<![CDATA[How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch?]]>My daughter’s classmate in NYG is exempted and is not taking MTL

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/65636/how-mtl-exemption-affect-progress-to-sec-schRSS for NodeSun, 17 May 2026 10:39:26 GMTSat, 30 Nov 2013 13:45:05 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Sat, 30 Nov 2013 12:13:11 GMT]]>My daughter’s classmate in NYG is exempted and is not taking MTL

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158966https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158966Sat, 30 Nov 2013 12:13:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:20:12 GMT]]>

GreenBird:
metz:

So far, I have yet to hear of any kids with MT exemption who scored above 270.


It is possible to score above 270.
the boy from pathlight primary scored 273, sometime back.
He is now studying in nus high.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20121123-385380.html

Students in pathlight school are exempted from taking mother tongue.
They concentrate on 3 subjects only (English, Maths, science)

Thanks for sharing the info.

How abt mainstreamers with mtl exemption?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158538https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158538Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:20:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:00:40 GMT]]>

metz:
So far, I have yet to hear of any kids with MT exemption who scored above 270.

It is possible to score above 270.
the boy from pathlight primary scored 273, sometime back.
He is now studying in nus high.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20121123-385380.html

Students in pathlight school are exempted from taking mother tongue.
They concentrate on 3 subjects only (English, Maths, science)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158522https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158522Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:00:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:28:10 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:

I don't the answer to your question, but am just curious why you want to know? Is there a child you know who would like to be in a SAP school but wants to continue to be exempted from MT? My daughter is exempted from MT, and when we were considering DSA, we simply ruled out SAP schools. And even though she could have got into one with her PSLE score, we again ruled out all SAP schools. Our reasons were that even if she studied MT through the 6 yrs, it would be a struggle and take up a lot of time. Also, if it is true (I don't know from experience) that there is a lot of Chinese used in SAP schools, then a child with no or weak Chinese would always be somewhat sidelined. Even though it is good for those who can to be very bilingual, we felt that it would be too hard for her.
I share your sentiments, slmkhoo. Eons ago, I rejected the SAP option that was presented to me. Hence, I will not even dream of my children opting for SAP sec schools, with or without exemption.

The question was posed to me by a parent who was contemplating to apply for MTL exemption for her child. My only guess is she was trying to find out more about the compromises a child with MTL exemption might have to make in studies.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158400https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158400Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:28:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:00:20 GMT]]>

metz:
Someone ever asked me if it's possible for students with MTL exemption to DSA for SAP schools. Can anyone share on this and if there have been any successful cases?

I don't the answer to your question, but am just curious why you want to know? Is there a child you know who would like to be in a SAP school but wants to continue to be exempted from MT? My daughter is exempted from MT, and when we were considering DSA, we simply ruled out SAP schools. And even though she could have got into one with her PSLE score, we again ruled out all SAP schools. Our reasons were that even if she studied MT through the 6 yrs, it would be a struggle and take up a lot of time. Also, if it is true (I don't know from experience) that there is a lot of Chinese used in SAP schools, then a child with no or weak Chinese would always be somewhat sidelined. Even though it is good for those who can to be very bilingual, we felt that it would be too hard for her.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158364https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158364Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:00:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:42:16 GMT]]>Someone ever asked me if it’s possible for students with MTL exemption to DSA for SAP schools. Can anyone share on this and if there have been any successful cases?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158263https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158263Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:42:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:32:58 GMT]]>

HappyBlueBear:


Thanks for the info, Metz.

Also, for those interested to send their kids to local independent schools, please note that at Hwa Chong International, learning Chinese is compulsory.
Extracted from the article in EduNation issue 3 (May-Jun 2013):
\"...The School has no-exemption policy, meaning every student has to take the language at some level (Chinese A, Mandarin B or Mandarin ab initio) at IB...\"
You are welcome, HappyBlueBear. I am curious too. Thanks for extract. 😄

PS: NGYH gave a similar reply. They do accept students with MTL exemption. However, the students are also required to take Chinese as a subject at NGYH. No exemption.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158255https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158255Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:32:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:25:41 GMT]]>

metz:
matrix0405:

[quote=\"lexis\"]students exempted from MTL can't apply for SAP schools.


NYG has quite a number w/ no MTL. NYG is not alone. Anyone can add other examples of SAP schools with no MTL students?

