zbear:

Janet, how is your son coping with SS + History?

Anonymous12345:

zbear:

SS+ History.


I am told that it's easier to score for SS + Geog compared to SS + History or SS + Lit.

Really? I heard that SS+History is much easier because there's SBQ for both subject so they can really complement each other actually.

zbear:

SS+ History.


I am told that it's easier to score for SS + Geog compared to SS + History or SS + Lit.

zbear:

Your son is only starting Sec 3 rite? In my opinion, I don't think it's necessary to monitor his L1R5 constantly at every CA or MYE. Why not let him work at his pace n review after his EOY.

Grades at this stage are not important. Regardless of whether it's an A2 or B3, all you care about is to constantly work hard either to maintain or improve the grade. For Combined Humanities, it's very common to get a C grade up to O levels. My DS could never improve n got a C5 for his Prelims. But he got A1 for his O levels.

JMHO.

Anonymous12345:

Just an update, my son got L1R5 20 points for his school's common test. Heard his performance is quite average because not many got below 20 with the highest being 7. So yeah how's his performance?

English:B3
Chem:A2
Physics:B4
Math:B3
A Math:B3
Mother tongue:B3
Combined Humanities:C6

slmkhoo:

For a first CA, it's a creditable first effort. It also depends on whether the school sets hard or average questions for their tests. But it does show that he still has a lot of work to do if he's aiming for safe A1s for all subjects.

Mummy AY:

Hi, yes ... son is a Returning Singaporean. He will be applying to enroll in Sec 1.

Thanks so much for all your comments ... really appreciate the thought!
Yes, let's keep in touch! ...
All the best to your son in his studies ...

slmkhoo:

Mummy AY:

Hi slmkhoo,


May I ask, how do you teach your children to disregard the competition?

As you know, I'm returning to SG ... the school my son currently attends doesn't have children competing against each other (in the way I seem to gather from skimming the discussions here and there on ksp) ... so I think he will have the same impression as your children did, when he finally goes to school in SG.

I remind him now and then that the key is to do ones best, and not to be concerned about things over which one has no control (e.g. how his classmates are performing, etc.)

Wonder what you think about this issue? ... :scratchhead:

(p.s. ... all the very best to your child for the 'A' Levels!)

We are parents who have strong religious convictions that shape our attitudes and what we teach our kids. Since they were young, they have watched us as we live our lives, and seen that we do not worry when others do better, get richer etc than us. It's not that we disregard competition entirely as we believe that each person should work hard and do their best, but having put in what we think is good effort, we don't sweat it if others do better than us. We still ask our kids how others in their class did so that we have a feel of where they stand, and we will come down hard if we think they are not putting in enough effort. On the other hand, we will not press them to slog that extra hour at the expense of a reasonable amount of sleep, leisure or social life. We also believe that everyone has different abilities and interests, so we tailor the targets for each child. We happen to have 2 very different children - one is quite academically able, and we would be concerned if she doesn't get high grades, while for the less academic one, we rejoice with her when she passes or improves from and E to a D!

In their teens, they are still following our way of thinking, which is very gratifying to us. So walking the talk is really the only advice I can give!

Anonymous12345:

Mummy AY:

Hi slmkhoo,


May I ask, how do you teach your children to disregard the competition?

As you know, I'm returning to SG ... the school my son currently attends doesn't have children competing against each other (in the way I seem to gather from skimming the discussions here and there on ksp) ... so I think he will have the same impression as your children did, when he finally goes to school in SG.

I remind him now and then that the key is to do ones best, and not to be concerned about things over which one has no control (e.g. how his classmates are performing, etc.)

Wonder what you think about this issue? ... :scratchhead:

(p.s. ... all the very best to your child for the 'A' Levels!)

