Networking Group - JCs General

[pirated]

ngl2010:

Is it possible to take A levels in UK without staying there?

Don't think is feasible.

[pirated]

jtoh:

Students in the UK get to do their A levels over two years. That is, they take a first set of papers in year 1 and the second set in year 2. In that sense, it's less stressful. They also don't have to do subjects like CL, PW, GP.


But a key reason why many send their kids overseas to do their A levels is because they gain entry into the coveted courses in uni as they enter as local students rather than compete with all the other international students. There's an international student quota.

So yes, students who went over to the UK to do their A levels and who were far weaker than their friends in sg will likely gain a place more easily in the UK unis than their sg friends applying as international students. International students compete against the best of the best from all over the world for VERY limited places.

In addition to limited places, some courses are not available for international students due to govt funding restriction.

[havok_ex]

zeemimi:

zbear:

Perhaps the environment is more conducive in UK??? Less peer pressure???

haha ... so maybe the advertisement is true?

i know of quite a few already, average student in Spore, but because family is rich, can go overseas to study. So doing medicine overseas.

And i really believe many of our \"average\" Singapore students are really very bright actually. Just that Singapore sets the bar too high and makes them look \"average\".

Dont think its that Singapore sets the bar too high. Nobody actually gets to 'set the bar'. The bar to enter uni and to get good A-level grades are actually set by students' themselves. If there are more bright students, the bell curve shifts and its harder to get an A. If there are more bright students applying for NUS/NTU then it is naturally harder to get in.

Things are easier in the UK not because the bar is set too low there, but on average, the kids taking A-levels there are just not as smart. Hence its easier to score over there. Furthermore, in Singapore, only the top 25%-30% actually takes the A-levels. So the competition is stronger because you no longer have weaker students to 'cushion' the bell-curve.

But yes, it is much easier to score at UK A-levels than SG A-levels. SATs as well. If money is not an issue, head to the US or UK.

[zbear]

Is it true that SG A levels students who CMI (can Make It) in SG but choose to do Uni in UK will find Uni Edu (academic aspect) much easier?

[starlight1968sg]

My colleague’s daughter studied in one of the pre u. Half way, she went to UK to do a shorter term or a foundation cse, she entered to the u.


So maybe there is some truth that our a level is of high standard.

[Joy of Learning 111]

pirated:

jtoh:

Students in the UK get to do their A levels over two years. That is, they take a first set of papers in year 1 and the second set in year 2. In that sense, it's less stressful. They also don't have to do subjects like CL, PW, GP.


But a key reason why many send their kids overseas to do their A levels is because they gain entry into the coveted courses in uni as they enter as local students rather than compete with all the other international students. There's an international student quota.

So yes, students who went over to the UK to do their A levels and who were far weaker than their friends in sg will likely gain a place more easily in the UK unis than their sg friends applying as international students. International students compete against the best of the best from all over the world for VERY limited places.

In addition to limited places, some courses are not available for international students due to govt funding restriction.

I think there are various caveats to be applied here. My knowledge is from a few years ago, but I think it still applies.

Singaporeans going to the UK to study for A levels and subsequently applying to UK universities would still be classified as international students. To become a local student (and enjoy the Home/EU fee status), one has to be ordinarily resident in the UK for purposes other than full-time education for three years prior to applying to university. Merely studying for A levels in the UK would not qualify you as a local student.

To gain a place at a UK university, Singaporeans as international students paying full fees would be at a distinct advantage. For most subjects, there are no quotas on international students. On the other hand, universities have quotas for local students for all subjects, because these students are being heavily subsidised by the public purse. It used to be the case that if a university exceeded its quota on local students in toto, it was heavily fined by the Higher Education Funding Council. That might still be true.

The exceptions are the clinical disciplines, that is, dentistry, medicine and veterinary science. There are strict quotas for both local and international students. This is not to do with funding per se but rather the availability of cllnical attachments for subsequent professional licensing requirements and manpower planning for Britain’s future health care needs.

[Joy of Learning 111]

ngl2010:

Is it possible to take A levels in UK without staying there?

Why would you do this? If you want to take UK A levels, I believe that you can do them at the British Council in Singapore.

[Joy of Learning 111]

havok_ex:

Things are easier in the UK not because the bar is set too low there, but on average, the kids taking A-levels there are just not as smart. Hence its easier to score over there. Furthermore, in Singapore, only the top 25%-30% actually takes the A-levels. So the competition is stronger because you no longer have weaker students to 'cushion' the bell-curve.

It is important to compare like with like. More students from across the ability range are allowed to take A levels in the UK. Singapore is extremely selective in which students it allows to do A levels. Many of the less able students in the UK though take A levels in subjects which would not be considered academically weighty, such as Media Studies, Sport and Photography.

The top 25%-30% of UK and Singapore students are not noticeably different in intelligence. Arguably, however, Singaporean students are more intensively coached for exams.

[Joy of Learning 111]

zbear:

Is it true that SG A levels students who CMI (can Make It) in SG but choose to do Uni in UK will find Uni Edu (academic aspect) much easier?

The evidence, which is mostly anecdotal, is mixed on this issue.

Overseas students such as Singaporeans are extremely well-coached for exams and are used to be very hardworking, so they find university in the UK to be easier.

On the other hand, the extreme coaching for exams in Singapore sometimes borders on being spoon-fed. In the UK, especially at the premier universities, the spoon-feeding stops - at Oxbridge it stops completely. Some students find it difficult to adapt. However, this difficulty is conflated with issues of homesickness and adjustment to a different climate etc, so, I repeat, the evidence is cloudy.

[pirated]

Certain courses with clinical component are definitely having fixed quota for international students. A recent case from kings college with vacancies at lower entry point cannot accept singapore students even with better grades. Admission officer said is due to nhs quota.


There is also difference between England & Wales nhs funding and Scottish nhs funding. Consequently more med students ended up in Scotland than in England and Wales