Are you certain that these students were accepted via their PSLE T-scores without MT? Could they be those who took SPERS instead? A friend's son was offered a list of schools including HCI and was granted MT exemption. The child sat only for English and Mathematics papers.

Edit: Just called HCI regarding this. Yes, students with MTL exemption who meet the COP will be accepted. HOWEVER, the students are required to study Chinese during the six years and sit for 'A' level Chinese.[/quote]Thanks for the info, Metz.

Also, for those interested to send their kids to local independent schools, please note that at Hwa Chong International, learning Chinese is compulsory.
Extracted from the article in EduNation issue 3 (May-Jun 2013):
\"...The School has no-exemption policy, meaning every student has to take the language at some level (Chinese A, Mandarin B or Mandarin ab initio) at IB...\"

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158247https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158247Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:25:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:00:49 GMT]]>

matrix0405:
lexis:

students exempted from MTL can't apply for SAP schools.


NYG has quite a number w/ no MTL. NYG is not alone. Anyone can add other examples of SAP schools with no MTL students?

Are you certain that these students were accepted via their PSLE T-scores without MT? Could they be those who took SPERS instead? A friend's son was offered a list of schools including HCI and was granted MT exemption (but he didn't choose HCI). The child sat only for English and Mathematics papers.

Edit: Just called HCI regarding this. Yes, students with MTL exemption who meet the COP will be accepted. HOWEVER, the students are required to study Chinese during the six years and sit for 'A' level Chinese.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158226https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158226Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:00:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:40:10 GMT]]>

lexis:
students exempted from MTL can't apply for SAP schools.

NYG has quite a number w/ no MTL. NYG is not alone. Anyone can add other examples of SAP schools with no MTL students?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158206https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1158206Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:40:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:56:49 GMT]]>students exempted from MTL can’t apply for SAP schools.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156849https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156849Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:56:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 09:16:09 GMT]]>From hearsay stories, there seem to be no disadvantage at all. A fair number of them have PHD mothers and ‘so’ they have no problem crossing 250 even with 3 subjects. Anyone here with band 3 - 4 results, dropped MT, managed to score above 200 and continue in Express?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156715https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156715Wed, 27 Nov 2013 09:16:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:42:08 GMT]]>In my children’s sch, the top PSLE scorer has been a student who doesn’t take MT for the past 3 yrs, including this year. They all scored 26x. For this yr, the top scorer started learng MT in P3 but he doesn’t take the PSLE exam.

I think they hv a choice to offer the paper bcos my dd’s fren who oso started learng MT in P3 took the MT paper, she scored 229.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156668https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156668Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:42:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:22:38 GMT]]>I think that MT exemption helps those students whose MT is poorer than their other subjects. And for most students who ask for MT exemption, that should be all! They eliminate their lowest score and get more time to spend on the other subjects.


We should distinguish between the reasons for exemption though. For those who have some learning disability, the reason for exemption is that they need the extra time to focus on the other subjects as they are usually struggling with one or more of the other subjects due to their disability. Thes students may not be able to get high scores. Those who are exempted because of living overseas, if they are academically able, can do well in the other subjects, but just don’t have the time to catch up with MT. My daughter was one of these - we returned in June of her PSLE year, so she was exempted from MT. She didn’t score over 270, but was just a couple of points below. You also need to bear in mind that returning students also have some (or a lot of) catchup to do in other subjects too as they will have missed a lot of the drilling that Singapore schools provide.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156636https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156636Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:22:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:44:15 GMT]]>

metz:
So far, I have yet to hear of any kids with MT exemption who scored above 270. Perhaps, that is the 'penalty' for having MT exemption?

This is exact what we are here to solve. MOE is silent on this and teachers, as usual, are reassuring but has no clue and no comments. Maybe real parents w/ real kids can shed some lights.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156521https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156521Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:44:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:23:26 GMT]]>So far, I have yet to hear of any kids with MT exemption who scored above 270. Perhaps, that is the ‘penalty’ for having MT exemption?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156499https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156499Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:23:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How MTL exemption affect progress to Sec sch? on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:20:10 GMT]]>My experience is - I know two kids who are MT exempt (returning s’poreans, different families) they scored 265 and 260, so I don’t think it adversely affects T-score. In fact, could even be opposite? Not sure about that though.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156495https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1156495Wed, 27 Nov 2013 06:20:10 GMT