Hi there so that means your son will be a Returning Singaporean right? For which level is he applying to? I think that this is just how it is in Singapore. Everyone aims to be the best and all that. For me i know my son is currently adapting to the system so i dont stress him at out but ironically he has been stressing him out too much by aiming to get 6A1's already. And he's actually frustrated that he cant get bonus points which means he has no deductions so he must really score well. If you had seen his issue above you will know what i mean. Best thing i would say is that you need to speak with your son on his own goals. He shouldnt worry about statistics like how many students get distinctions and all that because in the end its still numbers only. He should set himself a goal and work towards it. He needs to be more realistic in terms of his goals. Feel free to pm me as well.

slmkhoo:

I feel your son needs to re-think his basis for comparison, and maybe also why he feels the need to compare like that. I think the absolute grades are a better indicator of academic achievement than the adjusted grades (after bonus points), and the eventual outcome of his life (which can't be seen yet) will matter more than this very early stage. He's in for a lot of self-imposed stress, I fear.

ngl2010:

Anonymous12345, have you asked MOE whether they can prorate the CCA participation duration? Your son's situation may not be a rare situation because every year there are many foreign scholars joining at Sec 3.

slmkhoo:

Mummy AY:

Hi slmkhoo,


May I ask, how do you teach your children to disregard the competition?

As you know, I'm returning to SG ... the school my son currently attends doesn't have children competing against each other (in the way I seem to gather from skimming the discussions here and there on ksp) ... so I think he will have the same impression as your children did, when he finally goes to school in SG.

I remind him now and then that the key is to do ones best, and not to be concerned about things over which one has no control (e.g. how his classmates are performing, etc.)

Wonder what you think about this issue? ... :scratchhead:

(p.s. ... all the very best to your child for the 'A' Levels!)

We are parents who have strong religious convictions that shape our attitudes and what we teach our kids. Since they were young, they have watched us as we live our lives, and seen that we do not worry when others do better, get richer etc than us. It's not that we disregard competition entirely as we believe that each person should work hard and do their best, but having put in what we think is good effort, we don't sweat it if others do better than us. We still ask our kids how others in their class did so that we have a feel of where they stand, and we will come down hard if we think they are not putting in enough effort. On the other hand, we will not press them to slog that extra hour at the expense of a reasonable amount of sleep, leisure or social life. We also believe that everyone has different abilities and interests, so we tailor the targets for each child. We happen to have 2 very different children - one is quite academically able, and we would be concerned if she doesn't get high grades, while for the less academic one, we rejoice with her when she passes or improves from and E to a D!

In their teens, they are still following our way of thinking, which is very gratifying to us. So walking the talk is really the only advice I can give!

Mummy AY:

Hi slmkhoo,


May I ask, how do you teach your children to disregard the competition?

As you know, I'm returning to SG ... the school my son currently attends doesn't have children competing against each other (in the way I seem to gather from skimming the discussions here and there on ksp) ... so I think he will have the same impression as your children did, when he finally goes to school in SG.

I remind him now and then that the key is to do ones best, and not to be concerned about things over which one has no control (e.g. how his classmates are performing, etc.)

Wonder what you think about this issue? ... :scratchhead:

(p.s. ... all the very best to your child for the 'A' Levels!)

Mummy AY:

Hi slmkhoo,


May I ask, how do you teach your children to disregard the competition?

As you know, I'm returning to SG ... the school my son currently attends doesn't have children competing against each other (in the way I seem to gather from skimming the discussions here and there on ksp) ... so I think he will have the same impression as your children did, when he finally goes to school in SG.

I remind him now and then that the key is to do ones best, and not to be concerned about things over which one has no control (e.g. how his classmates are performing, etc.)

Wonder what you think about this issue? ... :scratchhead:

(p.s. ... all the very best to your child for the 'A' Levels!)

Anonymous12345:

slmkhoo:

In any case, if he's comparing with a cousin, it shouldn't take into account the bonus points. Just the raw grades will do.

Kids nowadays. Don't understand their mentality. They are so obssessed with grades and being first that they forget the joy of studying. Haizz. And yeah his cousin is in HCI thats why he wants to be seen as equal to her by entering that school.