schools offer them - which means less likely to have academically strong students to distort the curve.

[phtthp]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976446\" time=\"1589734246\" user_id=\"5559:

ongstarling\" post_id=\"1944321\" time=\"1572668035\" user_id=\"117702:

Hi, would like some advice.
My ds is offered combined science (phy/chem) and POA although he is very interested in science.

Will having just 1 combined science affect his route to JC after the O levels , assuming he wants to pursue Science subjects? Or having 2 pure science subjects is better? Would have to appeal if this is the basic requirements.

He is being offered POA but I feel that POA can always be studied after O levels if interest is there and it is too early to \"cement\" his route for now.

Thanks!

I know of schools who are doing away with POA and replacing POA with A Maths to let the students have A Maths background which will be useful for JC or poly. POA is slowly being phrased out so personally I do not see any value in POA unless the child is interested in Accountancy.

As for combined Science, your child must get A1 to be eligible for JC science but it will be an uphill task to catch up. I would advise your child to take double pure science instead of combined science if he has intention to go JC. Even if he intends to go poly in future, studying pure science won’t get in his way too.

If can, if school permit students to do POA, is good. One of my friends told me, she let her son do POA in his Secondary school

[Vevey]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976429\" time=\"1589730760\" user_id=\"5559:

Just asking if it is better to take double pure Science and 1 combined humanities and 1 pure humanities

or

take triple pure Science and 1 combined humanities ?

Really depends on individual kid's interest & aptitude.

As Bio is a content heavy subject, most sch set minimum criteria for kids who want to take triple science, to ensure that they can cope.
Some schools do not encourage taking both geo & history so if a child is not interested in lit, then not much of a humanities choice there, except some coursework subjects.
Having said that, Olevels results can still be a surprise.

[sembgal]

phtthp\" post_id=\"1976466\" time=\"1589760068\" user_id=\"35251:

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976443\" time=\"1589733726\" user_id=\"5559:

[quote=phtthp post_id=1976439 time=1589733307 user_id=35251]actually, the trend now is that
many schools encouraged students to take (Double Science, Double Humanities) subject combination, because even if do Triple Sciences up to Year 4, when go into Year 5 JC, still got to drop one Science subject, maximum 2 Pure Sciences allowed, excluding H2 Mathematics.

Also, by having 2 Humanities, it open up more opportunites to explore subject combination at A-level, instead of just confined to 1 humanities , the one that accompany Social Studies

I see.

Thanks for sharing.

A friend’s son did triple pure Sci in neighbourhood sec and combined humanities SS + History, but in RI, he can only do double science in JC and needs 1 contrasting subject to go with double Sci so he opt for Econ.

talking about Econs,
(since u raise this up)

in O-level Secondary schools, not in JCs yet,
throughout entire Singapore, only 4 Secondary schools offer Economics (SEAB subject exam code 2286), permitted by MOE.

These 4 schools are

- Tanjong Katong Girls' Secondary,
- Temasek Secondary (co-ed),
- Westwood Secondary (co-ed),
- Presbyterian High (co-ed).

heard that taking O-level Econs is very popular, in these schools.
So, if you happen to be a student studying in these 4 schools, can consider take up O-level Economics, inside your end of Sec 2 streaming exercise, choosing new Upper Sec 3 (or Year 3) subject combination.


https://www.schoolbag.sg/story/westwood-secondary-lends-an-invisible-hand-to-%27o%27-level-economics[/quote]A foundation in economics helps if one opts to study finance or business administration in future. But if one is into AI (Artificial Intelligence), there is no benefit to study Economics for O levels. A good foundation in Pure Physics and Pure Chemistry with A Maths would certainly help. AI is getting big in SG. Singapore poly has offered the first AI course in 2020.

[phtthp]

Vevey\" post_id=\"1976583\" time=\"1589791336\" user_id=\"1350:

sembgal\" post_id=\"1976429\" time=\"1589730760\" user_id=\"5559:

Just asking if it is better to take double pure Science and 1 combined humanities and 1 pure humanities

or

take triple pure Science and 1 combined humanities ?

Really depends on individual kid's interest & aptitude.

As Bio is a content heavy subject, most sch set minimum criteria for kids who want to take triple science, to ensure that they can cope.
Some schools do not encourage taking both geo & history so if a child is not interested in lit, then not much of a humanities choice there, except some coursework subjects.
Having said that, Olevels results can still be a surprise.

if compare Pure Biology vs. Pure History vs. Pure Geography,

can share, which is the most content heavy, amongst these 3 ?

Pure History = Core (or Full) Humanities, not the half 50% content \"Elective\" humanities

[phtthp]

sembgal\" post_id=\"1971:

Thanks for sharing.

A friend’s son did triple pure Sci in neighbourhood sec and combined humanities SS + History, but in RI, he can only do double science in JC and needs 1 contrasting subject to
A foundation in economics helps if one opts to study finance or business administration in future. But if one is into AI (Artificial Intelligence), there is no benefit to study Economics for O levels. A good foundation in Pure Physics and Pure Chemistry with A Maths would certainly help. AI is getting big in SG. Singapore poly has offered the first AI course in 2020.

Yes, Artificial Intelligence is popular (hot) now, esp. in covid situation.

E.g.
design a robot, that can move around inside an solated hospital ward, delivered medicine / food & drink to patients staying inside the quarantined ward / designated lock-down places

Guangdong Provincial People hospital (China) is using this type of cute, clever robot, know how to take elevator (lift) itself, moved around to deliver medicine to patients, inside isolated covid-19 hospital ward

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6kOZmjliy9o

There is also a robotic \"nurse\", in Bangkok

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MwVfw-NWEUI


or another example
designed a food collection robot, that move around inside food-court / hawker centre, to collect consumed food plates, cutlery and cups, from customers who have finished eating their meal.